You cannot come to İzmir and leave without seeing Kemeraltı. Stretching from Konak Square to the Agora, this vast historic bazaar has been the city's commercial heart since the 17th century. Today, with its thousands of shops, caravanserais, coffee houses and places of worship, it is a living open-air museum — and not a quiet one: it is noisy, colourful and delicious, exactly like İzmir itself.
Where to Enter and How to Explore
The classic entrance is Anafartalar Avenue on the Konak Square side; following this main spine and turning off into the side streets as you go is the best tactic. Do not be afraid of getting lost: getting lost in Kemeraltı is the visit. Wear comfortable shoes and allow at least half a day.
Historic Stops
The star of the bazaar is Kızlarağası Han, built in 1744: its courtyard, with coffee houses, silversmiths and gift shops, is the most photogenic corner. The area around Havra Street, with its historic synagogues and stalls of fresh fruit and fish, is the most authentic part of the bazaar; some of the restored synagogues can be visited. Hisar Mosque, Kestanepazarı Mosque and the historic fountain are also worth adding. At the eastern end of the bazaar, the Agora, with its colonnaded galleries left from ancient Smyrna, takes you two thousand years back in an instant.
The Food Route
Kemeraltı is a school of eating and drinking. Start the morning with the trio of boyoz, a boiled egg and strong tea; do not skip the gevrek (the İzmir sesame ring) either. At midday, home cooking at the historic traders' restaurants or the famous İzmir köfte; in the late afternoon, Turkish coffee in the Kızlarağası courtyard. For dessert, şambali and fresh lokma are the bazaar's classics. Some of the oldest coffee roasters in Türkiye are still in these streets — our full list is in the İzmir food guide.
What to Buy
Nobody leaves Kemeraltı empty-handed: Aegean herbs and thyme from the spice merchants, figs and raisins from the nut sellers, handmade textiles from the trousseau streets, jewellery from the silversmiths. Haggling is not rude, it is tradition; try it with a smile.
Visiting Tactics
The bazaar is largely closed on Sundays — plan your visit for a weekday or Saturday. The liveliest hours are before midday; in the summer heat, going early in the morning is more comfortable. As in any crowded bazaar, carrying valuables in a bag in front of you is sensible.
Getting There from Bornova
From MyMahall Hotel you reach Konak by metro without a change; door to bazaar takes about half an hour in total. For those arriving by car, our free car park is a real advantage: leaving the car at the hotel and taking the metro down is both cheaper and faster than looking for a space in Konak. On the way back you can walk over to the Kordon and crown the day with the sunset.
For reservations and information: (0232) 461 95 95 — view our rooms in the gallery, or find us on our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which days is Kemeraltı Bazaar open?
The bazaar is lively from Monday to Saturday; most shops are closed on Sundays. The most enjoyable hours are the morning and before midday.
What should you eat in Kemeraltı?
Boyoz, gevrek, İzmir köfte, kumru, şambali and lokma are the bazaar's classics. A Turkish coffee break in the courtyard of Kızlarağası Han is also a tradition.
How long does a visit to Kemeraltı take?
Walking the main route takes two to three hours; with food stops and a visit to the Agora, half a day is ideal.