• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Want to see the best of Izmir? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Izmir!

Destination

Izmir, Turkey

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Türkçe

Included

• Private Guide
• 1 Local Snack or Drink
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 2 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Outside in front of Petek Döner - Izmir to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. City Highlights

   See from Izmir Clock Tower, First Bullet Monument, Kemeralti Mosque, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Izmir so unique

4. Hidden Gems

   Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience

5. Magical Storytelling

   Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!

6. Special Treat

   Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Jared🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yarkın)

19 January 2025

Yarkın was an awesome tour guide. I was in Ephesus for a day seeing the history and I decided to see Izmir before catching my flight back to Istanbul. I took a three hour tour with Yarkın and hands down this was the best tour I’ve had in Europe in the last 3 years (for context I’ve been to 10 countries and always take tours in cities). Yarkın included a great mix of culture, history, religion, food, and the contemporary. The tour went long—two hours long! He didn’t charge me and he even helped me get to the airport for my flight. If you want to experience Izmir like a local and see some history with a great tour guide, I highly recommend! Great experience and awesome dude! Thanks Yarkın! Fantastic tour of İzmir

Kerry🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yarkın)

13 January 2025

My daughter and I had the best time on our tour with Yarkin. He showed us places we would never have found ourselves. Yarkin went above and beyond our expectations. Taking a tour with Yarkin is a delight and so much fun.The BEST Tour

2txwqr58cr

(About local Süleyman)

6 December 2024

Pat🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Yarkın)

9 November 2024

We had an amazing tour of Izmir with our guide Yarkin. He had great knowledge of not just Izmir but also the surrounding areas and the history of Turkey. He took us to all the great spots and some personal favourites of his which we wouldn’t have found without him. We couldn’t recommend Yarkin enough, he is a great guide. Izmir

Raegan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

29 June 2024

My walking tour of Izmir was wonderful and Ays was a fantastic guide! She was very friendly and a great conversationalist, and exceptionally helpful when I needed help with public transportation. We tasted great food and explored the market while she explained to me the cultural and historical significance of this beautiful city! I highly recommend taking a tour with Ays! Perfect intro to Izmir

Virendra🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Ays)

4 May 2024

We enjoyed our time with Ays. She is knowledgeable and fun to be around. Our tour was perfect. Thank you Ays for the tips!!A lovely Izmir morning.

Pauline

(About local Süleyman)

26 February 2025

Our guide Süleyman provided us with a brief history of Izmir monuments near Konak tower. We walked around the bazaar exploring the different shops. We had some tea and coffee as well as a few local sweets. As we arrived late afternoon and many of the shops were starting to close, but the experience was enjoyable. Süleyman was knowledgeable and provided us with many recommendations for our visit. Great Intro to Izmir and more…

Clint

(About local Yarkın)

6 January 2025

Amazing guide. We enjoyed our day with him immensely

Stephanie

(About local Süleyman)

1 January 2025

Suhleyman was an amazing guide. He explained all the food and gave us some history lessons along the way.Amazing local guide!

David🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Süleyman)

27 November 2024

We had an absolutely fantastic experience with Suleyman in Izmir! His deep knowledge of Turkey’s history and ability to draw fascinating comparisons with other cities, both in Turkey and abroad, truly brought the stories of this beautiful town to life. Suleyman tailored the tour perfectly to our interests in Turkish cuisine, introducing us to delicious local dishes and flavors we would never have discovered on our own. Exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of Izmir’s charming streets was a highlight, revealing gems most tourists would miss. Highly recommended Suleyman for anyone looking for an enriching and personalized experience!Turkish Delight

Helen🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Yarkın)

31 October 2024

We visited Izmir as a stop on our cruise, Yarkın was very friendly and helpful, he helped us to find our meeting point from the port and was early ready to meet us at the arranged time. He was very knowledgeable, taught us a lot about the city and it's history and was also great with our two young children. He showed us the bazaar in the old town and also took us into the newer commercial area. We had the opportunity to sample some local coffee and food which was delicious. He also went above and beyond to help us with some shopping I particularly wanted. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Yarkın and it was great value for money.Great visit with Yarkın

Dobriana🇧🇬 Bulgaria

(About local Asu)

20 October 2024

It was great tour, with more than enough food. Very tasty local food. Asu is very friendly, walked us around nice places, on top of what we have visited with her, she showed us different bars and restaurants that we can visit. Recommending this tour especially for those who would like to feel the spirit of IzmirGreat!

Armin🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Asu)

23 September 2024

We had a really great time with Asu, it felt like we experienced the city like a local:)Amazing tour im Izmir

Bernie🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Asu)

28 August 2024

We had a free half day in Izmir and we booked a late afternoon 3 hour 10 Tastings tour with Asu. Asu was friendly and knowledgeable giving us insights into the history and life in the city whilst walking between sidewalk food stalls where Asu organised a tasting of local food and drink for us. Although we had already been in Turkey for 5 days we experienced large servings of delicious foods and drinks that we had not been served before (we skipped dinner as we had so much to eat). Asu also gave us sightseeing and restaurant recommendations. The tour was a great experience. Do yourself a favour, if you have some spare time in Izmir book a tour with Asu.The 10 Tastings of Izmir with Asu

Martin🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Ays)

12 August 2024

We booked Ays for a city tour when we were in Izmir for a day on a cruise. Everything went really well and Ays took us on a tour of the Izmir market and its mosques. It was really interesting and entertaining. At the end, Ays helped us to get a taxi back to the ship. Without her help we would certainly have paid more! Many thanks again! perfect

8f5mtn78ds🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ays)

23 July 2024

Just would like to say we had a great few hours with AYS giving us a walking tour around Izmir She took us around the Market area and showed us the local food delicacies and shops Local mosques and surrounding land marks She is very knowledgeable and is a lovely person We would like to thank her for again for a nice tour and would recommend taking a tour with AYS Dave Ann James and Stuart UKAYS Tour around Izmir

Diego🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Zeyn ep)

10 July 2024

Had a confirmed booking for a morning tour. Guide did not show up, did not reply to messages on the app, nor to WhatsApp messages directly. Disappointing as we only had two days in Izmir and it's too late to book a different guide. Now need to navigate the app and bureaucracy to request a refund. First time using this service. Unimpressed.Guide did not show up!

Ludgedio Jesus🇲🇽 Mexico

(About local Yarkın)

4 July 2024

I can't recommend it enough. He was patient, showed us a lot of Izmir and took us to delicious food. definitely excellent guideAmazing

Justin🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

11 June 2024

First of all Ays was amazing! She was very personable and very easy to talk to. We met in Konak Square where she did a great job explaining to us the history of Izmir. She then took us on a walking tour of the little streets so we could see all the shops and different items sold within the markets. She was great at bargaining for us so we could get lower prices on the items we purchased. Ays also showed us the different mosques within Izmir and we were able to go into one, as well. During the shopping and mosque visit, she was very knowledgeable in the history. She also showed us the different foods that Izmir are known for and we had several stops to eat different foods. I will also add that they were all great! Even though Izmir is deep in tradition and history, Ays was the best part of the tour. She was very friendly and engaged my wife and I and our kids. We all enjoyed talking with her and asking different questions.Must do in Izmir

David🇺🇸 United States

(About local Süleyman)

29 May 2024

Suleyman is a great guide - very professional and personable. Offered many extra ideas to enhance my visit before and after our time together.Day in Ephesus

Kelly🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Yarkın)

4 May 2024

My family and I were very privileged to have a night food tour in Izmir with Yarkin. We felt like we were on a tour with a friend not a guide. He was very personable, knowledgeable, friendly welcoming and a great young man. The food we tasted and the sight seeing was amazing!! We would highly recommend this tour to everyone. The best night food tour in Izmir

Ken🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Zeyn ep)

16 April 2024

Zayn ep was a gracious, knowlegeable and very attentive guide who took great care to ensure our tour included everything we asked for. We learned so much from her about the amazing city of Izmir and its history and local culture. We really enjoyed the bazaar area and the "hidden gems" that we would never have discovered if we had visited on our own. We would highly recommend a tour with Zayn ep. Great guide, excellent tour

Rochelle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

2 January 2024

Can’t recommend this tour or Ays enough! We had such a great time trying so many fantastic foods and she went above and beyond any expectations to give us a wonderful evening. Thank you!!Fantastic!

uwe.schleimer🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Süleyman)

23 December 2023

Süleyman provided us with a comprehensive and unique tour through Izmir, including the Kemeralti, Bostanli, Carsiaka and Alsansak. We sampled a superb variety of traditional food and were provided with great insights into the Turkish way of life be-it historic or contemporary. Süleyman’s superior expertise and experience in matters of interest to us made this an unforgettable and delightful tour that we will keep in high regards for years to come. We can highly recommend a guided tour with Süleyman and would be delighted if we would have another chance to be guided by him in the future. Exzellent Food Tour in Izmit

Thomas🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ays)

22 December 2023

Informative, tasty and very enjoyable. Thanks Ays!Great food tour

Joshua🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

18 December 2023

I had a private tour with Ays. She gave me a lot better understanding of the city and locals. She showed me some really cool places, and gave me some history on the culture and area. She made me feel comfortable and had good conversation. When we were done I continued to explore on my own. I would highly recommend a tour with Ays.Ays

emma🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ays)

17 December 2023

Ays so an expert guide, with some wonderful knowledge and history about the local food. Was fantastic to experience some of the backstreets of neighbourhoods I'd already walked around - it's amazing what you don't know is there. All the places we tried were great - and I even revisited some of the locations. Thanks Ays!Hidden delights

Elizabeth🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

13 December 2023

Ays was great to spend our afternoon with while eating, chatting, and learning about Istanbul. She was super pleasant, and very easy to understand and learn all about the best foods of Istanbul. Most enjoyable tout

Stas🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

4 December 2023

Everything was just great - from communication to selection of places and food! We loved it!Great experience!

Craig🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ays)

3 December 2023

Ays took our family of six on a private food tour. We got to try a great variety of food at neat local restaurants and the kids enjoyed it. She also gave us recommendations of places to eat later in our trip, where to buy Turkish delight, and which hamam to go to. These recommendations were very good.Great food and great intro to Istanbul

raj🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ays)

29 November 2023

We joined Ays for a food tour as we arrived in Istanbul and it was the most incredible introduction to the city. She was very accomadating, taking things at the pace we were comfortable with and made every effort to adapt traditional and local dishes to our tastes and dietary requirements. Would recommend 100% to anyone looking to learn about all the food that Istanbul has to offer.Fantastic Experience

ogreenberg1🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

14 November 2023

I wished I could give a higher rating than 10/10! First off, Ays is so kind and intelligent! We learned so much during our walking tour, and she gave us such interesting and unique experiences by taking us into the non-touristy areas of Istanbul. As someone who is gluten free, I really wanted to try authentic Turkish cuisine, but I was worried I would be limited by my food allergies. I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of foods I could eat, and I loved that she found so many small local shops where I could try foods without worry. I also was able to eat the world’s best baklava, and it was gluten free!!!!! It was made of beet root flour. She was so thoughtful, having gone out of her way to find a famous dish that was Celiac friendly. I still dream of that baklava a month later. If you are in Istanbul and are wanting to try a food tour, definitely go on one with Ays. She will make sure your tour is tailored to your needs and provide amazing insights as well!Incredible Istanbul with Food Intolerances

Davy🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Ays)

5 November 2023

Upon arriving at our hotel (and thus being able to use the WiFi 😁) I saw I got a message from Ays. She asked where we were staying in order to adapt the tour to our convenience. Meeting was very easy and the tour was nothing but fantastic! We had mussels, kebab (best I ever had), fermented vegetables and so much more. Not only was she a very good host, she also shared some tips for the days to come. Thanks to her we visited the oldest hammam in town! If you need a seasoned guide, don’t hesitate and book the tour. Highly recommend this food tour!

marc

(About local Ays)

31 October 2023

Colin🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

26 October 2023

My wife and I were in Istanbul on our honeymoon and decided to do a food tour. Ays was our guide and she was amazing! We tasted lots of great food and went to places we definitely wouldn’t have found on our own. At the end, we felt like we knew a different side of Istanbul and our stomachs were happy. Ays was very kind and knowledgeable, and it was obvious she has a passion for food and for Turkey. I can highly recommend her! An amazing experience!

Anna🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ays)

24 October 2023

We can thoroughly recommend Ays. She took us to places we would have trouble discovering on our own and packed the three hours with good conversation and a big variety of tastes.. savoury and sweet. A great way to get an intro to Turkish food and lots of good recommendations and insider knowledge to followup on. Thank you Ays!Ays was fantastic and so was the food!

Nikhil🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

23 October 2023

We were a group of 4 adults, family, on a 1st time visit to Istanbul. My sister-in-law found withlocals and specifically, Ays from a food blogging group she is a part of. From the time of booking, before our trip, Ays was very communicative and the directions as far as where to meet and the timing was clear and easy to manage. In addition, we connected on WhatsApp and that also made our communcations with Ays very easy. To say she was incredible would be an understatement. She is a Pastry Chef in her 'day' job. Her knowledge of the area, Istanbul and the local eateries was incredible. For those booking, the initial fee paid on the booking is to reserve the booking. Thereafter, there is a charge at the end (all explained ahead of the tour) for the various tastings. Ays prefers cash if possible. The tastings she chose for us were reflective of the local culture. She took us to places we would not have tried on our own. Having her there to discuss the food and its relevance was so worthwhile. Oh, and BTW, we couldn't finish some of the tastings. The food is delicious and there is plenty to sample. Bring and appetite and make sure to book this tour with Ays. An Amazing Tour with an Amazing Local!!!!

Ivy🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Ays)

12 October 2023

My husband and I had an enjoyable time with Ays as our guide. We sampled a number of delicious food some of which were from local eateries as well as some street food. Our favourites were the eggplant with mixed lamb/beef and the fried mussels and fish. Ays was very pleasant and easy to talk to. We would highly recommend this tour with Ays. Wonderful discovery food tour

Romana🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Ays)

10 October 2023

Wir haben viele verschiedene türkische Gerichte probieren können. Ays wusste sehr gut Bescheid über Traditionen, Essverhalten und Kulturelles der Türkei. Sie konnte alle unsere Fragen einwandfrei beantworten. Für die weiteren Tage in Istanbul konnte Sie uns gute Tipps und Ideen mit auf den Weg geben. Ays ist sehr sympathisch und hat die ganze Foodtour sehr gut auf uns und unsere Vorlieben abgestimmt.ausgezeichnete Foodtour mit super Guide

sukie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ays)

3 October 2023

We booked a food tour for our last day in Istanbul. We were very unlucky with the weather on our trip - torrential rain every day! However, on the Monday we planned to spend our last few hours with Ays and we were not disappointed. She showed us around a district that we had only explored a little bit and there were hidden gems around every corner. Ays took us to lovely places to try local food and her English is excellent. We highly recommend her.Food tour with Ays - 10/10

Unknown

(About local Ays)

1 October 2023

We had a 3 hour tour with Ays on our first full day in Istanbul. It was a great way to get to know the area, and a fantastic introduction to Turkish food. I really enjoyed the different cafes and stalls we visited, and the explanation to some of the cultural background. Ays is a really interesting and entertaining host - and gave some great recommendations for what to do for the rest of our trip. Thank you Ays! Interesting and enjoyable

amadougeorgia

(About local Ays)

26 September 2023

Our family had an incredible food tour in Istanbul with Ays. She's a fantastic guide who led us to the most mouthwatering culinary experiences. From a savory turkish breakfast to sweet baklava, every bite was a delight. Ays's kindness made this tour a memorable adventure. If you want to savor Istanbul's flavors, don't miss out on Ays's tour!Savory morning food tour with Ays !

Peter🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Ays)

24 September 2023

Ays was an excellent tour guide. We would highly recommend her. She was warm and friendly with the kids and made them feel comfortable. She understood their limits and was very patient. She was very open and knowledgeable about Istanbul food and culture. She went out of her way to help us understand the transportation system and make food and other recommendations for us during our stay. She even rode the ferry back with us and showed us where to get off. It was a wonderful experience.

Jennifer🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Ays)

24 September 2023

Our experience with Ays was wonderful! Without a doubt if you are considering taking a tour with Ays... Don't hesitate! With Ays we were able to learn more about Turkish cuisine and culture, she was very outgoing, she wanted to share her knowledge and at the same time know about us. We had a very pleasant conversation and he showed us places where we ate wonderfully. Thank you Ays for this incredible experience! 100% recommendable

Jenny🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

19 September 2023

Ays was very flexible, professional, knowledgeable, and punctual. We wanted to do our food tour on the Asian side and she accommodated our request. We went to multiple stops, starting with a pickle place where she explained the history. Be sure to come hungry because there was a lot of food. Great Food Tour with Ays!

Nik🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ays)

18 September 2023

We had a wonderful experience with Ays, who gave us a great culinary experience in the street food of Istanbul, plus insights into the culture of her country.Great Food Journey

Michael🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ays)

16 September 2023

Fabulous food tour in Kadikoy with the wonderful Ays. Ays is very knowledgeable about the Istanbul food scene & we went to some wonderful cafes & delis. Had the best mezze we’d had & would highly recommend this tour. Fabulous food tour

Brandie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ays)

14 September 2023

Ays was such a wonderful guide. She has a very relaxed and open personality and is pleasant to hang out with. She took us to several local places and shared a lot of information about the city and its food culture. We definitely learned a lot and enjoyed ourselves. She was also flexible when we wanted to take a quick pause to try a local beer. Highly recommend her as a guide!Great Guide!

Diane🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ays)

10 September 2023

Ays was extremely knowledgeable of the area together with the food, super friendly and personable. Would highly recommend her and the tour.Better than expectation

Bram🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Ays)

28 August 2023

We had a lovely food tour with Ays! The tour started with sour and ended with sweet and everything in between. As a pastry chef she was very knowledgeable about local food and culture. We really recommend this tour and especially recommend Ays as a guide. Perfect food tour with guide Ays!