Aradığını Bulursun Flea Market
İzmir has had a flea-market tradition for as long as I can remember. I had heard about the market since childhood, yet somehow did not manage to visit until a few years ago. Then, one week, my brother nearly bought a retro black-and-white television for TRY2.50, which was all the encouragement we needed to go back. At first, perhaps because we had only recently returned from Kenya, the market reminded us of local markets there. As we walked farther, however, the mood shifted to the Turkey of 1970s films. It felt as though Serpil Çakmaklı might appear around one corner, followed by Nuri Alço carrying a bottle of soda.
Every time I visit a flea market, the same saying comes to mind: “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” For anyone who knows what to look for, this place can be priceless. Spread over an area almost as large as an ordinary neighbourhood market, it seemed to sell everything from cars to İbrahim Tatlıses’s first cassette. You simply had to know what you wanted. One trader called it the “aradığını bulursun” market—the market where you find what you are looking for—which summed it up perfectly. Another vendor selling pliers for TRY2 shouted, “At this price, even a thief wouldn’t sell them,” which was an equally vivid description.
Every time I visit a flea market, the same saying comes to mind: “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” For anyone who knows what to look for, this place can be priceless. Spread over an area almost as large as an ordinary neighbourhood market, it seemed to sell everything from cars to İbrahim Tatlıses’s first cassette. You simply had to know what you wanted. One trader called it the “aradığını bulursun” market—the market where you find what you are looking for—which summed it up perfectly. Another vendor selling pliers for TRY2 shouted, “At this price, even a thief wouldn’t sell them,” which was an equally vivid description.
|
|
Prices followed classic market logic: they depended partly on how the seller read you. I would never buy anything without bargaining. If you dislike haggling but also dislike overpaying, do not dress too smartly for a flea-market visit. The same principle applied to İkiçeşmelik, long known for its second-hand dealers.
The market used to operate on Yeşildere Avenue, on the site now occupied by the Atatürk Mask monument. It later moved several times and was even suspended for a period. When we wrote the original article, it was held on Sundays in the Gıda Çarşısı area.
We left this short visit with an uninterruptible power supply that cost TRY10, although I had not yet tested whether it worked. I promised to report back. We also found the television, but this time the options cost TRY40 and TRY70.
Current note: The old Gıda Çarşısı Sunday location in this article is no longer reliable. Bornova Municipality removed the flea and antiques markets from the former viaduct site in January 2025. Recent 2026 listings describe the Özkanlar flea market as operating on Tuesdays in Bornova, but locations can change. Before setting out, confirm the latest municipal announcement or contact Bornova Municipality rather than relying on the old map link. Information checked in August 2026.
The market used to operate on Yeşildere Avenue, on the site now occupied by the Atatürk Mask monument. It later moved several times and was even suspended for a period. When we wrote the original article, it was held on Sundays in the Gıda Çarşısı area.
We left this short visit with an uninterruptible power supply that cost TRY10, although I had not yet tested whether it worked. I promised to report back. We also found the television, but this time the options cost TRY40 and TRY70.
Current note: The old Gıda Çarşısı Sunday location in this article is no longer reliable. Bornova Municipality removed the flea and antiques markets from the former viaduct site in January 2025. Recent 2026 listings describe the Özkanlar flea market as operating on Tuesdays in Bornova, but locations can change. Before setting out, confirm the latest municipal announcement or contact Bornova Municipality rather than relying on the old map link. Information checked in August 2026.
If You Have Upcoming Travel Plans...
When you make a purchase by clicking our links, we get to earn a small commission but you still pay the same price. So, it's a win-win for everyone!
Book hotels via Booking.com
|
Find Cheap Flights via Skyscanner
|
Get a Travel Insurance via World Nomads
|
Make International Money Transfer via Wise
|
Book Tours & Attractions via Getyourguide
|
Book a Cruise
|
Book Bus/Ferry/Train/Transfer via 12goAsia
|
Find free accommodation in exchange for petsitting
|