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Turkish Souvenirs: 13 Of The Most Popular & Best Souvenirs From Turkey

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Turkey, a land filled with gorgeous natural beauty, historic sites, delicious cuisine and more! Don’t miss out on buying one of these souvenirs from Turkey on your next visit!

Visiting any new destination can be filled with lots of exciting adventures resulting in memories that last a lifetime! 

It’s for exactly this reason that when we travel to any new far-flung city or country we always make sure to pick up a souvenir or two as a special keepsake to remember the journey by.

Whether it’s a truly unique one-of-a-kind piece from Spain, a keepsake from Italy, a souvenir from France, or Germany, or even a bottle of wine as a souvenir from Portugal, either way, I love souvenir shopping and always make sure to add some time in the itinerary to browse the local markets or souvenir shops.

Of course, Turkey is no different. With its vibrant bazaars, fragrant spice markets, and colourful tapestry and ceramics there is something truly special for everyone wanting to take a little piece of Turkey home with them!

That’s why, in this guide, I have collaborated with fellow travel bloggers to bring you this list of the 13 most popular and best souvenirs from Turkey that you too can grab on your next visit! 

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Pssst…Have you packed all your essentials? Make sure to read our European packing list guide to ensure you’ve ticked all the packing necessities off your list!

What to Buy In Turkey: 13 Best Souvenirs Of Turkey To Remember Your Trip By!

Turkish Spices

Turkish Spices © Image Courtesy of Sabinoparente from Getty Images by Canva
Turkish Spices © Image Courtesy of Sabinoparente from Getty Images by Canva

By Soumya from Stories by Soumya

If you are looking to bring home the best souvenirs from Turkey, be sure to pack some authentic spices from the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul or one of the stores at Muze Cd. In Goreme, Cappadocia. Turkey’s spices are freshly ground, flavorful, and easy to pack.

Turkish cuisine uses lots of spices in daily cooking. Some of the most popular ones are red pepper flakes, thyme, cumin, sumac, and cinnamon. Many have been used since the reign of the Ottoman Empire and continue to be consumed even now, adding to the rich Turkish heritage. 

For instance, cinnamon has added a distinct aroma to several Turkish desserts since time immemorial. Sumac has always made Turkish kebabs easily digestible whereas cumin has made meatballs incredibly flavorful.

If you are a foodie and would love to recreate some delicious Turkish flavours at home, be sure to pack some spices from the local stores in Turkey. You’ll find all kinds of spices displayed in heaps. The vendors will pack them in small sachets once you decide which ones you would like to carry back home.

Lokum – Turkish Delight

Turkish Delights © Image Courtesy of Andregric from Getty Images by Canva
Turkish Delights © Image Courtesy of Andregric from Getty Images by Canva

By Michelle from Moyer Memoirs

One of the best souvenirs from Turkey is undoubtedly Turkish Delight. Turkish Delight, or Lokum in Turkish, is a gummy-like candy made from cornstarch and sugar and often flavoured with fruits, spices, and nuts and comes in many flavours like strawberry, cherry, rose, almond, coconut, coffee, mint, and even chocolate.

Turkish Delight is sold everywhere in Turkey, but the best places to get Turkish Delight is at the markets in Istanbul like the Spice Bazaar or the Grand Bazaar. Stop by the bazaar after visiting all the best views in Istanbul.

While shopping for Turkish Delight, you will be given many different samples to try before making a decision on which flavour to purchase. After sampling various different flavours, you are sure to walk away with your favourite AND perhaps two of three more that tickled your tastebuds.

Turkish Delight is generally good for many months if properly sealed and stored in a cool dry place. This makes the candy a great souvenir because of its long shelf life. It is easily stowed away in a carry-on bag with spare room for samples for everyone!

Turkish Tea Set – Memorable Souvenirs From Turkey

Tea Set © Image Courtesy Amanda from My Vintage Map
Tea Set © Image Courtesy Amanda from My Vintage Map

By Amanda from My Vintage Map

If you order tea at a restaurant in Turkey, you will likely have it served in an iconic hourglass-shaped glass teacup with a matching saucer. Tea is a serious business in Turkey. What better souvenir to take home with you than a Turkish tea set of your own?

You can snag a quality tea set in many places in Turkey, but the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the best. Take your time to find your favourite set and haggle the price with the vendor. You will likely get it for much cheaper than the initial asking price.

There are several varieties of tea sets, but if you’re travelling on a plane to get home, it’s best to buy one of the thick glass sets that are supposedly dishwasher-safe and “unbreakable”. Ask the vendor to do the break test for you. They will bang the teacup on the ground and grin at your look of disbelief as the cup emerges completely scratch-free.

Most vendors will also pack the tea set tightly in layers of plastic for a smooth plane ride home.

A Turkish tea set is one of those souvenirs from Turkey that you can enjoy for years to come. Close your eyes as you take a sip from one of the cups, allowing yourself to be transported back to your amazing adventure in Turkey.

Baklava

Baklava from Turkey © Image Courtesy of De Wet from Museum of Wander
Baklava from Turkey © Image Courtesy of De Wet from Museum of Wander

By De Wet from Museum of Wander

One of the best Turkish souvenirs to take home with you is something to eat. Indulging in something you had on your holiday after returning home will instantly bring back happy memories, and they’re great to share with family or friends at home too. Looking for the best edible souvenir from Turkey? It must be baklava.

After a lengthy dispute between Greece and Turkey over the origin of baklava, the EU finally decided that the sweet pastry comes from Turkey. You’ll find golden-brown, sticky sweet baklava all over Turkey, but those who know will tell you that the best comes from the southeastern city of Gaziantep.

Turkey’s quintessential pastry is made by layering bright green pistachios between crispy phyllo pastry and drenching it with sugar-lemon syrup. It’s fantastic!

You can buy baklava from bakeries all across Turkey by the kilogram. After choosing which kind you want from the display window, it will be cut, weighed, boxed and wrapped for you to carry out.

Baklava keeps surprisingly long, up to two weeks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature to keep it nice and crisp, or put it in the fridge if you like your baklava cold and chewy.

Nazar – Evil Eye

Nazar – Evil Eye © Image Courtesy of Muhur from Getty Images by Canva
Nazar – Evil Eye © Image Courtesy of Muhur from Getty Images by Canva

By Maria & Katerina of It’s All Trip To Me

When travelling to Istanbul or anywhere in Turkey, it’s hard to resist a stroll – or more – around the country’s famed bazaars. These colourful markets are the best places to mingle with locals and buy the perfect souvenirs and gifts from Turkey! 

Speaking of souvenirs, one of the best things to bring back home from a trip to Turkey or offer as a gift to a loved one is the traditional Nazar or evil eye.

The Turkish Nazar is a good luck charm made of blue handmade glass with an eye painted in the middle. It is believed that Nazar charms protect their owners from the evil eye, other people’s envy and negativity. This belief goes back for centuries and is shared by many people in the Mediterranean, the Balkans and the Middle East, making it a great souvenir from Greece and other countries too.

In Turkey, evil eye charms are sold pretty much everywhere but the greatest variety of sizes and colours can be found at the traditional markets. 

Nazar charms are not hard to pack as they’re made of durable glass that’s not easy to break. However, it’s not a bad idea to wrap them in paper or cloth during your flight, especially if you plan to pack them in your checked luggage.

Turkish Rugs

Turkish Rugs © Image Courtesy of Jenifer Byington from The Evolista
Turkish Rugs © Image Courtesy of Jenifer Byington from The Evolista

By Jenifer Byington from The Evolista

A fun thing to add to your Turkey itinerary is shopping for Turkish rugs. These beautiful and unique rugs make for special souvenirs from Turkey that can last a lifetime.

Turkish rugs come in a variety of sizes, colours, and styles. When choosing a rug, keep in mind that the price is based on the number of knots per square inch as well as the materials used. 

Silk rugs are the most expensive, but they’re also the most durable. Wool rugs are cheaper but may not last as long. However, there are also many high-quality blends available that strike a balance between price and durability. 

As with any purchase, it’s important to be cautious when buying Turkish rugs. There are many scammers selling fake or low-quality rugs, so be sure to buy from a reputable dealer. The Istanbul Handicraft Center, a store near the Grand Bazaar is a good option.

When haggling over the price, remember that the initial offer is usually just the starting point. Aim to get the price down to about 60-70% of the initial offer including shipping and insurance. 

With a little bit of effort, you can find a beautiful Turkish rug that will be a cherished souvenir from Turkey for years to come.

Olive Oil

Olive Oil © Image Courtesy of Bella from Passport & Pixels
Olive Oil © Image Courtesy of Bella from Passport & Pixels

By Bella from Passport & Pixels

Turkey has a long history of olive oil production going back at least 6,000 years. Olives and olive oil were consumed by the Greeks and Romans, and are even mentioned several times in the epic tale “The Iliad” by the Greek poet Homer, who tells the story of the legendary siege of the city of Troy, which is also in Turkey. 

Today, Turkey is the 4th largest producer of olive oil in the world, and olive oil is an essential ingredient in Turkish cuisine, making a bottle of olive oil an ideal Turkish souvenir to pick up during your travels in Turkey. 

The best quality Turkish olive oil is smooth, buttery and full of flavour, and is best enjoyed simply, with bread and a little salt, or drizzled over a salad with a dash of vinegar. You can buy olive oil in supermarkets and street markets all over Turkey, but be careful because the quality can vary considerably. 

The best way to make sure you’re buying decent oil at a fair price is to go to a specialist olive oil shop like Evliyazade Olive Oils in the town of Cunda on the Aegean coast.

Pişmaniye – Delicious Turkey Souvenirs

Pişmaniye © Image Courtesy of Oksana Chaun from Getty Images by Canva
Pişmaniye © Image Courtesy of Oksana Chaun from Getty Images by Canva

By Marya from The BeauTraveler

Pismaniye is Turkish cotton candy, although the ingredients and texture are different compared to the typical sugar floss you can find in the regular market. The perfect blend of flour, butter, and sugar, Pişmaniye reminds me of my childhood as we have some kids’ sweets similar to it here in Indonesia. 

What makes Turkish Pişmaniye unique is the packaging and the rich flavour that isn’t as sugary as other Turkish sweets like baklava or Lokum (Turkish delight). The packaging is usually served in a box, and you can store it in a refrigerator or at room temperature. It is safe to consume for months since you purchase it, making it a great souvenir to bring back home from your trip to Turkey. 

Turkish people have a culture of giving sweets as a form of endearment, so you won’t run out of places to find Pişmaniye in Turkey. 

If you travel by bus in Turkey, you’ll usually get to stop by some souvenir shop in the rest area where you can get Pişmaniye and other Turkish sweets for a lower price. Alternatively, you can easily find it in any souvenir shop at the Turkish Grand Bazaar.

Turkish Lamps

Turkish Lamps © Image Courtesy luisrsphoto from Getty Images by Canva
Turkish Lamps © Image Courtesy luisrsphoto from Getty Images by Canva

By Sean from LivingOutLau

Turkish lamps, also known as “mosaic lamps,” are handcrafted using small pieces of coloured glass and old ceramics. Each lamp is unique and can feature intricate designs and patterns.

Traditionally, these lamps were used for functional lighting in homes and mosques. Now, they can also be found as decorative pieces in homes and businesses.

The art of creating Turkish lamps has been passed down through generations, with some families having been making them for centuries. Purchasing a mosaic lamp not only adds beauty to a space but also supports traditional craftsmanship and culture.

When bringing Turkish Lamps back home, it is important that you don’t put them in the hold luggage. Keep them in your carry-on luggage and wrap a ton of bubble wrap around it!

The best place to buy Turkish lamps, or any Turkish souvenirs, in fact, is Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. It is a covered market with over 4000 shops, making it one of the most unique and beautiful places in Istanbul! Just don’t forget to haggle.

Turkish Coffee Pot

Coffee Pot © Image Courtesy of Denisfilm from Getty Images by Canva
Coffee Pot © Image Courtesy of Denisfilm from Getty Images by Canva

By Anwar from Beyond My Door

Coffee drinking and coffee brewing are integral parts of Turkish identity and culture.

Drinking coffee originated in Yemen over 1000 years ago before spreading to the rest of Arabia and Turkey. From Turkey, it spread further through Europe and the rest of the world in how we know it today.

In Turkey, the Turkish coffee cups and of course the Ibrik pot used to brew the coffee are ubiquitous throughout the country. The finely ground coffee beans are mixed with water and boiled together. There’s a lot of skill involved in getting the temperature and consistently just right while flicking the coffee into cups before it boils over. The grounds can even be used for fortune telling by those who purvey in those crafts.

Throughout the country, you’ll be able to find these coffee pots with their metal pots and long handles almost in any market or home goods store. For those looking for a souvenir in many cities, there are metalworking markets that specialize in crafting these pots (along with cups, grinders, and other accessories).

These markets are the best places to find pots and intricate patterns and designs. Better yet, some pots can be purchased at markets, for instance in the Gaziantep old town, where it’s even possible to meet the person who crafted your particular pot.

Ceramics – Best Gifts from Turkey

Ceramics from Turkey © Image Courtesy of Margarita from The Wildlife Diaries
Ceramics from Turkey © Image Courtesy of Margarita from The Wildlife Diaries

By Margarita from The Wildlife Diaries

Some of the best travel souvenirs are those that double up as home decor. Who doesn’t like travel-themed interiors where you can wrap yourself in the comfort of your best travel memories and your future travel dreams? And one of the Turkish souvenirs that fit this purpose perfectly is the exquisite Turkish ceramics.

The best place to appreciate Ottomans’ fascination with ceramics is the Topkapi Palace Harem. The intricacy of the patterns on the tiled walls and ceilings in the harem is extraordinary. And while tiles don’t make for particularly good souvenirs, crockery does.

Most souvenir shops in Turkey sell a range of brightly coloured and beautifully patterned bowls, pitchers, vases, and all sorts of small dishes. They come in traditional Iznik designs as well as in more modern glazed styles. The pitches and the unusually shaped wine jugs make for particularly attractive home decor pieces.

The price and the quality of the ceramics vary quite a bit. Factory-produced ceramics are very affordable and can be purchased in most souvenir shops. For handmade ceramics head to the boutiques in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.

Tea Mixtures

Turkish Teas © Image Courtesy of Mariha-kitchen from Getty Images by Canva
Turkish Teas © Image Courtesy of Mariha-kitchen from Getty Images by Canva

By Arabela from The Spicy Travel Girl

I travel to Istanbul a lot and one souvenir I never fail to bring back with me is a delicious assortment of Turkish fruit and herbal tea. The mixtures, labelled with fancy names like ‘Sultan’s Tea’ and ‘Love Tea’, contain everything from juicy dried apples and citrus fruits to fragrant herbs and cinnamon. 

They not only appear extremely aesthetic when brewed on the stove with hot water but the unique flavour will truly blow your mind. Some fruit teas also consist of instant powder that can easily be dissolved in hot water and on the go, my favourite being the tangy pomegranate mixture.

The Turkish fruit and herbal tea mixtures are one of the main specialities sold at Istanbul’s fabled Spice Bazaar. When strolling through the market, you will quickly find yourself surrounded by fervent vendors who offer you free samples of their mixtures – although they’re more or less the same in every shop. 

While the Spice Bazaar is one of Istanbul’s top attractions and certainly worth a visit, I would not recommend buying your tea from there, though. For an equally large assortment at half the price, I recommend checking out the many shops in the streets around the market. 

They are easy to find and an excellent place to shop for souvenirs after visiting some of the world’s most iconic mosques, such as the Sultanahmet Mosque and the Hagia Sophia.

A Scarf From Turkey

Scarfs in Grand Bazaar © Image Courtesy of EvrenKalinbacak from Getty Images by Canva
Scarfs in Grand Bazaar © Image Courtesy of EvrenKalinbacak from Getty Images by Canva

By Amber from Amber Everywhere

A scarf is a great and personalized souvenir to buy in Turkey, specifically if you find a high-quality, colourful one from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. 

Scarves are great souvenirs because they’re fashionable, warm, and can be worn season after season. Choose a scarf that is a bit of a statement for your wardrobe without being so far outside of your comfort zone that you’ll be hesitant to wear it.

When choosing your perfect scarf, look for one that has designs on both sides (meaning there’s no “back” side) without any signs of fraying, wearing, or pilling. The scarf should feel densely woven in your hands, with little to no light peeking through when you hold it up to the light. 

Finally, take a look at several scarf stands before choosing your souvenir; you’ll want to avoid low-quality scarves that may be mass-produced abroad and then imported.

Pack your scarf like you would any other clothing item, or use it to wrap a more fragile souvenir in your bag for your tip home.

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