Most tourists staying in Side or Belek ask about Manavgat market on Saturday. The answer is: the market is not on Saturday.
Manavgat bazaar opens on **Mondays and Thursdays**. If you plan your visit around any other day, you will find the market area quiet and mostly closed.
This guide covers the opening days, hours, what each day offers, how to get there from the main resort areas, and what to buy when you arrive.
Manavgat Bazaar Opening Days
The Manavgat bazaar operates twice a week:
– **Monday**, mainly clothing, textiles, household goods, and souvenirs
– **Thursday**, mainly fresh produce, spices, local food products, and olives
Both days run from approximately **08:00 to 18:00**, though the market is most active between 08:00 and 13:00. After midday, vendors begin packing up and the selection thins out.
If you only have one chance to go, the choice between Monday and Thursday depends on what you are looking for. Shopping for a tablecloth, a leather bag, or cheap summer clothing? Monday. Looking for fresh figs, local olive oil, or a bag of mixed spices to take home? Thursday.
—
What Time Does the Manavgat Bazaar Open?
The market stalls start setting up from around 07:00. By 08:00 most vendors are ready.
**Best time to arrive: 08:30 to 10:30.**
Arriving in this window gives you the freshest produce, the fullest stalls, and space to move. By 11:30 the crowds from resort shuttle buses arrive, and by 13:00 some stalls are already dismantling.
If you are arriving from a hotel in Belek or Side, a 09:00 arrival at the market is realistic with a 08:00 departure from your hotel.
—
Monday vs Thursday, Which Day Is Better?
This is the question most visitors ask once they know both days exist.
**Monday** is the better day for:
– Summer clothing (cheap t-shirts, linen trousers, beachwear)
– Leather goods (belts, bags, sandals)
– Souvenirs (ceramic plates, Turkish tea sets, textiles)
– Household items
**Thursday** is the better day for:
– Fresh fruit and vegetables (especially local figs, tomatoes, peppers in summer)
– Spices (cumin, sumac, dried herbs, chilli flakes)
– Olives and olive oil
– Local cheeses and dairy products
– Dried nuts and dried fruit
Clare from Manchester came to Manavgat on a Thursday in August specifically looking for spices to take back. She bought a full selection from a single stall, spent about €12, and said it was one of the better purchases she made all holiday. She asked us afterwards if we ran tours that stopped at the market. We do.
—
What to Buy at Manavgat Bazaar
### On Both Days
Regardless of which day you visit, you will find:
– **Textiles**: tablecloths, towels, scarves, embroidered fabrics
– **Spices**: available in bulk, sold loose by weight
– **Dried goods**: nuts, dried fruit, teas
– **Souvenirs**: standard Turkish souvenir fare, ceramics, evil eye items, copper goods
Prices
Prices at Manavgat bazaar are lower than in the tourist shops of Side or Alanya. Bargaining is normal but not aggressive. A starting offer of 70-80% of the asking price is a reasonable opening.
For produce, prices are fixed and not negotiable. For clothing and textiles, there is room to negotiate.
—
How to Get to Manavgat Bazaar
From Side (7 km)
Side to Manavgat is a 10-15 minute drive. Dolmus (minibuses) run regularly between Side and Manavgat town centre, the fare is minimal. Taxis are also widely available and the journey costs around €5-8 one way.
Alternatively, the [Side and Manavgat private tour] includes a stop at the bazaar alongside the Apollo Temple and Manavgat waterfall. Hotel pickup from Side, Belek, and Antalya hotels is included.
From Belek (30 km)
Belek to Manavgat takes approximately 30-35 minutes by car. There is no direct dolmus connection from Belek resort hotels. A taxi or private transfer is the practical option from here.
From Antalya City (75 km)
Antalya to Manavgat is about a 75-minute drive. The intercity bus (otobus) runs regularly from Antalya’s main bus terminal to Manavgat, journey time approximately 60-70 minutes. For a more comfortable option, a private day trip covering both Side and Manavgat can be booked with hotel pickup.
For a full overview of what is available in the Manavgat area, see [Manavgat excursions].
—
What to Expect at Manavgat Bazaar
The bazaar takes place in a dedicated market area in Manavgat town centre. It is an outdoor market, partially covered with awnings.
It is a genuine local market, not a tourist bazaar. The majority of shoppers on any given Monday or Thursday are local residents, not tourists. This keeps prices more honest and the atmosphere more authentic than the souvenir-heavy markets in Side harbour or Kaleiçi.
A few practical notes:
– **Bring cash.** Most stalls do not accept card payments. ATMs are available near the market entrance.
– **Bring a bag.** Plastic bags are provided by most vendors but bringing your own is more practical.
– **Wear comfortable shoes.** The market covers a large area and the ground is uneven in places.
– **Water.** It gets warm by mid-morning in summer. A bottle of water before you go in is worth it.
Mehmet, a German tourist staying in Belek, arranged a private transfer to the Thursday market specifically to buy spices and olive oil. He spent two hours there, spent under €30, and asked us to book the return transfer for 13:00, by which point most of the fresh produce section was already sold out. Thursday mornings fill fast.
—
Manavgat Bazaar FAQ
Manavgat bazaar is open on Mondays and Thursdays. These are the two weekly market days. The market is not open on Saturday, Sunday, or any other day of the week.
Stalls begin setting up from 07:00. The market is fully operational by 08:00 and runs until approximately 18:00. Most vendors start packing up after 13:00.
Monday is better for clothing, textiles, and souvenirs. Thursday is better for fresh produce, spices, and local food products. If you can only go once, choose based on what you want to buy.
Yes. It is referred to interchangeably as Manavgat bazaar, Manavgat market, and Manavgat Grand Bazaar. They are all the same weekly market in Manavgat town centre.
Side is 7 km from Manavgat. Dolmus minibuses run frequently and take 10-15 minutes. Taxis cost approximately €5-8 one way. A private tour from Side that includes a bazaar stop is also available.
Yes. The Side and Manavgat private tour includes a stop at the bazaar. Hotel pickup from Belek, Side, and Antalya hotels is included. You pay on the day, no upfront payment required.
**Want to combine the bazaar with more?** Our Side and Manavgat private tour covers the bazaar, the Apollo Temple in Side, and the Manavgat waterfall in one day. Hotel pickup is included from Belek, Side, and Antalya hotels.
You can also browse [things to do in Antalya] for other day trip options in the region.
We are based in Antalya. If you have a question about timing, transfers, or what the market is like on a specific day, send us a message on WhatsApp, we will give you a straight answer.
