From Konak square, head to the famous bazaar called Kemeraltı. Here you can wander the market streets, reminiscent of the Egyptian Bazaar of Istanbul, for hours. Venture into one of the small stands selling dried herbs and dried vegetables, various traditional Turkish food and cuisine, local teas, and colorful spices, or clothes or knick-knacks, and even your wedding dress, if you please. 

Have a traditional Turkish coffee near Hisar mosque or some snacks from Ülver Teyze Rümeli Börekler (Ülver Aunt’s Bosnian) pies! And don’t forget to check out the jewellery and antique shops in Kızlarağası Hanı (an Ottoman caravanserai), and the local artisans working on metals, leather and jewellery. 

Take a leisurely walk down Havra Street and Kestanepazari (Chestnut bazaar) mosque on your way to our next stop, take in the colourful sights and sounds of the surrounding market selling pungent spices such as sumac, and dried pistachios, apricots, and figs. 

At the end of Havra Street, you’ll see the Agora Archaeological Site.

This full-day tour begins in Izmir and takes you through the hot springs of Pamukkale. You’ll also stop at Aydin, and for a tour of Hierapolis and its theater. Bring cash for shopping. Lunch is included.

Pamukkale’s pools are made of travertine (a sedimentary rock created by deposits of mineral water). There are 17 hot springs with temperatures ranging from warm to VERY hot!

If you hate crowds, consider going during the off-season or getting there the night before so you can be one of the first to arrive.

The Agora of Smyrna (Greek public space) is an open-air museum located in the Namazgâh neighborhood. It is one of the only agoras in the world built within a current-day major city, featuring a three-layered structure, basilicas, marble columns, arches, and ancient graffiti. Some of the artifacts and excavations from here are now displayed at the Izmir Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Art and History.

Çeşme is the vacation destination for Turkish out-of-towners, especially Istanbullites wanting to get away. Before, they used to go to Bodrum, but now it’s this small town that swells in numbers in the summer months. Cobblestone streets lead you to cute small boutiques, restaurants, and a gorgeous marina to enjoy the fresh fish and other amazing food. 

If you’re looking for something more chill, hop on a dolmuş (local shared taxi) and go to Alaçatı, just minutes from Çeşme. This is another hip place in the same peninsula, to hang out on hot summer nights. Have local ice cream made of wild berries at the marina or if you’re hungry, grab a local sandwich called Kumru, stuffed with hot cheese, sausage, tomato, and pickled cucumbers.

Which one should you pick? I recommend you see BOTH places.

A place to enjoy concerts, festivals and book fairs throughout the year. It serves as an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, where you can enjoy a run or a jog through the lush green spaces. In the spring, the park hosts the Izmir Book Fair over a course of 10 days. And in the summer, the park hosts the Izmir International Fair where both national and international musicians and artists entertain the local crowd in a week-long affair. Alternatively, there’s also a Museum of History and Art inside, an amusement park, and a lake.

Kadifekale Castle on Pagos Hill offers insights back to the time when Alexander the Great revived ancient Izmir. Its name means “velvet castle” and at the top are stunning views of the city and Gulf of Izmir. Today you can see what’s left of the castle including walls, towers, and some Byzantine underground cisterns.

Catch the Izmir tour bus, a public bus, or make a quick taxi ride from the Agora site because the walk up is steep! 

In the area, there are a few other interesting sites to see from your taxi drive such as: a series of aqueducts called Vezirsuyu and from there you can get to see the huge relief of Atatürk. Ask to go to Sirinyer and you’ll see another set of these ancient aqueducts to your right, called Kızılçullu aqueducts. Not being real tourist attractions, these monuments are remnants of Izmir’s ancient past.

Alsancak can be considered Izmir’s downtown and has something for everyone. Starting from the beginning of the port area, the neighbourhood has a variety of restaurants, bars, taverns and hotels. You can spend a whole day explaining this neighbourhood and you’ll still not be done! Small boutique shops, cool hangout places and some great bars will keep you busy. Spend an evening in La Puerta trying all the different drinks in their outdoor beer garden, or head to Alsancak Dostlar Fırını, a family-run bakery that serves the city’s famous pastry “boyoz” with boiled eggs with piping hot “çay” (tea). The shop has many varieties that you can enjoy for breakfast.

If shopping is your mantra, then head to Plevne Boulevard or Dr. Mustafa Enver Bey street, where, after a few hours of shopping in both local and international shops, you can opt for both people-watching and a quick pick-me-up dessert at Reyhan Patisserie.

Bonus: If you happen to be in Alsancak for a late brunch, then enjoy a full Turkish breakfast (“serpme kahvalti”) with unlimited piping hot çay at Tuzu Biberi, opposite the Alsancak ferry station.