Shop in Bursa

Fresh fruit in a local bazaar

The most prominent shopping area in Bursa is the old central market (çarşı) in the very heart of the city.  A maze of streets, alleys, and hans in this centuries-old marketplace harbors all kinds of shops and cafés selling a myriad of goods and foods.  You can find absolutely everything here—from toys to tomatoes to gold to underwear.  Built by the early Ottomans, the downtown market area was recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  With a little imagination, shopping in these bazaars and hans in some ways feels a little like stepping back in time a couple of centuries.

If you’re more of a neighborhood shopper and would like a quieter experience, you should visit some of the smaller neighborhood çarşıs and bazaars.  For instance, just a block or two south of Atatürk Caddesi across from Ulu Camii, you will find the quaint old Tahtakale neighborhood bazaar.  Or, hop on the metro eastward to the Gökdere stop to peruse the Gökdere neighborhood bazaar.  Or if you’re in Nilüfer on a Saturday, visit the large neighborhood bazaar at the Nilüfer Agora.

If you prefer boutiques, take a walk along Altıparmak Caddesi or go for a stroll down down Atatürk Caddesi past Heykel toward Setbaşı Bridge.

Are there modern shopping malls?

Kent Meydanı AVM

Yes, there are a growing number.  Here in Turkey, shopping malls are called AVMs (alışveriş merkezi).  In Bursa’s city center Zafer Plaza AVM near Şehreküstü and Kent Meydanı AVM in the former city bus terminal are both large and modern with a wide variety of stores.  Anatolium AVM and IKEA share a large chunk of land adjacent to the new bus terminal on the north end of town.  Just off the metro line at Nilüfer station, Carrefour AVM and Suryapı AVM offer all the amenities of modern malls (even a IMAX theater!), and near the end of the Emek metro line is the massive and modern Korupark AVM.

If I want to buy a Bursa souvenir, what should I buy—and where?

• Silk. Bursa was once a terminal on the Silk Road and back in the heyday Bursa silk was an internationally recognized luxury item.  Buy your piece of silk in one of the numerous shops in and around Koza Han, but be sure to ask around for authentic Bursa silk and skip the cheap imported stuff.
• Tiles and pottery. Īznik’s handmade, hand painted tiles are beautiful and famous.  The best pieces are made from quartz, but you’ll pay a hefty price for such quality.  Ceramic is considerably cheaper and can be bought in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors.  The best place to buy Īznik tiles is, of course, in Īznik.  But you can also find them in Bursa.  Start your search at the gift shops around Yeşil Tomb, in Eski Ayna Kapalı Çarşı, in Balibey Han, or on Irıgandı Bridge.
• Textiles. One of Bursa’s hallmark industries today is textile manufacturing.  You can purchase locally produced textiles—towels and linens—in many shops in the downtown market.
  

  Īznik tiles and pottery

• Karagöz & Hacivat. These two shadow puppet characters are local celebrities.  You can find a large selection of Karagöz puppets in many sizes and styles at the Karagöz Gift Shop in the Eski Ayna Kapalı Çarşı.  If Mr. Çelikkol, the store owner, is there, ask him to show you some of the secrets of shadow puppet theater.  He’s a master puppeteer.
• Rugs and carpets. Turkish rugs and carpets are not specific to Bursa, but you can find them in many downtown shops.  Some shops sell traditional, handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces.  Visit Yunus Vurmaz’s Anadolu Gift Shop near Yeşil Tomb and ask to see his collection of authentic handmade rugs that he personally brings in from all over Turkey.
• Ottoman period antiques and replicas. Being the original Ottoman city, Ottoman antiques and replicas can be purchased throughout the central marketplace.  In particular, look for these items in the shops around Yeşil Tomb and in Eski Ayna Kapalı Çarşı.
• Bursaspor team gear. Bursaspor is the local football team, and a green and white jersey could make a good souvenir for a sport fan.  Look for Bursaspor gear in downtown shops or visit one of the three official Bursaspor stores (next to the stadium at the end of Altıparmak Cd., in the Şehreküstü metro station, and downtown near Heykel).
• Local art. Balibey Han and Irıgandı Bridge, in particular, as well as the area around Kayhan Pazarı, are home to a number of small artisan and metalwork shops. Handmade metal art, clothing, pottery, ebru paintings, calligraphy, and really neat wire and nail pictures (filography) can be purchased in many shops directly from the artists.
• Kestane şekeri. If you’re looking for a unique local taste to take back home and share with your friends, pick up a box of candied chestnuts.  Bursa is famous for these things, and you can find a wide selection of chestnut-filled goodies in many shops throughout the city.  Or look for the neighborhood Kafkas shop.