Bazaars in Turkey

Bazaars are set up in almost every district on different days of the week. In addition to fresh vegetables and fruit, clothing, decorative accessories, antiques, stationery and many other things are sold at very reasonable prices. The Bazaars are open from 09:00 until dark. Recently, many stands have started to offer credit card facilities, which also increase interest in Bazaars.

The daily Hürriyet paper has formed a jury composed of celebrities who enjoy Bazaars, consumer columnists and representatives of consumer advocacy associations, and selected the best Bazaars in Turkey.

Kadıköy Salı Pazarı
Salı Pazarı was moved to Fikirtepe/Hasanpaşa in December 2008. This bazaar is set in an area of 39,000 sq.mt. on Tuesdays with 1900 stands. You can find anything at this Bazaar: famous brand textile products, shoes, food, artificial flowers, vitamins from the USA, carpets, white appliances, electronic products, domestic and foreign glassware, china and many more. Some have portable changing rooms and provide credit card facilities. Tours are organized from neighboring cities. There are  WCs and a kahve (coffee house), which is reserved for women on Tuesdays. Also gözleme and ayran stands are at the service of visitors.

Ulus Perşembe Pazarı
Not available anymore! Also called "High-Society Bazaar" among Istanbulites, it is famous for brand textile products, all of which are certainly fake. The Bazaar used to be held across from Akmerkez on Thursdays, but now it has moved to its new place behind the Dr. Aykut Park in Ulus; transportation still is provided from in front of Akmerkez. There are two portable WCs and two changing booths. The Bazaar holds 800 stands. Unfortunately, it is located on an uphill road and has no parking lot. Most stands accept credit cards.

Beşiktaş Cumartesi Pazarı
It is held on Saturdays on Nüzhetiye Caddesi just across from Ihlamur Pavilion and on the streets opening to the avenue. There are 400 stands mostly covering clothing, shoes, home textiles etc. The prices are reasonable and you can use credit cards at some stands. You can rest at the benches in the entrance and there is a place where you can eat gözleme.

Alaçatı Antika Pazarı
The Alaçatı Antiques Bazaar is located in Çeşme, Izmir together with an open market (halk pazarı) on an alley 1.5 km long. There is food and clothing from nearby villages. The inhabitants of İzmir boast "It is the only open market with an antique market in it. Besides antique goods this market offers plants, fish and even meat. "Antique dealers come from Izmir, Ankara, Bursa and the Greek Islands. They say you can find anything from cufflinks to suspending ceilings.

Bolu KöylüPazarı (Bolu villager market)
The market is held in the İhsaniye district of Downtown Bolu every Monday. About 600 villagers sell their products in a 1000 sq.mt area. The vendors are mostly women and the products they sell, such as vegetables, fruits and dairy, are all their own production and are grown naturally. Traditional tarhana (a dried foodstuff made chiefly from curds and flour used for making soup), erişte (noodles), butter, pekmez (grape molasses), tomato paste, dried fruits and village bread attract attention. We suggest you carry some change in your purse.

Yeşilköy Çarşamba Pazarı
It is set at Yeşilköy Çırpıcı, Istanbul in an area of 12000 sq.mt. There are 640 vendors with 2019 stands. Tours to the market are organized from neighboring cities on Wednesdays. It does not disturb the environment, since it is not located among the main streets - it is located at a walking distance for Yeşilköy inhabitants. There are toilets and a car parking lot. Food, clothing and glassware stands are set in different places. You can find anything from T-shirts to TVs and imported products.

Fatih Çarşamba Pazarı
The biggest Bazaar in Istanbul; Fatih pazarı is held on Wednesdays on seven avenues and seventeen streets. The number of vendors is 1297 and there are 4811 stands. Moreover, about 2500 peddlers sell their goods at this market. It is very crowded and you can find anything from vegetables to clothing, from flowers to porcelain. The market hosts customers who come from neighboring cities. Products from Bolu, Kastamonu and Thrace are also on display. Some vendors accept credit cards. Most stands selling clothing have changing booths. There are four mosques around the market whose WCs you can use. However, parking is a problem. It is open from 05:00 to 21:00. Sixteen big garbage trucks are in service to clean the market area afterwards.

Bodrum Mazı KöylüPazarı
This is the only villager bazaar on the Bodrum peninsula and is held at two locations: Aşağı Mazı and Yukarı Mazı in the Mumcular area. The distance between the two villages is 4 kilometers. There are 80 stands at Yukarı Mazı, while there are 60 stands at Aşağı Mazı. The salesmen from Bodrum, Milas, Yatağan and nearby villages bring fruits, vegetables and homemade products to sell. The Bazaar is 55 km. away from the Bodrum city center, however there are dolmuşes taking off every two hours. Handmade cloths, and carpets and kilims hand-woven in Bozalan, Mumcular and Türkevleri villages are also available. Since the fresh fruit and vegetables run out at noon, it is wise to visit the Bazar earlier.

Güzelyalı (Üçkuyular) Pazarı
Güzelyalı Pazarı is one of the oldest bazaars in Izmir and is held on Wednesdays and Sundays. It is referred to as "Üçkuyular Meydanı" (the square at which it is held) among the inhabitants of İzmir. Besides fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, fish, clothes, glassware are also available at 200 stands. Villagers from Çeşme, Urla and Karaburun also choose this bazaar to sell their products; however they usually come only on Wednesdays. Various herbs of the Aegean region are available in spring and fall.

Aşağı Ayrancı Pazarı
Aşağı Ayrancı Pazarı in Ankara is set on Dikmen Caddesi and is called "the high-society bazaar". There is a wide range of products and the women almost "attack" this Pazar. It is open from 05:00 to 21:00.

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