İzmir offers a diverse array of activities and experiences, including historic bazaars, traditional coffeehouses, beach holidays, surfing, vineyard tours, and culinary adventures. In this vibrant city, Turkish, Greek, Sephardic, Balkan, and Levantine traditions come together, forming a cultural heritage that reveals richness and diversity at every turn.
Curious about İzmir and want to experience it like a local? These recommendations will serve you well!
In Türkiye, breakfast is a special time: Almost every city has its unique breakfast culture and it’s usually the product of centuries. That’s why if you're looking to experience a traditional İzmir breakfast, you should head to Alsancak. The first is boyoz, a legacy of the Sephardic Jewish community in the city. This round pastry is named after the Spanish Jewish word “bollos,” which means “small loaf.” Made from layers of buttered dough that melt in your mouth, this delicate pastry is most often enjoyed with a hard-boiled egg. At Alsancak Dostlar Bakery, you can have eggs alongside the famous boyoz. Here, you can also find innovative stuffed varieties with eggplant and artichoke. Our second stop is Zeynel Ergin Bakery in Alsancak. The true İzmir classic is a sandwich made with delicious İzmir tulum cheese and tomatoes inside the famous kumru bread, made from dough leavened with chickpea flour. And naturally, nothing goes better with these two breakfast items than a nice, hot cup of tea!
After breakfast in Alsancak, it’s the perfect time to explore Kemeraltı, one of the city’s oldest and most vibrant districts. Here, the sounds, colors, and bustling crowds capture the very rhythm of daily life. The historic Kemeraltı Bazaar is a shopper’s paradise, featuring a diverse array of stores that sell everything from glassware to handmade tablecloths. One of its highlights is Havra Street, a culinary hotspot where food enthusiasts can explore local producers and specialties. This street and its surroundings are home to some of the finest tahini makers and spice shops in the city. You can watch locals shopping for fresh products, ranging from offal to fish. And for those in search of local cheeses, there’s no better place to taste and buy them.
When you get tired from shopping, taking a coffee break to catch your breath is always a great idea, but there’s one spot that truly shouldn’t be missed: Kızlarağası Han. Built in 1744, this historic inn has long been a favorite stop for locals in İzmir. After taking in the inn’s magnificent architecture, you should check out Elgani, which is located right at the entrance of the inn. Since 1853, Elgani has been producing its signature almond paste, and today it also offers varieties made from walnuts and pistachios. If you get some of these different types of marzipan before sitting down, you can be sure they will go very well with a frothy Turkish coffee. By the way, here's a little tip for those who love antiques and ephemera: this inn is also full of shops where you can discover fantastic items of this kind.
After enjoying your coffee and taking some time to unwind, you can head straight to Kasap Fuat for lunch. This local favorite, featured in the Michelin Guide, is known for carefully selecting, preparing, and serving its own meat. While İzmir locals are passionate about olive oil–based dishes and a wide variety of vegetables, they also have a deep appreciation for kokoreç (roasted lamb intestines), söğüş (cold-cut meat and offal), and well-prepared lamb. At Kasap Fuat, you can be sure you’ll experience some of the finest meat dishes.
After a morning spent exploring the city center, it's time to explore the surroundings of İzmir. The city has many attractions, and one of the most appealing is its fertile vineyards. You can reach numerous vineyards in a 30-45 minute drive by rental car or taxi. One of the most renowned is Lucien Arkas Vineyards in Torbalı, home to La Mahzen, a Bib Gourmand restaurant. Here, international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo thrive in the Aegean coastal climate, alongside indigenous grapes with unique characteristics, including Bornova Misketi, Boğazkere, and Öküzgözü.
The Urla Wine Road, İzmir's most famous wine route, is a must-see for anyone exploring the region's vineyards. The Michelin Guide recommends Hus Winery, located on this route, as one of the places worth visiting. You can sample wines made from distinctive local grape varieties in Hus's vineyards, as well as those made from Carinena grapes—a special line named after Juan, one of the winery’s founders.
After taking in the lush green scenery of the vineyards, you can explore the charming town of Urla. The town has Art Street, where you can wander through art galleries, browse boutique ceramic studios producing unique local pieces, and take home a beautifully handmade cup as a keepsake. The street's lively atmosphere is worth experiencing.
When dinner time comes, the hardest part is choosing from the town’s many outstanding restaurants in Urla. Known as one of Türkiye’s most gastronomic regions, Urla is home to numerous renowned chefs. Here are three options based on what you're looking for: If you're a true wine lover, you should definitely try Vino Locale. Here, Seray Kumbasar, Türkiye's first Michelin Sommelier award winner, teams up with Ozan Kumbasar, a chef with both a Michelin Star and a Green Star. At this restaurant, you can sample Türkiye's local wines and pair them with complementary dishes. Our second recommendation is Narımor, a chef's restaurant with just a few tables located inside of a boutique hotel. Chef Attila Heilbronn has created a highly original cuisine at this Michelin-starred restaurant, and he will surprise you with his unexpected dishes. For those seeking a more relaxed setting and traditional flavors, try Aslında Meyhane for regional seafood and mezze.
Urla offers plenty of boutique hotels, so finding a place to stay is never a problem. We recommend the Alavya Hotel, located just half an hour away from Urla, for a real Alaçatı breakfast.
Alaçatı, a prominent seaside area in İzmir, is a charming town with stone houses, unique architecture, and streets adorned with bougainvillea. It offers excellent beaches, delicious food, and a square and bazaar that radiate the spirit of summer—a true vacation destination! After a good night's sleep in Alaçatı, you'll start your day with a wonderful breakfast featuring perfect jams and clotted cream. İzmir is renowned for its fruit orchards and the delicious jams made from them, but the fig jam, made from unripe figs, is a must-try. Fresh bread and clotted cream are the perfect accompaniments, and both tea and coffee enhance its flavor.
İzmir's stunning beaches are not to be missed, and Alaçatı is a perfect choice in this regard, as it offers a variety of beaches to suit every preference. The famous Ilıca Beach is an excellent choice for relaxation and unwinding. But Alaçatı is also a world-famous windsurfing location, so if you’re an experienced surfer or want to try it for the first time, head to Çark Beach or take lessons at the Alaçatı Surf Center, letting the wind carry you across the waves. It's known that the sea makes you hungry, so Ortaya Alaçatı is an excellent option when you start to crave! The restaurant's menu, inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, is perfectly in tune with the spirit of Alaçatı.
No visit to Alaçatı is complete without seeing the iconic windmills. These historic structures, perched on a hill and dating back to the 1800s, have become a symbol of the town. This location is also famous for its spectacular sunset views, making it an ideal spot for photography, whether you're looking to capture cheerful family photos or romantic couple portraits. Afterwards, a frothy Turkish coffee break is in order! Just below the mills, you’ll find the lively cafes of Alaçatı Bazaar. You can pair your coffee with local delights such as mastic cookies or creamy milk-based desserts from the town’s famous bakeries and pastry shops. Mastic is a distinctive flavor associated with this region, so if your loved ones share your fondness for new flavors, consider mastic jam as a thoughtful gift. While in the bazaar, don’t miss the unique Aegean olive oils, prized for their distinctive taste and high polyphenol content, or the impressive selection of jams. Beyond food and drink, you'll find evil eye bead bracelets, traditionally woven 100% cotton sea/bath towels called peştemal, and other items that will let you carry a piece of summer and the sea in your suitcase. A stroll through the bazaar is truly an experience not to be missed.
If you're wondering how to end these two long days, we suggest doing what İzmir does best: watching the sunset along the waterfront. Return to the city and bid farewell with a sumptuous meal of seafood—mussels, squid, fish, and octopus—accompanied by mezze and olive oil dishes at Birinci Kordon Balık, one of the area's most established restaurants. It’s the perfect way to conclude your exploration of İzmir.
As you leave the city, full of delicious flavors and unforgettable memories, don’t forget to wave goodbye. You'll want to come back!
Hero image: Izmir Clock Tower, Konak Square, Izmir © Servet TURAN/iStock
