Only in Izmir
About this activity
Highlights
- Try Izmir's unique cuisine
- Market visit with tastings
- Explore the architectural beauty of old town Izmir
- Sample artisanal boyoz, helva, lokma, subye, pide and sogus
Full description
The day will begin with a breakfast of boyoz, a Sephardic savory pastry found only here, followed by a slice of history from a 3rd generation helva maker. We’ll visit a workshop where lokma is made and explore the crumbling architectural beauty of old town, to taste another local specialty, subye, a refreshing drink made from ground melon seeds. We’ll explore a residential area before eating our way through another market filled with local culinary institutions including a fine fish restaurant, a Bosnian-Turkish gastro-café, a pide bakery and one of the best lokantas in the country. We’ll also give its famous sögüs, poached sheep’s head, a try before finishing the day with a local traditional semolina dessert call sambali and a cup of Turkish coffee made from beans freshly ground the old-fashioned way, in a stone mortar.
Included / Excluded
- Culinary Backstreets guide
- All food consumed on the walk – almost a dozen different edible specialties
- Guided tour through Izmir
- Transportation to and from the meeting point
Meeting point
Start Location
Etiler, Basmane Garı, Konak/İzmir, Türkiye
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; proficiency is recommended.
- Some stops may not be suitable for individuals with mobility impairments due to stairs and uneven terrain.
- The tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather conditions.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestone streets.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater as evenings can be cool.
- Ensure you have a valid ID if you plan to participate in wine tasting.
Cancellation policy
More than one week before the beginning of the activity: 90% Refund Less than one week before the beginning of the activity: 50% Refund Less than 72 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: No Refund
Reviews
The tour was awesome and we highly recommend. We were expecting a larger group but were excited to show up to a private tour with Kasumi. She made the tour very personal and did an excellent job making the tour feel casual while teaching us lots of new things. She had the cultural knowledge and also mentioned that she continues to learn every time she takes a new group around. Some of the restaurants and shops we stopped at had lovely owners and workers, who were willing to teach us and share their knowledge happily. It was a good mix of foods and Kasumi made sure we were well hydrated and had plenty of time to rest on a hot day. We had a great day and we highly recommend it!
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Ken. He is an interested and interesting tour guide and it was a wonderful well-paced day. This was our second time doing this tour in Tokyo. No regrets, worth every cent. Culinary Backstreets Tours are the best food tours we have done everywhere in the world.
We really enjoyed our tour with Dennis, great food and conversation! It was a great introduction to Tokyo and we really appreciated all his helpful tips for navigating the city