The Besiktas Saturday Market in Istanbul - Everything You Need to Know

Vendors selling vegetables at Besiktas Saturday market

Last updated on: 1 May 2022

The Saturday market, or Besiktas Cumartesi Pazari in Turkish, is one of Istanbul’s most incredible markets. Here is everything you need to know about visiting the Besiktas Saturday market in Istanbul.

Hidden in a parking garage in Besiktas you will find you will find smiling vendors selling some of the freshest produce at one of Istanbul’s most incredible, and busiest, markets. Taking place every Saturday the Besiktas Saturday market (Besiktas Cumartesi Pazari) is a must visit for those who prefer to escape the tourist sights of Istanbul and discover the local side of Istanbul instead. Stroll through the stalls admiring the local produce, or perhaps even venture to the top floor for some clothes and carpet shopping. There is a little bit of everything at this market, it is even so popular with locals that there are free shuttle buses from surrounding areas to take people from and to the market. Interested in visiting the market yourself? Keep on reading to find out our tips for visiting the Besiktas Saturday market.

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Where is The Besiktas Saturday Market

The Saturday Market is located in the area of Besiktas in a parking garage (Besiktas Halk Pazari 2 OTOPARK 200). While the location might easily be missed during a weekday it isn’t hard to find the market on a Saturday as you will see most traffic and people walking in the directions of the market. We have included a map below with the location or find the exact location on Google Maps here.

The Best Time to Visit the Besiktas Saturday Market

Sadly it is rather hard to find any information online about the Besiktas Saturday Market, besides that it is one of Istanbul’s best markets, so we are unsure what time the market opens, closes or even if it is here every Saturday of the year. We visited the Besiktas Saturday Market in March and April on multiple Saturdays in between 11am and 2pm and the market was always there and it was always busy.

We would personally recommend going early, not only because you avoid the majority of the crowds, but also because going early will make sure you will get your hands on the best finds at the market.

What You'll Find at The Besiktas Saturday Market

A better question might be what can you not find at the Besiktas Saturday Market. This market truly offers a little bit of everything, however you will mainly find local produce and clothing here. The market consists of two floors, you will mainly find vendors selling fresh produce on the bottom floor and well… everything else on the second floor. Here are some of the things we spotted at the Besiktas Saturday Market:

Flowers
Clothing
Carpets
Lingerie
Appliances
Perfume
Sunglasses

Dried fruits and nuts
Vegetables
Fruits
Spices
Cheese
Olives
Fish

Vendors selling carpets at Besiktas Saturday market

Prices at the Besiktas Saturday Market

The prices at the Saturday market were slightly lower then the prices at the supermarket when we visited, however, the quality was so much better. Be sure to bring cash as the vendors here will not be able to accept card. As this is a market expect prices to change not only by the season, but also to increase due to the inflation of the Turkish Lira. Curious to what kind of prices you can expect? Here are some example prices that we paid during our visits to the market (at the time of writing 1 USD = 14.85 Turkish Lira):

Strawberries - 30 Turkish Lira or $2.02 per kg
Oranges - 8 Turkish Lira or $0.55 per kg
Lemons - 7 Turkish Lira or $0.48 per kg
Fresh (Green) Almonds - 25 Turkish Lira or $1.70 per kg
Pomegranate - 20 Turkish Lira or $1.37 per kg

Red Peppers - 40 Turkish Lira or $2.73 per kg
Onions - 7 Turkish Lira or $0.48 per kg
Sweet Pointed Pepper - 35 Turkish Lira or $2.39 per kg
Avocado - 10 Turkish Lira or $0.67 each
Zucchini - 17 Turkish Lira or $1.16 per kg

Istanbul Travel Tips & Essentials

ACCOMMODATION IN ISTANBUL | There is no shortage of accommodation in Istanbul. No matter if it is luxury or budget, there is something for everyone in Istanbul. We personally used AirBnB as we stayed in Istanbul for multiple months, however, for a short stay we recommend checking out Booking.com to find the perfect place for you!

HOW TO GET AROUND ISTANBUL | The easiest way to get around Istanbul is by either using public transport, or by getting a taxi. Read our extensive guide filled with prices, tips and tricks on how to get around Istanbul here.

VISA FOR TURKEY | You might need a visa to visit Turkey so before you leave check here to see if you can get an e-visa, or even to see if you are visa exempt!

ISTANBUL TRAVEL ESSENTIALS | Planning your trip to Istanbul? Be sure to put these travel essentials in your backpack!

Power Adapter - Turkey uses the type C and F plugs, so if you are coming from a country that uses any other type of plug (such as UK, USA or Canada) be sure to put a power adapter in your suitcase so you can charge your electronics during your trip to Istanbul!
Earplugs - Turkey has a predominantly Muslim population and as such the call to prayer, also known as ezan, can be heard five times a day in Istanbul. The call to prayer times change throughout the year, however, some of the call to prayers can take place during the night or around dawn. If you are staying close to a mosque and you are not used to the call of prayer you might want to pack a set of foam or silicone earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
(Head)scarf - Istanbul is filled with stunning mosques with many of them absolute must sees during your trip to Istanbul. However, each of these mosques have a conservative dress code requiring you to cover shoulders, legs and for women also their hair. A large scarf to cover your hair and possibly even shoulders as such could come in handy when sightseeing in Istanbul.
VPN - While you technically can’t put a VPN in your backpack, it truly is a must have travel essential for your cyber safety. When traveling you will often log in to tens of different wifi networks, not knowing how safe these wifi networks truly are! We personally use Surfshark VPN to make sure that our data and privacy is protected when using public Wi-Fi!

EXPLORE ISTANBUL WITH OUR TRAVEL GUIDES

And there you have it, everything you need to know about visiting the Saturday market in Besiktas! Before you go be sure to check out some of our Istanbul travel guides:

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