What to buy in Turkey: advice of experienced travelers

At first glance it seems that all the working-age population of Turkey sells something, trades something, or at least makes a promotion to some product or store. Even if you just came to a seaside resort to swim and sunbathe, people will come to you with an offer to buy a variety of things - from sunglasses to handmade carpets. And if you stand in front of the aggressiveness of the sellers, the prices requested for the goods will simply shatter your defense. Because Turkey is just a paradise for a shopaholic. But in order not to be more than your aspirations at the airport with two unplanned suitcases and a carpet of 2 by 3 meters, let's consider what to buy in Turkey is best.

Professional shopping in Turkey is unthinkable without three things: jewelry, textiles and leather products. The rest - if the means allow, because the desire to buy will be, and this is certain. Hookahs, ceramics, carpets and kilims, dishes and, of course, oriental sweets will not leave anyone indifferent. But the main thing is what is necessary to buy in Turkey, it is textiles. He is always of impeccable quality. Bathrobes, bed linen and towels are especially appreciated. In this country, even organized tours of cotton weaving factories, but, in principle, inexpensive and beautiful clothes and underwear can be bought everywhere.

Cotton is not the only material that attracts foreign buyers in Turkey. Silk dresses, scarves and scarves are also a kind of national pride of the country. But in order to guarantee the purchase of products from natural silk, you need to visit the city of Bursa - the center of silk spinning. If you have not decided what to buy in Turkey from clothes, it is better to travel to this country only in the clothes that are on you and with two empty suitcases: orient yourself on the spot and easily for a short time make a thorough but not devastating pockets of shopping.

The same applies to leather goods: shoes, belts, gloves, handbags. Turkey is the largest producer of leather in the world, and therefore leather products here are much cheaper than in other countries. However, buying sheepskin coats and leather jackets is best in specialized stores. For example, in Istanbul such shops are located in the districts of Mahmitpaşa, Laleli and Beyazit.

Another thing - carpets and kilims. Here it is necessary to approach the matter more thoroughly. If you decide to buy a Turkish carpet, it is better to immediately go to a specialized store. They will tell you that Turkey is conditionally divided into carpet-ridden areas, and each of them has unique traditions, its unique drawings and ornaments that characterize this region. In such stores you will be shown the best examples, and you will be sure that you are getting a real product, not a counterfeit. In Istanbul, such shops are mainly concentrated in the Sultanahmet district.

Also, you need to seriously consider where to buy jewelry, especially precious metals. In the markets you will be offered gold and silver at a very tempting price, but do not succumb to this temptation: the quality of the product is likely to be consistent with the price. Jewelry stores will not only give you the necessary quality assurance, but will also help to return 18-23% of the value of the purchased item by refunding VAT at the airport. You just need to buy jewelry in stores with a "Tax Free" sign and ask the seller for the necessary VAT documents to be returned.

When making purchases in Turkey, one must remember that in the markets the starting price is overestimated from the real almost twice. Bargain, and desperately bargain: nothing shameful Turks in the auction do not see, this is their national tradition. But in the stores are already fixed prices.

Shopaholics will be pleased to learn that you can buy any goods in Turkey any day of the week, at any time of the day or even night. In resort seaside towns, shops work until late at night, when tourists leave the beaches and after sunset go, as they naively think, on the promenade, while in fact go on shopping.