Kemeraltı Bazaar
Travel Point Overview
One of the most iconic places to truly experience İzmir's cultural and historical soul is Kemeraltı Bazaar. Stretching from the Mezarlıkbaşı neighborhood to Konak Square, Kemeraltı is a vibrant historical marketplace that offers a blend of traditional her
🛍️ Kemeraltı Bazaar – The Beating Heart of Historical İzmir
📍 Location: Konak, İzmir
🕒 Opening Hours: Open every day (as it’s an open-air market)
🎫 Entrance Fee: Free
One of the most iconic places to truly experience İzmir's cultural and historical soul is Kemeraltı Bazaar. Stretching from the Mezarlıkbaşı neighborhood to Konak Square, Kemeraltı is a vibrant historical marketplace that offers a blend of traditional heritage and modern-day shopping.
🏛️ A Walk Through History
The bazaar's main artery, Anafartalar Street, follows a wide curve—once the perimeter of İzmir’s old inner harbor. As the harbor silted up over time, new areas for commerce and settlement emerged, shaping the bazaar we see today.
Originally, Kemeraltı had the appearance of a covered Ottoman-style marketplace, with arched alleys, tiled roofs, and traditional trade inns. Up until recent decades, many of the streets between Şadırvanaltı Mosque and Havra Street remained covered. The name Kemeraltı itself means "beneath the arch," referring to its vaulted streets.
🧿 Shopping & Turkish Handicrafts
Kemeraltı continues to be İzmir’s most dynamic shopping area, where the old meets the new. While the number of historical domed shops has decreased, you’ll now find:
- Hand-painted ceramics and tile panels
- Wooden and copper crafts
- Handwoven carpets and kilims
- Leather goods
- Jewelry, souvenirs, and antiques
The bazaar's historic inns, tea houses, antique stores, and family-run cafes add to its charm, making it a shopping trip that’s also a cultural journey.
☕ Take a Break at a Historical Inn
After exploring the winding streets, stop by Kızlarağası Hanı, a beautifully preserved Ottoman inn, to sip on a traditional Turkish coffee brewed in copper pots. Nearby synagogues, mosques, medreses, and heritage buildings make Kemeraltı a truly multicultural and historical open-air museum.
🗺️ How to Get There
You can reach Kemeraltı easily from Konak Ferry Terminal. Walk past the İzmir Clock Tower, and head down Anafartalar Street—the main entrance to the bazaar.
📲 Discover More with Advisormapp
With the Advisormapp mobile app, you can access directions, historical facts, and audio guides for Kemeraltı and other iconic spots in İzmir.
🔗 www.advisormapp.com
📱 Available on App Store & Google Play
With centuries of history wrapped into one bustling marketplace, Kemeraltı is a must-visit destination in İzmir. Don’t just shop—travel through time!
