Every day of the week, a market is held in a few neighborhoods or villages in Bodrum. In these markets, you can find everything from organic vegetables and fruits picked in the morning to the most fashionable clothes.
Old ladies with red salwar, apple cheeks, speaking with sweet Aegean accent, stalls covered with colorful Aegean herbs and vegetables whose freshness can be seen from meters away, old uncles trying to sell their own cracked walnuts and almonds, various colors of white-cream-yellow in caravans that have been turned into dairy stalls; cheeses, butters…A shopping culture that includes a great socio-cultural diversity on one side, and caresses gastronomic tastes on the other, and even offers variety of richness from clothes to earthenware pots, sandals to antiques..
Yes, it may come as a surprise to you, but Bodrum is not just about entertainment, sea, sun and nightlife. It’s the source of the delicious appetizers and delicious meals served in Bodrum's stylish restaurants, taverns and hotels is also the Bodrum bazaars. After all every dish made with fresh products from local producers is really delicious.
Which day and which market is in Bodrum?
According to Bodrum Municipality, the list of markets established in Bodrum as of February 2023 is as follows:
Monday: Kumbahce (Vegetables and Fruits), Guvercinlik (Vegetables-Fruit-Goods), Turkbuku (Vegetables-Fruit-Goods), İslamhaneleri (Vegetables-Fruit-Goods)
Tuesday: Bodrum (Goods), Golkoy (Vegetables, Fruits, Goods), Yalikavak (Vegetables, Fruits), Derekoy (Vegetables, Fruits, Goods), Turgutreis (Producer's Market-TARKO aka Bodrum Agricultural Development Cooperative)
Wednesday: Gumusluk (Vegetables-Fruit-Goods), Muskebi (Vegetables-Fruit), Akcaalan (Vegetables-Fruit-Goods), Gundogan (Vegetables-Fruit-Goods), Bodrum (Producer's Market-TARKO aka Bodrum Agricultural Development Cooperative)
Thursday: Yalikavak (Clothing), Akyarlar (Vegetables and Fruits, Goods), Bitez (Vegetables and Fruits), Bodrum (Vegetables and Fruits)
Friday: Bodrum (Vegetables and Fruits), Konacik (Vegetables, Fruits, Haberdashery), Yaliciftlik (Vegetables, Fruits, Haberdashery), Muskebi (Stuffs), Geris (Vegetables, Fruits), Mazi (vegetables, Fruits), Yalikavak (Producer's Market-TARKO aka Bodrum Agricultural Development Cooperative)
Saturday: Turgutreis (Vegetables-Fruit-Stuffs), Yaka (Vegetables-Fruit-Stuffs), Yalikavak (Second Hand Market), Muskebi (Producer's Market-TARKO aka Bodrum Agricultural Development Cooperative )
Sunday: Gumbet (Vegetables , Fruits, Goods), Mumcular (Vegetables and Fruits, Goods), Kizilagac (Vegetables , Fruits,Goods), Dirmil (Vegetables , Fruits, Goods), Koyunbaba (Vegetables , Fruits), Yahsi (Vegetables , Fruits , Goods), Cirkan (Vegetables, Fruits, Goods ), Bitez (Second Hand Bazaar), Bodrum (Antique Market), Turgutreis (Second Hand Market)
Let's take a closer look at some of these markets.
Bodrum Marketplace
Of course, the most famous and largest of these markets is the one held on Fridays in the center of Bodrum. In addition to Bodrum's own villages, many producers coming from the villages of the surrounding districts open stalls in this market. They sell a wide variety of products that they grow on their stalls. In addition to Bodrum residents and tourists, Bodrum's famous restaurants are also customers of this market. You can find all kinds of Aegean herbs in the market, especially Cnicus benedictus, nettle, cowpea and violet herbs, freshly picked mushrooms, Bodrum tangerines, oranges and citrus fruits, olives and olive oils, shelled or peeled local almonds. In the place where this market is established, a clothing market is also set up on Tuesdays. In this market, besides clothes and haberdashery, you can find all kinds of fabrics and curtains, souvenirs unique to Bodrum and even the famous Bodrum sandals at the best prices.
Guvercinlik Marketplace
Guvercinlik is a peaceful fishing town 20 km from Bodrum. One of the most important things that make this market special is its view. In this market, which is located by the sea, both fresh vegetables and fruits of the region and clothing and haberdashery products are sold at the same time. An important part of vegetables and fruits consists of organic products. While you are doing your shopping, you can even see the fishermen pulling their nets from the sea. The cafes, seaside restaurants and taverns in the square where the market is set up are also very attractive to stop and breathe.
Yalikavak Marketplace
Another name for Yalikavak market is “socialite” market. The reason for this is that Yalikavak is preferred by people with the highest income in Turkey for both vacation and living. There is a vegetable and fruit market on Tuesdays and Fridays, an antique market on Saturdays, and a clothing market on Thursdays. The clothing market, in particular, is one of the most popular markets in the entire region, as it contains the latest fashion products.
Turgutreis Marketplace
If breakfast is in question, the most famous market is the Turgutreis market, which is held on Saturdays. In this market, where there are many dairy and local producers, it is possible to come across sweet creams, butter, raw milk that has been milked in the morning, a thousand and one kinds of cheese, olives of all sizes and organic village eggs. While you're lost among the stalls, you find yourself saying "a market can only be so appetizing".
Other markets definitely deserve to be seen as well. However, it would be a shame to skip Bodrum bazaar, which is set up on Friday. Even if you don't shop, you should definitely taste the pancakes of the market.