The Best Souvenirs To Bring Back Home From Turkey

With its many different regions and cities that all enjoy their own climates, histories, and cultures, Turkey is a paradise for souvenirs. Whether it’s something edible for the food connoisseurs or a work of true handcraftsmanship for the lovers of handmade goods, Turkey has it all. Make sure to get the following souvenirs when you are traveling around the country.

Baklava from Gaziantep

With its rows and rows of pistachio trees, Gaziantep is a heaven for those who love baklava filled with deep green pistachios of the most freshly fragrant kind. When you walk around the old city, you’ll come across one baklava stand after another, so make sure to get a box of mixed baklava to take home.

Olive Oil from Ayvalık

Hand-Painted Ceramics from Iznik

The hand-painted Iznik tiles lived out their golden days during the Ottoman Empire when every major architectural spectacle was covered with the beautiful tiles with their red and cobalt blue designs. Nowadays, Iznik tiles and ceramics continue to be produced by a few craftsmen who keep the tradition alive and are, therefore, very precious and always exceptionally beautiful.

Silk from Bursa

Once an important stop on the famous Silk Road, Bursa was the center of the silk and silkworm trade, and nowadays, it continues to stock an excellent array of beautiful local Bursa silk. Head to the Koza Han and ask for authentic Bursa silk; you’ll be sure to take home a piece of genuine beauty that you can wear or use to decorate your home.

Sucuk from Afyonkarahisar

Famous as the center of thermal spas in Turkey, Afyonkarahisar also has more to offer than a weekend stay in one of its many thermal spa hotels. Make sure to bring back some of the famous Turkish sucuk (fermented sausage) from Afyon, which you’ll find hanging in the windows of almost every store downtown—we’ve heard the best is at Cumhuriyet.

Wine from Urla

Even though Turkey’s viticulture history is one of the most ancient in the world, Turkish wines have just recently begun to make their mark in the world. Turkey has a lot of regions where wine is produced, but if you happen to visit Urla (near Izmir), make sure to take home a bottle of the award-winning Urla Nero d’Avola red wine.

Pottery from Cappadocia

Avanos has a long history of pottery making, which had its start with clay acquired from the local Red River. Make sure to visit the ateliers of local handicraftsmen to buy an authentic piece of Avanos pottery, or sign up for a class to make some of your own.

Dried Apricots from Malatya

Malatya produces about 65–80% of the world’s dried apricots, so if you happen to visit, you definitely have to take some home because they are simply the best. Sun-dried on family-run orchards through the use of traditional methods, the Malatya apricot is an amazing treat.

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