What Awaits You At Old Bazaar Antalya? | Review & Hours
When I began exploring the markets in Antalya, many locals encouraged me to visit luxurious and high-end shopping centers. However, my interest leaned more toward discovering old and traditional markets. After asking around among the people of Antalya, I learned that the best historical market in the city, which could meet my needs and interests, was located in the Muratpaşa district.
On the day I decided to visit this market, I wore comfortable shoes to roam its narrow streets and alleys without any worries, collecting the information I was seeking. Now, in this article, I intend to share my experience of visiting this traditional market with you.
My Experience Visiting the Old Market of Antalya
Table of Contents
As soon as I arrived at the old market in Antalya, I felt like I had traveled back in time. Most of the goods were displayed somewhat haphazardly on carts, and middle-aged vendors sold them with care and patience. Some sellers had their own dedicated stalls, creating a slightly more modern atmosphere.
The old market of Antalya consisted of narrow, winding alleys, with shops lined up on both sides. The atmosphere of this market reminded me, to some extent, of walking through history. Colorful stalls stretched as far as the eye could see, and the vendors worked tirelessly to attract customers. The noise and activity in the market were so intense that it’s fair to say no vendor was silent, most advertised their products loudly and energetically.
In this market, more than 90% of the sellers adhered to authentic Turkish culture and spoke the Turkish language. While some of them tried to converse with tourists like me in English, their English was often not as fluent as one might expect.
The variety of goods in the old market of Antalya was truly impressive, though there was no particular order in the arrangement of the stalls. For instance, textile stalls were located right next to food stalls, and it wasn’t organized in a way where each trade had its own designated section.
Some of the younger vendors appeared to have more aesthetically pleasing arrangements for their products. However, in many cases, the items of older shopkeepers were scattered haphazardly on platforms. Despite the noise and the crowded atmosphere, the vendors were mostly cheerful and friendly. A sense of warmth and hospitality was evident in their behavior, showing their respect for customers through patience and kindness.
What Is Sold in the Old Market of Antalya?
Upon entering the market, an unusual scent caught my attention. Later, I realized this distinctive aroma was coming from a large spice shop. The spices were neatly arranged in their designated spots. The first thing that captured my interest in this market was these spices. Their scent was so strong that it filled the entire market, creating a unique atmosphere.
The variety of products in the market was truly remarkable. As far as the eye could see, there were clothing stalls—some well-organized, others quite chaotic. Other notable stalls included handmade jewelry, traditional crafts, decorative ceramic items, vintage audio and video equipment, and booths selling Turkish specialty foods, particularly the famous baklava of the region.
For your convenience, I’ve compiled a table of the shops I noticed in the old market of Antalya to provide you with a clearer understanding of what’s available:
| All kinds of clothing | Glass decorations | Ceramic decorations |
| Various dishes | Handmade watches | Handmade accessories |
| Various spices | Agricultural products | Traditional products |
| Old rugs | Various rugs | Traditional Turkish dishes |
| Tea | Coffee | Children’s toys |
| Audio equipment (no boxes) | Video equipment (no boxes) | Bags |
| Shoes | Backpacks | Porcelain dishes |
| Copper dishes | Copper utensils | Antiques |
| Second-hand items | Rare imported products | Sports equipment |
My Shopping Experience in the Old Market of Antalya
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the market’s hustle and bustle, I decided to enter a relatively quiet shop. This shop was very well-organized, offering a range of sculptures, decorative ceramic and glass items, watches, and bedside lamps. I browsed for a while, but the prices shocked me. Surprisingly, the prices in this shop were nearly identical to those in the luxurious MarkAntalya shopping mall, whereas I had expected the prices in an old market to be at least slightly lower than in luxury shopping centers.
Despite this initial surprise, I chose not to jump to conclusions. Instead, I gave myself time to explore other shops more thoroughly and gather more information to form a better perspective.
After leaving the first store, I entered some clothing shops to gather information about the prices of clothes as well. To be honest, many of the clothes were incomplete in terms of sizing, colors, and designs, but it was clear that they were of decent quality.
The prices of the clothes were truly variable; some items were very cheap, while others were more expensive. After visiting five clothing stalls, I realized that upon entering each shop, most sellers initially announced their prices about 20% higher than the actual value. Therefore, you need to Bargaining with the sellers to get a discount.
Thus, I must say that the prices in this market are generally cheaper than in luxury shopping centers, but to make a good purchase, you need bargaining skills. Otherwise, the sellers will likely sell the products to you at higher prices.
Another important tip I heard from a middle-aged local in Antalya was that if I wanted to buy a product at a fair price in this market, bargaining alone would not suffice. He advised me to carry cash since sellers tend to give better discounts to buyers who pay in cash.
After paying closer attention, I realized this advice was indeed accurate. Sellers often offered better discounts for cash payments, which could lead to significant savings for buyers.
For me, as a tourist, distinguishing between an original Nike sneaker and a fake one in this market was challenging because the sellers insisted that everything was authentic. To clarify this matter, I went to a food stall to grab something to eat and talk to someone experienced in shopping from this market.
A woman was eating a meal, and I asked her about the authenticity of the market’s items. She burst into laughter and said, “You’d have to be very lucky to find an authentic product in this market because everything here is fake.” Then she waved her hand and left.
In any case, based on my experience, if you’re looking for cheap souvenirs or even counterfeit items, Antalya’s old market offers a wide variety and provides opportunities for bargaining to reach your desired price. However, if you’re after original goods and reputable brands, this market cannot fully meet your needs. For authentic items, it’s better to visit luxury shopping centers like MarkAntalya Mall and other reputable brand outlets.
The Best Time to Visit Antalya’s Old Market
I asked one of the sellers about the market’s operating hours, and he explained that Antalya’s Old Market doesn’t have strict working hours but is generally open every day of the week. However, some stalls might open or close earlier or later without prior notice. According to him, the market usually opens at 9 a.m., and if there’s a special occasion or a large number of tourists, the stall owners might stay open until 9 p.m.
From my experience, if you want to shop during quieter times, it’s best to visit around 1 p.m. when the number of visitors is relatively low. Early mornings and afternoons until evening tend to be busier with shoppers. On weekends, the market becomes surprisingly crowded, hosting not only buying and selling activities but also various art exhibitions.
Tips While Shopping at the Market
When asking sellers about the prices of items, I noticed that the prices quoted to me as a tourist were sometimes several times higher than those given to local Turks. As a result, I followed my usual habit of visiting multiple shops to identify the cheapest sellers. Overall, I felt that the vendors were quite unfair to non-locals, often offering them significantly inflated prices.
Another point to mention is that you should be cautious about your handbag and other valuable belongings, such as your mobile phone, while in the market. During crowded times, there’s a chance of theft. I recommend always keeping an eye on your personal items in busy areas.
Location of Antalya’s Old Market
I took a taxi to Antalya’s Old Market, but I heard that there’s also a bus station near the market. Unfortunately, I don’t have detailed information about the bus schedules.
If you have your own car, you should know that there’s a parking lot at the market’s entrance. However, it’s better to arrive early in the morning because the parking lot fills up quickly, and finding a spot later in the day can be challenging.
Address: Balbey, 07040 Muratpaşa/Antalya, Türkiye
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed Antalya’s Old Market for its preservation of old architecture, narrow winding alleys, and cobblestone pathways. The sellers were friendly, but the prices were initially quite high. There was so much room for bargaining that sometimes an item could be purchased for one-third of its original quoted price. While there were no authentic products to be found, the lively and bustling atmosphere of the market, along with the variety of items, made it a suitable place for buying small souvenirs as keepsakes.
Carrying cash can be a big advantage, and if you’re making bulk purchases, you can get excellent discounts. Lastly, if you’re interested in affordable and counterfeit clothing, you might want to read the article Fake Markets in Antalya Turkey for more detailed information on these topics.
