This walking tour meets at the Clock Tower in Konak and spends about three of its four hours inside Kemeraltı Bazaar, with a guide and a run of tastings. The sample menu on the booking page includes boyoz, the flaky pastry that İzmir claims as its own, gevrek, gözleme with ayran, sarma, lahmacun, İzmir köfte, beans with rice and pickles, black mulberry water, sambali dessert and Turkish coffee cooked on hot sand. It is called a sample menu, so the actual stops may differ, but the mix of snack stalls, small restaurants and tea or coffee breaks stays consistent. The guide takes you into lanes and hans you might miss alone, explains the local specialities and handles the ordering, which helps if Turkish menus are new to you. Alcoholic drinks and transport are not included, and the tour ends back at the Clock Tower.
Come hungry, and plan a light breakfast. The tour is a progression through the day's flavours: a pastry and tea to start, a savoury stop for lahmacun or gözleme, a hearty plate of köfte or beans and rice, and sweets and coffee to finish. Portions are tasting sizes, but by the end most people are full.
Because the stops are small, family-run places, you will see the daily life of the bazaar, from tea runners to grocers, and the guide can explain the ingredients and the habits behind each dish, such as why İzmir köfte is baked with potatoes and tomato sauce.
Practical details
The meeting point is at the Clock Tower in Konak Square, so arrive a few minutes early and look for your guide. The tour is on foot with a lot of standing and walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Tell the operator about allergies or dietary needs when you book, since the sample menu includes meat, dairy and gluten, and ask whether vegetarian substitutions are possible.
Children can join at a discounted rate, but this is a long, adult-paced walk. The bazaar is busiest on weekday late mornings and Saturdays, so a weekday morning start gives you the best experience.
A food tour on day one is a smart way to orient yourself, because you learn the lanes and the dishes to seek out again later. Follow it with a walk along the Kordon, or come back to the bazaar on your own to buy spices, nuts or a favourite pastry. If you prefer to graze independently, you can follow the same snacks without a guide, but the tour adds context and takes care of the ordering. Check the booking page for the current schedule and price before you decide.
What to expect
The experience
A guided walking food tour from the Clock Tower through Kemeraltı Bazaar with a series of tastings and tea or coffee breaks.
Best time
A weekday morning, when the bazaar is open and the lanes are less crowded.
How long
About four hours, ending back at the Clock Tower.
Tips
Arrive hungry, wear comfortable shoes, mention allergies when you book and meet your guide at the Clock Tower a few minutes early.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers and first-timers who want to taste İzmir's specialities with a guide.
- Families
- Possible with children at a discounted rate, but it is a long walk and meat is on the menu.
- Couples
- Share a four-hour tasting walk, then finish with a Turkish coffee and a walk on the Kordon.
- Pair with
- Konak Square, the Agora of Smyrna and a sunset on the Kordon.
- Time needed
- Four hours.
Good questions
Where does the İzmir food tour start?+
It meets at the Clock Tower on Konak Square and ends back there. Arrive a few minutes early to find your guide.
What will I taste?+
The sample menu includes boyoz, gevrek, gözleme with ayran, lahmacun, İzmir köfte, beans with rice, sambali and Turkish coffee on sand. The actual stops may differ.
How long is the tour?+
About four hours, with roughly three of them in Kemeraltı Bazaar. It is a mostly walking tour with several tasting stops.
Is alcohol included?+
No, alcoholic drinks, personal expenses and transport are not included. Tea and coffee breaks and the food tastings are included.
Can I join if I have dietary needs?+
Tell the operator when you book. The sample menu includes meat, dairy and gluten, so ask whether substitutions are possible.
