We’ve put together a regularly updated list to give you a heads-up on what’s hard to find in Turkey, what you can definitely find, and what you should prepare for. Digital nomads might find this useful, too—or anyone visiting a friend in Turkey who wants to bring something special.
What You Won’t Find Super Easily
Books in English (or other languages besides Turkish)
Best sellers and classics are available online and in bookstores, and in major cities and tourist areas, you can find a couple of bookstores that are strictly English. But if you’re looking for something that isn’t a best seller or classic, you’re out of luck.
Best places to find books in English:
- Pandora Bookstore (Istanbul): A well-known bookstore with a good selection of English books, located in the Beyoğlu district.
- D&R Stores (Nationwide): While primarily Turkish, D&R often has a decent selection of English bestsellers and classics.
Diverse Alcohol Selection
Supermarkets carry a small standard selection, and you won’t find much more variety in terms of foreign alcohol anywhere else. Macro Center is the go-to supermarket with a wider range of imported alcohol; the bigger the Macro Center, the bigger the selection.
Good Toys
Most toys in Turkey are cringy—think cheap plastic that breaks easily, and dolls or stuffed animals that can be more creepy than cute. The selection is limited, and quality is often lacking, so you’ll end up overpaying for imports or settling for low-quality options. However, if you’re in Istanbul, you can find some fun, independent stores with a nicer selection in neighborhoods like Kadıköy and Beşiktaş.
Spots to find toys:
- E-Bebek (Nationwide): Specializes in baby products and has a decent selection of toys for infants and toddlers, including some local brands.
- D&R (Nationwide): Primarily known for its books, D&R also offers a small but decent selection of games and puzzles.
- Toyzz Shop (Nationwide): Toyzz Shop isn’t our top pick, but if you’re willing to dig through the clutter, you can find some quality toys. It’s hit or miss, so be prepared to sort through a lot of flashy, overpriced stuff to get to the good ones.
- Tahtakale (Istanbul): Not a store, but a busy neighborhood known for its wide variety of goods, including affordable toys, though quality can vary.
A Range of Sizes
Compared to the U.S., sizes are extremely limited. Stores in Turkey do not cater to tall or larger people. Looking for women’s shoes bigger than a size 41? Good luck. There are stores with plus sizes, but they’re often not considered fashionable.
Best places to find plus sizes or tall sizes:
- M&S (Marks & Spencer): Known for carrying a wider range of sizes, including plus and tall options.
- LC Waikiki (Nationwide): Offers some plus-size options, but the style is limited.
- Online Retailers (Trendyol, Hepsiburada): Often the best bet for finding a variety of sizes, though you may need to sift through to find what works for you.
Newer Electronics / Variety of Electronics
Electronics are heavily taxed in Turkey. Some small appliances might be reasonably priced, but even a coffee maker could cost way more than it does in the States. Don’t bring your coffee maker, though—just be ready to pay more for electronics, and avoid buying portable electronics here unless you’re okay with the markup.
Where to buy electronics:
- Vatan Computer: A large electronics retailer with a wide selection of the latest gadgets, though prices can be high due to taxes.
- Teknosa: Another major electronics retailer with stores nationwide, offering a range of electronics and appliances.
- MediaMarkt: A European chain with a presence in Turkey, known for a broad selection of electronics.
Where to buy kitchen appliances:
- Arçelik: A trusted Turkish brand offering a wide range of kitchen appliances.
- Vestel: Another popular Turkish brand with a good selection of kitchen appliances at varying price points.
- MediaMarkt: Also offers a selection of small kitchen appliances, though prices may be higher.
Quality Sports Gear/Wear
This one’s up for debate. You can find brands like Columbia and The North Face in Turkey, but the selection is limited. Decathlon, the most popular outdoor store, offers a wide variety of sports gear, but if you’re used to REI, you might find it lacking. It’s cheap, but you won’t find the latest models or styles, and if you’re into niche sports, the selection could be limited and overpriced.
Specialty Health Products
Vegan? Gluten-free? Regularly take supplements? Be prepared to pay a lot more. Prices in the U.S. might have leveled out, but they’re still sky-high in Turkey.
Coffee
Yes, Turkish coffee is everywhere, but we’re talking about coffee for espresso, French press, and the like. It’s available in most supermarkets, and more local coffee shops are selling their own beans. Mehmet Efendi, a local brand, makes a decent French press or espresso at home, but if you’re a coffee snob, head to a local shop for your beans—just be ready to pay a lot. And while you’re here, I’d recommend diving into Turkish coffee. You probably won’t get the chance to drink it regularly anywhere else.
Second Hand Shops
Thrift stores are slowly gaining popularity in Turkey, but they’re still rare. You’ll find pricy vintage shops and antique stores, and in younger neighborhoods like Beşiktaş and Kadıköy, you might stumble upon second-hand shops that are more curated, focusing on trends. Even these are hard to find.
A Working International Postal System
This needs to be mentioned because mailing packages to Turkey is not really an option unless you want to pay a lot out of pocket for customs. Prices have skyrocketed recently, and there’s no way for someone overseas to cover the full cost.
As for letters and postcards, you might want to tell your friends not to bother. The success rate is about 60%, with some letters arriving in 7 business days and others taking 11 months—or never arriving at all. There are countless horror stories of lost mail and packages. Not recommended.
For letters and packages within Turkey, however, the postal system well. It is more than often the cheaper alternative when moving or wanting to transport larger items from one city to another.
What You Will Most Certainly Find / What is Cheap
Beauty Care
Beauty tourism is huge in Turkey. Hair transplants, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, non-surgical treatments, weight loss surgery, wellness treatments, and aesthetic dermatology are all big here. We have beauty/health tourism guides in the works for more info.
Medicine / Health Care
Depending on where you’re coming from, medicine and health care might be more expensive, but if you’re from the U.S., everything out of pocket will be insanely cheaper. To give you a bit of perspective, an urgent care visit at a public hospital costs around 500 lira, and a supply of antibiotics can set you back as little as 100 lira.
Labor
Need something tailored? Shoes fixed? Something upholstered? Or need a carpenter or blacksmith? You’ll be paying a fraction of what you would in the West.
Just About Everything Else
Sure, inflation is rough, but the cost of living is still pretty low.
