06-03-2023 -
Tips & Guides
Open Markets in Cappadocia: Colorful, Vibrant, and Fresh
Cappadocia is a beautiful region with various natural and historical wonders. But among them all there are open-air bazaars in Cappadocia, they are truly authentic, colorful, and lively. According to many travelers' comments, you really must visit the outdoor market while you are in Cappadocia.
Visiting bazaars in Cappadocia is a special experience because of the local vendors, the rainbow of colors, the intriguing smells, and the cacophony of sounds. One of the most beloved aspects of Cappadocia is the bazaars and open markets.
Before we dig into the details of the colorful bazaars of Cappadocia, let’s have a look at the Cappadocia Travel Pass®. This pass gives you access to 35+ amazing attractions, special discounts, museum entrances, and many more. From your transportation from the airport to underground city entrances, everything you need to do in Cappadocia is included. Now let’s have a look at the colorful bazaars of Turkey.
Cappadocian Bazaars
In most nations, the outdoor market offers tourists a truly local experience. Also, the bazaars of Cappadocia are not intended for visitors, therefore they are more authentically Turkish and not just pretentious imitations of traditional Turkish life. Although the season has an impact on the local goods, Cappadocia's open markets are always crowded since they are not dependent on the tourist season.
The open-air market is open in a town one day, then it moves to another town. The sellers close up shop each day and open the next morning in a different town, much like a traveling circus. It is like every Saturday in Ürgüp and every Friday in Avanos.
Local People in Cappadocian Bazaars
The market has a wonderful mix of people. Young and old, bearded and bald, religious and secular, men and women, rich and poor, all come together functioning in harmonious chaos. Village sellers and shoppers with their tell-tell colorful clothing, the locals stocking up for the week, and a few tourists with their distinctly foreign garb, namely cameras, and shorts, all come together. Weekly visits to the same sellers help you establish some kind of relationship or at the very least a certain level of familiarity and trust, which makes the experience more pleasurable, fulfilling, and life-giving.
What to Buy in Cappadocian Bazaars?
Fresh, beautiful, organic, everything imaginable produced in a dry-looked environment. Every tourist without fail mentions how rich and flavorful the produce is. Fantastic to pick fruits and vegetables when they are fresh and delicious! Here are some suggestions for you to buy during your bazaar trip apart from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Spices: For tourists, this is the real treat. Stock up before you leave. At a quarter of the cost of Europe and North America, you can get all of these fresh spices. It is far preferable to purchase them at a neighborhood bazaar rather than Istanbul's big bazaars, which cater to tourists and have prices to match.
Pumpkin Seeds: Cappadocian fields are covered in golden, oblong-shaped pumpkins full of excellent seeds throughout the late summer and early fall. After harvest, every woman in Cappadocia spends a few days cutting open pumpkins in her front yard in order to separate, dry, season, and cook the seeds. Anyone with extras can sell them at the bazaar. They have perfected the seasoning blend over time. You will be addicted to this delicacy.
Honey: People who prefer a healthy lifestyle substantially increased their intake of honey while drastically reducing their sugar intake when they switched to a healthier diet. Although the Baazar offers such a wide variety of possibilities, choosing the purity level you want is crucial. The "pure" honey can cost up to 400TL for a jar, whereas the market price for the same with added sugar is 100TL. It seems that bees take longer and do not fill the comb when left to their own instruments with flowers. In order to "assist" their animals, farmers feed them sugar. We suggest asking the merchant to let you sample the many varieties so you can decide if it is priced well.
Chestnut: Locals love chestnuts, especially in winter. If you have a wood/coal-burning stove as many locals do in their living room, it's great in the winter. You light it, add the chestnuts (kestane in Turkish), and then you can enjoy them after a short while. If you are grown up singing "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" but never eating them, you can now enjoy both singing about and eating them.
Dried Fruit: Turkish dried fruit is well-known worldwide, particularly among people with healthier diets. Especially sun-dried apricots and raisins of Cappadocia are great snacks. We have a blog post all about dried fruits and other dry delicacies of Cappadocia, read it here.
There are many more to see and buy in Cappadocian bazaars, you need to visit them for yourselves and be amazed. So, if you are planning to come to Cappadocia, buy your Cappadocia Travel Pass® now, you can use it whenever you want. You can join 35+ amazing attractions with this pass, and you will definitely save time and money with it! Until next time, have a great time in Cappadocia!
FAQ
Are there bazaars in Cappadocia?
Yes, there are weekly bazaars in Cappadocia, and they are absolutely authentic with various fruits, vegetables, and even cowbells!
What food is Cappadocia famous for?
Manti and pottery kebab are famous foods of Cappadocia, but you can taste various delicacies while you are around! Don’t miss the bazaars of Cappadocia.
What can you buy in Cappadocia Turkey?
- Fairy Chimney Miniatures
- Handmade Pottery
- Onyx and Zultanite Jewelry
- Cappadocia Wine
- Handmade Carpets and Rugs.
- Traditionally Clothed Dolls
- Dried Apricots, Raisins, Pestil, Koftur from Cappadocian bazaars
Is Cappadocia Turkey cheap?
Yes, Cappadocia is fairly cheaper than Istanbul, especially in food.
Do I need cash in Cappadocia?
It is better to have some cash with you while you are in Cappadocia. Credit cards are mostly accepted in businesses but you definitely want to buy some things from local villagers.
What is special in Cappadocia?
Cappadocia is well-known for its unique rock formations like fairy chimneys, rich history, unique cuisine, and picturesque hot air balloon rides. This historic area, which is located in Central Anatolia, draws large numbers of visitors from all over the world.
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