Turkey · SHOPPING TOURS
Good shopping tours fill up weeks ahead; the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Land of Legends at night, with round-trip transfers, a magical water-and-fountain show, and time to shop nearly 200 boutiques. From $6.
“What a beautiful night i passed, the transportation was extremely fast and ponctual I highly recommend this activity for sure !”
Side’s Land of Legends night show pairs easy hotel pickup with a canal boat parade, big light-and-water performances, and shopping time.
“We loved the whole experience. our driver Bekir was very good. highly recommended”
Side to Manavgat river cruise with Cennet Beach swim, lunch onboard, bazaar stop, and optional waterfall, with hotel pickup.
“Prompt and easy pickup Transport was borderline roadworthy, but to be expected in another country. Transfer to boat quick and easy and boarding was prompt Onboard was good, attentive and friendly Transfer to Waterfalls, or best say reservoir lol! Chaotic and dysfunctional Overall the trip was worth going on, but be prepared to get what you’ve paid”
A guided Istanbul Grand Bazaar tour with exclusive rooftop access, secret passages, artisan workshops, and East-West history in 2 to 2.5 hours for $31.
“Great overview of the grand bazaar with many hidden treasures. The guide was kind and very informative. Booking this tour made the grand bazaar seem less crazy.”
Manavgat boat cruise with river-to-sea swimming, lunch on the water, a waterfall stop, and free time at Manavgat Bazaar from $35.
“Good slightly different to advert as went on boat out to see then back to port and on a coach to the waterfall but apprat from that great trip”
Manavgat River wooden-boat cruise from Side, barbecue lunch, a swim where river meets sea, then Grand Market and Blue Mosque.
“Heel chaotische organisatie Geen gids met uitleg Bussen zonder airco We voelden ons als vee behandeld Waterval die niets voorstelde voor 5 euro pp en we mochten maar 25 minuten in de buurt blijven Kortom, absoluut niet het geld waard.”
Half-day Istanbul Old City tour of Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar with pickup, skip-the-line, English guide.
“This tour was incredible. Exactly as advertised and then some! Our tour guide Baris was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about every single thing we did. An it felt like I could ask him anything about ANYTHING an he knew the answer immediately. What a wonderful experience. He also took us to some local favorite food spots and shops and honestly I would do it all over again!”
3-hour Istanbul small-group tour pairing the Spice Bazaar with a Bosphorus cruise past palaces, forts, and two continents.
“The transportation to and from was good. The guide was not very good and basically dumped us! The bazaar was teeming with people and we almost lost him a number of times even after asking him to slow down. There was no narration on the cruise, so we didn't really know what we were seeing.”
Guided 5-hour Istanbul walk to Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar with fast-track access and an expert guide.
“Our guide was really funny and a great storyteller. Could honestly just stand there listening to him talking and it would have been worth the money. At any rate, we were well taken care of and we would do it again in a heartbeat. Highlight of our trip.”
See Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome area, and the Grand Bazaar in a 4-hour guided loop with pickup and skip-line entry.
“Barish is a highly responsible guide. He takes good care of all his guests, making sure no one is left behind, and that we have good photo locations. We especially love his guts in telling off other visitors in the line who were smoking in the non-smoking area. In addition, he provides good recommendations for visiting that are not included in the tour. Thank you, Barish.”
Manavgat River boat cruise with lunch, optional waterfall time, then a public bazaar stroll, all wrapped into an easy 8-hour day tour.
Small-group Ephesus tour from Kusadasi port with skip-the-line ruins, Library of Celsus and Artemis Temple, entrance fees included.
“Aleyna was an excellent and knowledgeable guide and we had an amazing tour. Everything went smoothly and transportation was very convenient and comfortable. Could not ask for more!”
Manavgat River wooden-boat cruise, barbecue lunch and unlimited soft drinks, then Grand Bazaar and Blue Mosque in 10 hours from Alanya.
“Virkelig en dårlig tur. Var i 5 forskellige busser, stoppede på en Heel masse hoteller, og endte på en stor plastik pirat båd med høj og dårlig musik. Selvom der stod træskib med 45 Pers!!! Meget!!!! Skuffende oplevelse. Vildt meget ventetid og dårlig info”
5 to 6 hours of Manavgat river cruising, waterfall photos, and bazaar shopping from Side and Alanya, with lunch and swim stops.
“Tijdig opgehaald aan hoofdingang hotel, werd duidelijk gecommuniceerd via mail. Boottocht is zeer leuke ervaring. Tussentijdse zwemstop ook fijn om even af te koelen en iets anders te hebben dan hotel. Water was nog goed van temperatuur voor eind oktober te zijn. Op de boot komt fotograaf rond met papagaai. Jammer dat de prijzen vrij duur zijn! 5 euro voor een gewone foto en de rest is nog duurder! Daarna met de bus naar waterval en nadien naar bazaar. Timing is strak, maar nodig om groep wat bij elkaar te houden. Hadden 1,5h in bazaar (omdat we ook waterval deden) en dat is vrij kort. Ogen te kort om allrs…”
Shop Bodrum’s farmers’ market, learn a 5-course Aegean meal with an expert chef, then eat lunch with Aegean views and a glass of wine.
“I brought my sister to this as a surprise birthday present. What a joy it was! Asli brought us shopping and tasting in the market, followed by prepping lunch in the most beautiful setting of a winery with everything so well prepared with plenty of staff to help. She was fantastic at explaining what to do. Lunch was superb. Served with a selection of wines. My sister was blown away as was I! I'd highly recommend this. We were just two but they can cater for big groups too. Lots of options including overnights and weekend deals. I would return in a heartbeat. The aesthetic of the entire venue is…”
Pick the day first, then pick who runs it.
