Buying gifts can be a difficult task while on vacation. There are staple items recommended to buy as gifts from Istanbul, but we go a little further... Here's our reccomendations on what to buy as gifts and where to buy it from! 

Armaggan

Armaggan is definitely somewhere to head for unusual, beautiful decorative articles for the house, as well as jewelry, artistic objects, natural dyed textiles and home textiles. Each item is hand made and of very good quality, designed to last. The textiles used are particularly special, made of 100% natural fiber and organic dye.

Peştemal from Dört Mevsim

Traditionally worn in Turkish Baths, a peştemal is lighter version of a towel. Highly absorbent and travel friendly, they make an ideal and compact gift for friends back home.

Prints of Old Maps from Galeri Alfa

The perfect gift forthat impossible-to-shop-for man in yourlife. You can find original and reproduction engravings of Istanbul, Anatolia, and the Ottoman Empire, as well as antique maps and prints, and toy soldiers.

Paşabahçe

This Turkish retailer has been making high-quality traditional glassware for years. You can find everything from vases and bowls adorned with traditional Ottoman motifs and Byzantine mosaics to modern cut glass and ceramics.

Cushions from Yastık by Rıfat Özbek

Yastık means "cushion" in Turkish and that is exactly what is on sale here - shelf upon shelf of cushions in a huge array of patterns and colors. An extraordinary variety of fabrics from around the world are used to make the cushions, including Ottoman silks, Brazilian and Anatolian floral patterns, African tribal prints and English interior stripes.
 

Lokum Istanbul

This boutique shop sells not only lokum (Turkish Delight) but also akide şekeri (hard candy), scented candles, and a fragrance range designed by the owner, Zeynep Keyman Garan. It’s not just the inventive and tasty products but also the boxes that are oh-so cute. Available in big and small sizes, the boxes are covered with toile and fringed with pompoms. In fact, all the packaging is high-end, finished with grosgrain ribbons.

Coffee Box Gift Set from Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi

Synonymous with Turkish coffee, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi has been selling the best Turkish coffee since 1871.