Istanbul Souvenirs: 10 Unique Turkish Souvenirs To Bring Home From Istanbul

Last updated on: 7 May 2022

There is nothing like finding that perfect souvenir to bring home from your trip abroad. Filled with memories, no matter if the souvenir is small or not, the perfect souvenir can take you back within seconds. Planning a trip to Istanbul? Here are 10 unique souvenirs to bring home from your trip!

There is a reason everybody loves bringing souvenirs home, a small item can take you back within seconds to a beautiful trip. No matter if it is a small knickknack or expensive decoration for your home, souvenirs carry memories. Besides, souvenirs don’t only have to be for you, they are also great to bring home as gifts, a small gesture to show that you were thinking about someone during your trip. If you are planning a trip to Istanbul there is one thing you will notice upon arrival, there is no shortage of souvenirs, the bigger question is perhaps what not to bring home? Fridge magnets, small replicas of famous buildings, or perhaps a carpet, Istanbul has it all. Keep on reading to find out which unique souvenirs you should be taking home from Istanbul!

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Turkish Souvenirs from Istanbul

Lokum (Turkish Delight)

What better souvenir to bring home than some delicious lokum. Grab a box and during your first weeks home enjoy some sweet Turkish delight, a souvenir that guaranteed will instantly bring you back to standing in store where you picked those delicious treats. Be sure to bring an extra box to share with family friends, just so they can experience what true Turkish delight tastes like, and perhaps even inspire them to take a trip to Istanbul themselves!. Turkish delight comes in all kinds of flavours, fruity, with nuts, or perhaps a more traditional rose water Turkish delight, there is a flavour for everyone!

shop filled with lokum or turkish delight

Turkish Ceramics

A souvenir that will be very hard to miss in Istanbul is Turkish ceramics, you will literally find them everywhere, and rightfully so as they are absolutely beautiful. Painted bowls, plates, cups and mugs in the most bright colours, this is a souvenir we personally would have loved to bring home if we were not living out of a suitcase. If you don’t have a lot of space you can bring a small set of small bowls, but be sure to bring some extra as I am sure your mom, sister, and plenty of other family members would love to have one!

Postcards

Postcards are great to send, but they are also great to keep as a souvenir, especially if you are on a longer trip as they don’t take up too much space in your suitcase or backpack! Hang them on a wall, or keep them in a special box that you can browse through whenever you want to be taken back to your travels. We have been collecting postcards for over 8 years now (I, Odette started this on my first backpacking trip to Europe), and we must have over 250 postcards now from over 20 different countries. It is such a simple, but we believe also unique, souvenir as most people tend to send them, not collect them!

Traveling to Istanbul? Check out our Istanbul Travel Tips Guide!

Baklava

Loving the Turkish sweets? Why not bring home a box of the delicious Turkish baklava. Crunchy flaky dough filled with pistachios and drenched in sugar syrup, this sweet treat is one that deserves to be shared. Bring home a taste of your trip by grabbing a big box, either for you to enjoy or to share with your family and friends. You will find Baklava all over Istanbul, so it will be one of the easier souvenirs to bring home. Be sure to bring a variety of baklava so you can taste which one truly is your favourite!

Nazar Boncuğu

The Nazar Boncugu, is a small blue glass amulet that is believed to protect against the evil eye. When traveling Turkey you will find these glass amulets everywhere, and they are one of the best souvenirs to bring home and to gift to friends and family. They are small, incredibly affordable and very easy to find in Turkey, and what better souvenir to gift your loved ones than one that is believed to protect them from the evil eye. You will find them in all kinds of sizes, with the small ones selling for as little as 10 Turkish Lira ($0.67), a simple but memorable souvenir from Turkey!

Turkish Carpet

If you are looking for something different than a simple knickknack perhaps a Turkish carpet is something for you? Turkish carpets come in a large variety of colours, no matter if you are looking for something bright or something more neutral coloured, intricate designs or something more simple, here in Turkey they have it all! You will find Turkish carpets in all kinds of sizes, from those the size of a doormat to carpets big enough to cover your living room. Wandering through the streets or bazaars you will carpet sellers everywhere, it will be one of the easiest souvenirs that you can find in Istanbul, although it might take you an afternoon to find the perfect design for your interior!

Turkish Coffee or turkish Tea

A trip to Turkey would not be complete without trying some Turkish coffee or tea. The small cups that can be found on almost every street corner are a stable in the Turkish cuisine. While sightseeing take a quick break and sip on some freshly brewed Turkish coffee (but be sure not to drink the grounds) or warm your hands on that little cup of tea during those cold winter months. Shop for some Turkish coffee or some unique Turkish tea flavours in the area surrounding the bazaars to bring some home with you, a perfect gift or a perfect souvenir to enjoy all by yourself.

Copper Coffee Pot

When walking through the streets of Istanbul you will find Turkish vendors selling coffee on almost every single corner, and at a lot of places it is made in a traditional copper coffee pot. The copper pot is filled with coffee grounds, water and sugar if desired and then heated over hot sand or other sources of heat to create the perfect cup of coffee. The Turkish copper coffee pots are absolutely beautiful and could make for a great decoration in your kitchen at home, a simple but unique souvenir from Turkey!

Turkish Lanterns

If you prefer to buy something more decorative for your home, then perhaps a Turkish lantern is the souvenir for you. Turkish lanterns come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and most of all colours. They are beautifully designed with mosaic styled coloured glass, creating a rainbow of colours. You will find mosaic hanging lamps, standing lamps and even complete chandeliers. Similar to the Turkish carpets this might be one of the more expensive souvenirs to bring home, but a Turkish lamp will definitely be a statement piece in your interior, it could be that little pop of colour you were looking for!

Turkish Antiques

And last, but definitely not least of souvenirs to bring home from Istanbul are Turkish antiques. There is no souvenir more unique than Turkish antiques, although it might not be a souvenir for everyone. Wander through the Çukurcuma neighbourhood near the Galata tower or through the Tellalzade street in Moda to find the perfect antique souvenir to bring home with you. Shop for antique glassware, a unique antique painting, or jewellery, you might have to browse a bit to find the perfect souvenir, but isn’t that half the fun?

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!