Shopping in Bodrum
It is a delight to shop in Bodrum. Visitors love to shop and stroll through the city's narrow streets that are bordered by the white buildings.You will find all sorts of things in the shops here and the prices are generally quite reasonable. The centre of these streets is the so called Bar Street, parallel to the sea. Mind the good giftshops and jewelleries here. Remember to bargain and get an even better deal.
The local markets in Bodrum and the surrounding villages are open everyday and it is wonderful to shop amidst all the delicious aromas and colourful merchandise!
Our Bodrum shopping guide below will tell you all you need to know to get the best deals and best places to shop in Bodrum. If you need some more ideas about what to buy during your Bodrum holiday, be sure to visit our Turkey shopping guide. If you get hungry during your shopping spree, enjoy some delicious Turkish cuisine at one of the many Bodrum restaurants.
Bodrum Shopping Guide
The local markets, filled with the heady scents and bright colours of a hundred different things, attract both tourists and locals all year round. Market day in Bodrum is quite an unforgettable and a not-to-be-missed experience. The maze of shops and stalls sell everything and the goods range from CDs to jewellery and from Rolex watches to 'branded' clothes. The markets are a great place to spend a day in.
Market (Bazaar) Days in Bodrum Peninsula
Bodrum or one of the surrounding villages spread across the Bodrum peninsula has a market day on each day of the week. The well-known textile market of Bodrum is held every Tuesday and it is a great place to buy the local fabrics of the region. The market has a fair-like atmosphere and the colours and patterns are sure to appeal to every taste. Other than fabrics, the market sells carpets, kilims, kitchenware, and apparel.
Guvercinlik is a small village located about 20 km from northern Bodrum. Its market day is Monday and although it is small in size, the market's setting on the picturesque waterfront is worth a visit. The small markets at Gümüslük and Ortakent are held on Wednesday and they attract quite a sizeable crowd. The Saturday market at Turgutreis is one of the most popular markets. This big market sells a variety of items and has as many fabric stalls as the Bodrum market. Milas's carpet and kilim sellers also set up stalls here. A great variety of food such as olive oil, cheese and wild herbs are found here. The Sunday market is small and held at Mumcular, the location of the old airport. This market is best for obtaining kitchen supplies.
Osman Miniatures
Visitors should be aware that even if a miniature item on display looks old and authentic, it is not. Of course, the items still look pretty and make for unique decorative items. These days, the paintings are done on pages of old books to give it an antique and authentic look.
Turkish Carpets
Turkish carpets are the most famous souvenirs that you can take back with you from Turkey. You can still find rugs hand-woven in the traditional way in the villages of Mumcular and Milas, both located near Bodrum. A well-made carpet, if taken care of correctly, can last for more than a hundred years. Such a carpet is not just decorative; it should be treasured as a piece of art.
Copperware
Kavaklidere is a copper village, or Bakirköy as it is known locally, that exists near Bodrum. It is located near the city of Yatagan and is about 100 km to the east of Bodrum.
Meerschaum Pipes
It is an old tradition of Turkey to carve pipes out of meerschaum, a natural material. They were famous worldwide even during the Ottoman times. The pipe-carving skill was originally centred in the town of Eskisehir. Today you can watch this traditional art being practised in Gümüslük. Pipe-carvers like to use meerschaum since it is a porous natural material and absorbs nicotine very effectively.
Every market in Bodrum has a very distinct character as all the traders have their favourite spots. For example, traders of Yalikavak do not sell their wares at Bodrum. The fabric sellers of Milas, who favour the Turgutreis market, do not set up stalls at the Tuesday market of Bodrum since the famous Milas market is also set up on Tuesdays. The flea market of Bitez operates on the first Sunday of every month.
Shopping Places
Masal Gibi
Masal Gibi (Fairytale) is situated in an antique stone house along the road from Bodrum to Yalikavak. It is run from April - October by the artisian Sevil Orcan. At Masal Gibi you can find a huge collection of highly original gifts. Most of them decorative and bright in colours.
Port Bodrum Yalıkavak Marina yolu üzeri / 48400 - BODRUM
0532 - 323.6721
sevil@masalgibi.se
Sandalet Ali
The Sandalet-shop of Mr. Ali Güven in Bodrum is one of the places where you can buy the original Ottoman shoes called sandalet in Turkish. Mr. Ali still produces the shoes in their historical form and colors. The shoes are characterized by their flat soles ending in an upward point at the front.
Barlar Sokak - Bodrum Centre 48400 - BODRUM
0252 -
Sandalet Vanda
Ilhan Feyman Sokak, no. 83/A, Türkbükü - BODRUM.
0252 - 377 54 84
Carpets & Kelims
On the main motorway from Bodrum to Milas (330) after 10 km you'll find on your right Milas Halicilik, i.e. carpetry from Milas. Milas with a great population of Yörük-nomads, that settled down in the 1930-1940's, is still a famous centre for good quality carpets and kelims. Their motifs and colors still reflect the traditions of the Yörük-people.
Milas Halicik has always a large assortiment, so you can also find carpets from other parts of Turkey (and Iran).
Bodrum - Milas Yolu [330] 48400 - BODRUM
0252 -
0252 -
Turkuvaz (Turquoise)
Kelesharimi Mevkii Türkbükü Sahili Ada Arasta Daire 3 Türkbükü - BODRUM
0252 - 377 55 02
BHL Bodrum Havlu
Torba Yalikavak Yolu Uzeri Gündogan - BODRUM
0252 - 387 94 60
0252 - 387 94 61
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