9 Best Shopping Experiences in Bodrum

Shopping is a real pleasure in Bodrum, with its many shops lined in the narrow streets between whitewash buildings. Leather goods of all kinds, natural sponges and the local blue glass beads are among the bargains to be found in the shops of the city center.

Leather, carpet, jewelry, copper and souvenir shops are lined on both sides of main streets like Cumhuriyet and it’s often hard to resist the urge to walk in and start bargaining with the shopkeeper as you sip on the drink that’s offered to you as you enter. Look out for unique double-knotted Turkish carpets or kilims, steeped in the history and tradition of Türkiye. These carpets symbolize many different faces of Turkish culture.

Bodrum bazaars are among the top spots in the city for budget travelers to get their retail fix. It takes place at a different part of Bodrum City on each day of the week, so it's a good idea to check with a local beforehand. You’ll find all sorts of goodies within this haphazard ensemble of frantic shops and stalls, from artisanal souvenirs to knock-off fashion, and everything in between.

Of course, you’ll need to bargain hard to snag a deal as the vendors expect a stiff negotiation to accompany every sale. But with a little patience and perseverance – and don’t forget to crack a smile – you’ll find the wares here to have the best value in the city. So give Bodrum’s designer boutiques and upmarket malls a miss and check out its bustling bazaar instead.

Head to Ortakent Farmers’ Market (Ortakent Pazari) in Bodrum for dried goods and seasonal fresh local produce. Here, you can find meat, cheese, fruits, nuts, milk and honey from local villagers as well as various spices that make for wonderful souvenirs.

After working up an appetite from walking around the spacious indoor market, you can enjoy piping-hot flatbreads like lahmacun, a flat piece of dough topped with minced meat, herbs and vegetables from one of the bakery items stalls. There’s also a cafeteria where you can have your morning coffee and breakfast.

The open-air Yalikavak Market is a great place to drop by before heading to one of Yalikavak’s beaches, especially for some fresh produce to enjoy by the sea. Besides the fruit and veggie stalls, you can sample the wares of the cheese vendors as you walk around.

Don’t miss Orman Zeytincilik, a vendor that sells a variety of olives stuffed with lemon rind, orange, almonds, garlic and more. There are also nuts, seeds, and dried fruits that are perfect for picnics, as well as stalls serving fresh bread and desserts. Don’t forget to try the gözleme, a traditional savory Turkish flatbread filled with various toppings and sealed. Like shopping at most markets, haggling is a must in order to avoid paying tourist prices.

Oasis Shopping and Cultural Center, or simply Oasis Mall, is on the main Bodrum–Gumbet Road, right at the intersections. The Oasis is the middle-ground between the designer goods available at the Marina and the often fake items you find offered at the open-air markets.

The modern mall has a selection of over 200 shops spread over 2 floors, as well as cafés, restaurants and a movie theater. While it’s feasible to walk to Oasis from Bodrum’s town center, there's a big hill along the way so it’s not advised. Instead, you can catch a dolmus that’ll take you there in no time.

Turgutreis offers sun and sea, but it’s also a go-to for shopping as it hosts one of the largest markets on the Bodrum peninsula. The open-air market offers a full range of fruit and vegetables, cheese, olives and ingredients to make traditional mezes, as well as areas devoted to clothing and textiles.

The streets near Turgutreis marina are packed with neat-looking stalls displaying handmade jewelry, pottery and paintings. A relaxing day out this is not, but it’s an adventure full of local flavor. When shopping at the open-air markets of Bodrum, expect to pay half to a third of the initial asking price. When haggling, start low and let the seller coax you up to what is a realistic and reasonable price.

Midtown Shopping Center in the Ortakentyahşi district is where you can cool off in air-conditioned comfort. The expansive 2-storey mall consists of a huge variety of shops that cater to everyone. Forgot your swimsuit? You can purchase one here before heading to the beach. In Midtown, you’ll find international retailers like H&M, Mango, and Decathlon, opticians, drugstores as well as a huge Carrefour supermarket.

If you’re hungry, grab a bite at the food court with fast-food chains and kiosks serving local and international cuisine. You can also kill time by catching the latest blockbusters in the movie theater or let your kids loose in the children’s play area.

Ocean Jewelry in Bodrum is where you should go, whether you’re looking for new bespoke jewelry or a redesign of an old treasure. The friendly staff and attentive customer service have kept customers coming back over the years.

The jeweler stocks a selection of earrings, necklaces and rings at various price levels, but if you want something truly unique, you can get a custom piece made according to your vision, budget and timeframe. Ocean’s team will talk you through the entire process, from ideation to end result, with step-by-step videos of the jewelry being made along the way so you can be sure that you’ll get exactly what you asked for.

Moden Leather Shop is one of the notable specialty shops in Bodrum. There’s no need for a leather jacket on your summer vacation in Bodrum, but if you’re looking for a warm winter jacket for the next winter season, you’ll probably find it here.

A 12-minute stroll from the Bodrum city center, this shop stocks a wide range of leather jackets in different designs and colors like red, yellow, brown and blue. There are edgy leather biker jackets, shearling leather hoodies, leather bomber jackets and even fur puffer jackets. The top quality of the leather and fair prices attract both locals and tourists, so drop by if you find yourself needing durable new outerwear.