Village Markets of Aegean
In Turkey, all cities, towns, neighborhoods even villages have a day market where the fruits and vegetables come from villages. I remember going to one of these markets which was near our house every Wednesday. People do their weekly shopping from these day markets since it is cheaper and fresher than the supermarkets near the houses. These day markets also had other stuff as well. Clothing, kitchen equipment, some inexpensive jewelry, and more.
So, the village markets are quite interesting and fun places to wander around. While you explore these markets you can try fresh fruits, spices and maybe you can find your dream village ladies’ MC Hammer pants.
Tire Day Market
Only on Tuesdays
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/HXhbNdULgQ6LzGJZ8
Tire is a beautiful town with its old, oriel window Ottoman houses, felt shops, packsaddle shops, quilt makers, and halvah shops. It is almost impossible to see these shops in the big cities anymore. And the day market here might be the largest one in Turkey. In the Aegean part of Turkey, they use lots of seasonal local herbs. So, you can find these herbs at the market. Besides local fruits and vegetables, Tire Market has an extensive clothing section as well. You should try the local cheese and olive oil too. But don’t get full. Tire is also famous for its meatballs. Here some restaurant suggestions for you.
Hacioglu restaurant, which is not far from the market, makes the best Tire Kofte. Kaplan restaurant which’s outside of the town, famous for local mezes. Toptepe Restaurant is another good one famous for local dishes like stuffed pumpkin blossom, Keskek (which is a sort of ceremonial meat or chicken and wheat or barley stew), Tandir (tandoor is a pit with burned wood at the bottom and used to cook meet) and curd cheese desert (in Turkish: Lor Peyniri Tatlisi). And you can have a Turkish coffee or sage tea at Ayazma Derekahve tea house.
Alacati Day Market
Only on Saturdays
Location: https://g.page/alacatipazari?share
Alacati Day Market is an old market that started in 1945. The farmers from Izmir’s villages and towns come here to sell their fruits, vegetables, and more. This is not that an inexpensive market compares to the others. Still, the Alacati market is one of the most colorful ones with its clothing section, shoes, textiles, Aegean styles curtains, table cloths, and linen bed covers and accessories.
Also, why you are here in Alacati, you should look at the antique shops and enjoy the local cafes and restaurants since Alacati became a gourmet destination.
If you miss this market, you can try Cesme Day Market which is on Sunday.
Ayvalik Day Market
Only on Thursdays
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/6TsTeTCvA7GwYd2U7
Ayvalik Day Market is also a market with plenty of fruits and vegetables, herbs, and olive oil and olive varieties from the surrounding villages and towns. So, this market is one of the major markets of the region. Even people from the Greek island Lesvos come to this market to do their weekly fresh vegetables and fruit shopping. When the economic crisis hit Greece, it affected the market as well. So, if you wander at this market, depending on the season, you can see black-eyed pea, okra, small pumpkin, zucchini blossoms, and strawberry.
After the market, you can explore this beautiful town full of old Greek houses and then go to the seaside and order papalina (sprat) and beer and watch Aegean.
Sigacik Day Market
Only on Sundays
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/eCvAhJmYE2WrCQu76
The most important feature of this market, set up on the streets in Sigacik Castle on Sundays, is that the municipality doesn’t let the products from the wholesale market hall into the village. The products sold here are fresh products that reach those who come to shop directly from the manufacturer to the market. Another feature is that the ladies who have set up stalls in the market sell the homemade pastries, baklavas, wraps, cookies, jams, and pickles that they have made with all their efforts in their homes. This market is also called the women’s market or the producer’s market. If you’re overwhelmed by the heat, tangerine cologne is perfect for refreshing. Or, if you think you need a drink, you can try homemade lemonade or cactus syrup.
Fethiye Day Market
Only on Tuesdays
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/gmxLdqyNJbD2WsDk6
This day market is so popular and famous even the tour agencies organize day trips from Marmaris, Dalyan, Kalkan, and Kas. But even for locals, it is a unique experience to see the farmer ladies who came here to sell the products they produced in their villages with their local clothes. At Fethiye day market, you can spend 2-3 hours. Fresh fruits, vegetables and local herbs, oregano, sage, and many more products collected from the tops of the Mediterranean are waiting for you here.
I want to suggest a couple of restaurants here. For fish, you should go to the fish market in the city. You can choose the seafood you want from the stalls and have it cooked in one of the restaurants that are in the same place. I can recommend Osman Restaurant here. The cooking money is 25 TL per person, and this includes warm garlic bread and a very nice green salad. There is also an excellent doner kebab shop in the spice shops section of the vegetable market located next to the fish market. His name is Cezayir Usta. His doner kebab is horizontal, while the doner kebabs are vertical. Also, you have to be there before 2 pm since the doner finishes early. Also in Fethiye, Meğri Restaurant is a place where you can eat home cooking.
Urla Art and Antique Market
Only on Sundays
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/SgY3Ko4JoT9q76Fe7
People first started to set up the market only on the last Sunday of the month. But it became so popular; they began to do it every Sunday. There are already some art and antique shops on the street. But with the people coming here to set up stalls, the road becomes very colorful. You can walk in the shades of old Greek houses and enjoy the art and antiques.
Bozburun Day Market
Only on Tuesdays
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/VzkH1rXXEfNMpwTt5
Bozburun is the end of everything. First of all, it’s where the road ends. From here, you need to continue by boat (I can almost hear some people say “better”). Then, Bozburun is where your stress will end. This is the place where you will get rid of the hassle of the city, its pollution and where you will find yourself. It’s a place where you can take the word noise out of your dictionary as long as you’re here. But Tuesdays are different. Tuesday is the market day here. .The ladies and men from the villages proudly present their products. Again you will find the freshest fruits, vegetables, local herbs here. But it’s famous for its honey. You should try pine and thyme honey. Then you’ll get it anyway. In addition, almonds, thyme, and sage tea are among the products that make this market different.
Yalikavak Day Market
Only on Thursdays
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/FtkszzmmSojeYJM28
Here’s a real market. People say it’s been open every Thursday for 50 years. I think the best market on Bodrum Peninsula is Yalikavak Market. In this market, there are textiles (locals call it a cloth market), souvenirs, accessories, jewelry stalls, and food. Again, Aegean herbs, dried vegetables, home jams, and wraps made by ladies with their hands, stuffings, pastries, and pancakes are the flavors that make this market different.
Other markets of the peninsula: Bodrum (fruits, vegetables) Thursday and Friday, Bodrum (textile) Tuesday, Gumbet Sunday, Bitez Thursday, Ortakent Wednesday, Turgutreis Saturday, Turkbuku Monday