We decided to collect all the original ideas of what is better to bring from Turkey as a gift to relatives or as a souvenir of a vacation in the Mediterranean. We take most of the advice from our experience of visiting the country and reviews of tourists. We will find out what can not be exported from Turkey as a souvenir, what fines can be.
What to bring from Turkey as a gift?
Tips for tourists on what to bring from Turkey usually begin with carpets and hookahs, but only a list of unusual products from this country will take more than a dozen positions. Moreover, these are high-quality products made from natural raw materials according to old recipes.
List of 20 best gifts from Turkey:
- Lamps... Turkish lamps made of painted pumpkins, candlesticks and lamps of unique colors made of glass and mosaic. Such a gift will decorate not only the house, but also the veranda, dacha.
- Cosmetics... Tourists in their reviews note homemade olive, argan or pistachio soaps and anti-cellulite soap "Dalan". Local cologne "Cologne", which is used throughout Turkey for aromatization and disinfection. Rose water costing ~ $ 3, locally produced Harems and Flormar cosmetics. The brands produce a variety of skin and hair care products, as well as varnishes, hair dyes and makeup products. Products with rose and argan oil are popular.
- Dishes... Multi-compartment breakfast plate sets or original hand-painted ceramics. A good gift - trays decorated with views of Turkey or those that come in a set with plates. Practical bunk teapots and elegant cezves (Turks) will decorate any kitchen. The price of cezve with hammered processing is from $ 5, copper - from $ 15. Real copper dishes have a special smell and sound when tapped, this helps to distinguish a fake. Little space in your luggage will be occupied by small sets for coffee or tea.
- Jewelry... Turkish women love and know how to wear jewelry, and the traditions of working with metal and making jewelry go back more than one century. In the markets and in jewelry stores, you can find both jewelry made in the national style and copies of famous brands. The average price of a metal ring or bracelet is $ 35. In addition to the usual women's jewelry from Turkey, you can bring a local amulet made of glass, which is called Nazar Bonjuk or an amulet with a picture of a hand, called Hamsa. The latter can be found both on jewelry and souvenirs. It is believed to protect against the evil eye.
Important! Be careful with the purchase of gold items. Firstly, it is necessary to take into account the norms of export from the country, and secondly, the gold content in products does not always correspond to the declared one. Where to buy inexpensive souvenirs and jewelry in Turkey is in the market. They work on certain days of the week in different cities of Turkey. There are stationary ones. Another trick is that by purchasing several units of the product, you are guaranteed to have a very substantial discount.
- Hookahs and foam smoking pipes... Hookahs are very different in height, structure and design. Cost from $ 15 to $ 100 and even higher. In the last two years, it is number 1 of all gifts from young people brought from vacation.
- Carpets and weaving products. Cost from $ 50 to $ 800. In Turkey, you can find not only woolen, but also silk and acrylic carpets, hand-made and machine-made.
- Linens. Towels and bathrobes. Tourists managed to notice that Turkish bed linen is distinguished not only by quality, richness of colors, but also by its advantageous price. A couple of sets of such underwear can be purchased for $ 40. In addition to cotton and satin textiles, you can buy fabrics or products made of bamboo and silk. Bamboo fabric has antiseptic properties, which is why towels and terry robes made from this fabric are popular. Men will be delighted with bamboo socks. Top Turkish textile brands: ALTINBASAK, Ozdilek and TAC. In branded stores, the prices for linen are 30 percent lower than in supermarkets and souvenir shops. But the best thing is to go to the textile factories, especially in Istanbul.
- Onyx souvenirs... You can find a wide variety of products, from watches to jewelry and key rings. There are entire factories for the production of such products, so it is difficult to find fakes.
- Food... What is better to bring from Turkey as a gift to loved ones? It's nice and easy to treat friends and family with goodies from Turkey, we will analyze this item in detail.
Most popular gift products:
- Coffee... Good coffee is available in many markets and brand stores. Quality coffee. Differs in different aromas. Pick up yours.
- Tea... Good brand "Rize". You can find unusual teas, for example, pomegranate or apple. Tea costs from $ 3 per kilogram!
- Sweets... Many types are halva, pismania, lokum, baklava (Baklava), kadaif in honey. This pleasure is worth - from $ 5 for 0.5 kilograms. What to bring from Turkey as a souvenir? Original pine honey can be tasted in Turkish restaurants and bought as a gift. For lovers of sweets, you can bring a jar of unusual jam. For example, from mulberries, oranges or figs. A good gift is unusual goat milk rolls with nut fillings and fruit juices or pistachio (almond) cream. They cost from $ 6 per kilogram. Stored up to 3 months in the refrigerator.
- Olives. Homemade mixed olive oil. Homemade salted olives in cans, the so-called "Kyrma". They are distinguished by their rich taste and quality.
- "Tahen" - sesame paste, which is used to make baked goods, desserts and salads.
- "Pekmes" - fruit syrup made from figs, carob, dates or a mixture of fruits.
- Pomegranate sauce. In Turkey, meat, fish are cooked with it, salads are seasoned. Delicious and 100% natural product.
- Spices. They are much cheaper and fresher in Turkey. The most popular are Kurunane, Samekh and Tarkhanu.
- "Sujuk". Dried beef sausage. It is not eaten raw, but is used to prepare main courses.
- Alcohol... Turkish vodka "raki" infused with fruits and anise is not only of good quality. It is able to change color when diluted with water. A bottle will cost $ 15 - $ 20. You can bring a bottle of mulberry, pomegranate or fig wine. The cost of alcohol in supermarkets is lower than in mine shops.
- Medicines... What else can you bring from Turkey from your vacation? Many medicines in Turkey are 30-50% cheaper than in other countries. If you use some drugs on a regular basis, then it makes sense to buy them in Turkey. We especially recommend going to the pharmaceutical shops with local healers, here they will not only examine you, but also prepare a medicine from herbs and other ingredients. On our own experience, in the village of Kirish, we made an excellent decoction with which we cured our ear.
- Fake branded items... What to bring from Side or Kemer? For little money in these cities you can buy clothes, shoes, bags of many well-known world brands. In Kemer, the clothing market is open on Tuesdays, and from Side for such things it is better to drive to neighboring Manavgat.
- What else can you bring as an original idea as a keepsake? Memories of travel, more precisely, the emotions received from what he saw in places that are not standard for a tourist. Take a car for a rental or a tour from local guides in Russian and go along unused trails. Be sure to make a photo and video report. What to advise? A night walk along the Bosphorus is suitable for young couples in love; we recommend that the family go to Cappadocia for two days and fly in a hot air balloon in the early morning. Such memories will be more expensive and long-lasting than visiting standard attractions and lying on the beach.These options and other walks are offered by local guides on Tripster.
Where to relax in Turkey in the summer is better?
What can and cannot be exported from Turkey?
In Turkey, as in many other countries, there are restrictions on the export of antique products, drugs and exotic animals. Products that are more than 50 years old will be considered antique. You can take out modern carpets, but it is better to grab a check from a store or a certificate. Carpets made by hand over 100 years ago can survive well, but they are prohibited for export.
Seashells and seashell souvenirs are sold, but it is prohibited to export large and rare specimens. So are corals. But the ban does not apply to coral products. Although the check from the store is worth grabbing. Especially if your product is expensive. In this country there is a restriction on the export of expensive jewelry worth more than $ 15,000.
Products are what can and should be exported from Turkey to Russia, but in limited quantities. The weight of the products is limited to 5 kilograms and the cost is $ 27.
Alcohol - you can take out no more than a liter per person.
Souvenirs are limited to $ 1,000. You can take out more, but this will already be regarded as a business and the relevant documents will be required.
Video life hacks for tourists
We recommend that you go to our section with all the country reviews that will help you plan an inexpensive vacation in Turkey.
