Ankara - Post Report Question and Answers
Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Absolutely. Your HHE will double in size. - Nov 2023
Yes! Rugs, Ottoman doors (that can be turned into any sort of furniture you want), antiques, Hammam towels, and more! - Jan 2023
Rugs! So many rugs! There is also a great guy in Ankara (Ethnik Anatolia) who does custom wood furniture made from old doors and his stuff is amazing. We'll go overweight for sure buying All. The. Things. Pottery is also a big thing (particularly in Cappadocia), and authentic Turkish Cotton towels and blankets (Jennifer's Hamam in Istanbul is the place for that) - Nov 2021
Absolutely. You can buy some incredible, we’ll made and affordable furniture, beautiful rugs, high quality textiles, hand carved wooden products, silver and copper all for half the price of America. Turkey is a country that produces...everything, and would highly recommend making the most of the shopping opportunities while here. - Sep 2020
There are great things to buy, e.g., rugs, ceramics, glasswork, wood furniture. Most head to Istanbul for shopping sprees. - Oct 2018
Very much so. Anything locally made is very cheap. Good for glassware, ceramics, textiles, soaps. - Oct 2018
Tons. - Sep 2018
No, the rugs and handicrafts are really expensive here. - Jul 2018
Yes, many towns specialize in particular things that you can easily find as you drive around Turkey. - Oct 2017
Yes. Lots of really nice art and copper items. Most folks buy Persian and Turkish rugs. There is a guy in Golbasa that makes custom damascus knives who's family has done so since the ottoman empire. Go out to Ulus on the weekend. You can find just about anything and if they don't have it you can have it made. - Sep 2017
There are a lot of things here, it just depends on what you're interested in. Many people, myself included, buy a few rugs here. There is a very good knife maker in Golbasi that can make custom Damascus steel stuff. Eskeshehir (I probably spelled it wrong) is known for these white smoking pipes that apparently sell for $1000s in the US. - Jun 2017
The exchange rate was 1.7 Turkish Lira to the dollar 3 years ago. Now it is almost 3 to 1. Makes for very affordable shopping. I do almost all of my shopping locally. - Sep 2016
Carpets and Turkish arts and crafts. - Jun 2016
Carpets, marble, textiles, pottery - Aug 2015
Carpets, copper, Turkish tea and coffee sets, textiles, pillows, pottery. - Apr 2015
Carpets, silver, copper, tiles, art, tea, Turkish delight. - Feb 2015
Copper items, beautiful tiles, carpets, textiles. - Jun 2014
Carpets, ceramics, wood carved furniture, etc. - Apr 2014
Carpets, plates, lamps, old wooden items, tiles, cheap costume jewelry. Trips anywhere are well worth the money. - Mar 2014
Carpets, ceramics, etc - Mar 2014
Lamps, pottery, tiles. Carpets are plentiful but way overpriced and not the best quality. - Jul 2013
Carpets and Kilims! Also, lamps, furniture (you can have it made to your specifications), tiles, towels, and backgammon sets. - Aug 2011
Evil eyes and carpets. - Jul 2010
