İzmir Street Food Delights: 2-Day Itinerary

İzmir is a gastronomical centre for both traditional and contemporary cuisine. Olive oil-based, traditional Aegean cuisine and fine-dining restaurants represent the two sides of the culinary culture. Apart from that, İzmir street food delights are also unique hidden gems for foodies.

With this 2-day İzmir street food route, you will discover the street food culture and the most unique popular spots in the city centre.

9 Points

60 km

3 h

İzmir Street Food Delights: 2-Day Itinerary box

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Explore İzmir’s vibrant street food scene with this immersive 2-day itinerary featuring local favourites.

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Day 1

Begin your day in Konak, one of İzmir’s historical and vibrant districts. For breakfast, you can eat boyoz, a flaky, savoury pastry made from layered dough, typically served warm with a boiled egg on the side. Then, start walking through Kordon, accompanied by the stunning sea view of the city.

Just behind the Kordon, turn onto Sevgi Yolu (lit. Love Road) in Alsancak. This is a great spot for your first shopping break, where you can browse stalls selling books and souvenirs.

In the afternoon, continue exploring Kemeraltı Bazaar for delicious street foods and the most remarkable places in the city. You can shop for traditional items like handmade ceramics, copperware, and colourful Turkish lamps. Local spices, dried herbs, and artisanal sweets also make great souvenirs to take home.

For lunch, you can taste söğüş, a traditional cold meat dish made with offal, seasoned with spices. As a dessert, Şambali makes a great sweet stop along your street food journey.

Towards evening, take some time to visit İzmir’s most iconic symbol, the Clock Tower. Right next to it, you can enjoy the sea view and capture stunning photographs at Konak Pier.

Then, make your way to the Historical Elevator in Mithatpaşa to enjoy a panoramic view of the city, either before or after trying kumru and stuffed mussels along the Kordon. It’s a great way to end your first day in İzmir.

Day 2:

Start your second day on the northern side of the bay in Karşıyaka. Here, you can enjoy a freshly baked gevrek by the sea with a beautiful waterfront view. It is a crunchy, sesame-covered bread similar to simit but lighter and crispier in texture. After breakfast, walk through Karşıyaka Çarşı, the lively heart of the district, to browse its local shops and cafés.

Then, take a break for lunch, and try Bornova’s famous kokoreç. If you’re looking for some greenery, visit the peaceful Ege University Botanical Garden nearby. It is a peaceful place with diverse plant species and well-maintained walking paths, perfect for nature lovers and quiet strolls.

Before ending your day with fried mussels, stop by Karşıyaka Ferry Terminal and the floating dock in Bostanlı, called Sunset Pier. In this modern floating pier with stunning sea views, you can capture stunning landscape and sunset photos. Complete your route by relaxing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the Aegean.