Sultan Carpets — Local services in Göreme

TL;DR: This is THE place to go for learning about and purchasing your Turkish rug. Everyone is extremely kind, patient, and professional—you won’t regret it.

I had the best last day in Cappadocia, all thanks to Mustafa, Ali, and Sebo at @sultan_carpets. I happened to wander into their shop in search of a Turkish towel, but then curiosity (and my dream of owning a Turkish rug) took over. I thought I might get something small I could fit in my suitcase. But as Mustafa patiently (and quite graciously) taught me about the different types of rugs and I answered my questions, I realized I might want something bigger.

Mustafa pulled out so many options for me to see and explained details about each one. At no point did I ever feel pressured to make a choice or just buy one. I was given Apple tea while I debated over which one to get. Mustafa helped me narrow down to my pick and arranged to have my rug shipped back to the States. Also, Ali, who purchases all of the inventory, gave me the history of my chosen rug and I received a certificate of authenticity.

And then when I asked to take a few photos of one of their rooms (after purchasing this rug that I LOVE), with the intention of taking a few room shots and selfies, I ended up getting a mini photo shoot with Sebo! He is a great photographer and he used my DSLR to take amazing photos of me in their beautiful (and very IG-worthy) open air showroom upstairs. I am extremely awkward in front of the camera, but somehow he made me look amazing.

*I will note, that if you aren’t purchasing a rug, there is a fee to take photos, but it is completely understandable because it’s a business for selling rugs—not to be an IG background studio. So please be respectful when you visit, because this is a...

We had a wonderful experience at Sultan Carpets. We intentionally visited the store to do a self-guided photoshoot, and the owner warmly welcomed us upon arrival. When we mentioned our plan, he was very accommodating and pointed us to the second level of the store, where the setup is located.

The space costs €20 for 30 minutes, which is quite affordable compared to similar places, based on other reviews I’ve read. They also offer a professional photographer with drone services for €100, but we brought our own tripod and remote clicker, so we did everything ourselves.

The great part is that you get the entire space to yourself, which is comforting when you're paying for a private session. Usually, they require bookings in advance, but since the space was free when we arrived, we were able to start right away. If you have a specific time in mind, it's best to visit in advance and reserve.

The setup upstairs is absolutely divine—beautiful carpets, bench, pillows and vibrant lamps create a magical atmosphere. We weren’t rushed at all and were able to finish our shoot comfortably.

Afterwards, we had a pleasant chat with the owner about the carpets on display. He has such a positive vibe, which was a lovely touch. We also learned that they organize international shipping if you decide to purchase larger carpets, which is great to know if you're traveling.

Highly...

We made a friend in Cappadocia! Mr. Ali, the owner of Sultan's Carpet, is an honest and kind man who values integrity. Despite being in a position to overcharge tourists, he maintains fair and reasonable prices, which speaks volumes about his character.

I discovered his shop after visting Galerie Ikman, where I was quoted 400 USD for a machine-made silk carpet. I had no intention of buying but decided to stop by Sultan's Carpet out of curiosity to compare prices (Ikman apparently had quoted me over 3x the price)…

Mr. Ali welcomed us warmly, and our casual visit quickly turned into an insightful conversation. He generously spent over an hour sharing his knowledge about Turkish carpets, the history of carpet-making, and the distinctions between Iranian, Afghan, and Persian styles. He even told us stories about starting his business in the U.S. and living in New York City, just like us! His passion and transparency were evident, and his prices were fair, so I ended up purchasing a carpet—something I hadn’t initially planned to do. Plus, I simply enjoyed the friendly conversation & we even discussed Erdogan’s policies briefly!

I’m so glad we crossed paths with Mr. Ali. I’m looking forward to seeing his team when they visit New...