Shopping in Turkey from Bulgaria. Odrin, Lozengrad — is it worth going shopping

More and more residents of Bulgaria prefer to travel to Turkey for shopping. They are not deterred by queues at the border, nor by restrictions related to the pandemic. The Turkish lira has recently fallen sharply against the lev and the euro, so cheap goods have become even cheaper, while quality has remained at the same high level. So, shopping in Turkey from Bulgaria by Bulgaria Avenue – read on and get ready to go shopping with us.

Turkey – the most popular shopping destinations

Turkey is famous for its bazaars, markets and shopping centres. They are found in every large town. However, Bulgarians prefer shopping in two cities – Edirne  (Bulgarian name – Odrin) and Kırklareli (the corresponding Bulgarian equivalent – Lozengrad).

It is here that buses regularly depart from Bulgarian cities, and private trips are organised. Quite often several people get together, hire a car or a minibus and travel in small groups, all the more so as no visa is required for this country and you can get there very quickly. Trips are especially popular during the traditional sale period, before Christmas. People go to the bazaars to prepare children for school, for prom nights and to stock up before the holidays. 

The most popular purchases are:

• Food products. These include cheese, butter, baklava, sweets, kadaif, halva, lokum, churchkhela, chocolate and coffee.
• Household chemicals. Tourists from Bulgaria are happy to buy powders, fabric softeners and cleaning products.
• Clothing. Shopping centres have boutiques and shops of brands such as LC Waikiki, Koton, DeFacto, Colin’s and Adidas. Markets sell cheap clothing from local brands or non-original products.
• Household goods. Shoppers buy curtains, furniture, ceramic tiles and wallpaper. 
• Medicines. Prices for many medicines are 3–4 times cheaper than for Bulgarian equivalents.
• Jewellery. Shopping in Turkey is unique from the point of view of those who love gold and silver jewellery.

In addition, tourists from Bulgaria who have come to Turkey for shopping are very fond of the local restaurants. Delicious dishes are inexpensive, while the portions are huge.

Before travelling to Turkey, we recommend making sure that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months. Foreigners living in Bulgaria on the basis of a residence permit or permanent residence must have their identity card with them. When children travel with a grandmother, grandfather, mother or father, the consent of the parent who is not travelling is required for the child’s trip to Turkey.

Edirne (Odrin)

If you want to buy clothing, household chemicals, medicines and delicacies, and to enjoy the process of choosing, welcome to Edirne. 

Several large shopping centres operate in the city. The most famous are "Erasta" and "Margi Outlet". They house clothing shops of many well-known European, Turkish and American brands. People also come to the malls for cosmetics and shoes. Most sales assistants speak Bulgarian. 

Household chemical goods are best bought in small specialised shops or in Migros supermarkets. 

For cheap clothing, curtains, bed linen and carpets, you can visit the markets, including the well-known Blue Bazaar. It is located next to Margi Outlet. It is open every day except Friday and Sunday. If you have come to Edirne for manufactured goods, do not think you will be able to walk into the Blue Bazaar and leave without fruit, sweets, nuts or spices. The market shines with the bright colours of fresh produce. Everything looks appetising and is worth tasting and taking home as a delicious souvenir. Some people even come with cool bags and buy fish and dairy products to take home. 

Increasingly, people travel to Edirne not only for shopping, but also to stroll through the beautiful city. Odrin is a place where you can see the magnificent Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO cultural heritage site, walk across the Gazi Mihal Bridge, visit the museum of health, stroll through the beautiful centre, enjoy a tasty lunch and, in spring, immerse yourself in the beauty of the tulip parade. In this way, shopping in Turkey is combined with sightseeing tours. 

Kırklareli (Lozengrad)

The city is closer to the Bulgarian border, so tourists visit it more often. However, from the point of view of shopping, Kırklareli is inferior to Edirne. There are no such markets and large shops here. On the other hand, it is a paradise for those with a sweet tooth and lovers of tasty food.

A multitude of small shops offer a wide variety of cheeses, brined cheese and ayran. In the Migros supermarkets, traditional for Turkey, you can buy food products and household chemicals, and at the pharmacies – cheap medicines. Lozengrad also has leather and shoe shops. Some of them are attached to factories. 

But the main thing in Lozengrad is the sweets. Small shops sell fresh nuts, baklava, lokum, churchkhela, pişmaniye and kadaif. Do not leave the city without trying the sweet delicacies with genuine Turkish coffee!

Bulgaria Avenue recommends shopping in Turkey from Bulgaria. In Edirne you can buy clothing and household chemicals at low prices, and at the same time stroll through the ancient streets and try dishes of the national cuisine. Welcome to Lozengrad for shoes, home care products and sweets.