Travel video guide
Things to Do in Konak, İzmir: 2 Places From Mark Wiens fan
This guide turns Mark Wiens! Best Turkish Street Food - 5 EXTREME SANDWICH in Izmir Trkiye from Mark Wiens fan into a practical travel map with 2 saved spots around Konak and Torbalı. The mapped places include a tourist attraction and a wine bar. Use it to understand the places, food notes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Mark Wiens fan was deeply impressed by the craftsmanship and skill required to stretch boyoz dough until it was paper-thin and transparent without any holes. He particularly enjoyed the smoky aroma of the gevrek, which is boiled in fig molasses and baked in a traditional oak wood-fired oven. The combination of the salty tulum cheese with the freshly baked, sesame-crusted bread served as a highlight of his Izmir breakfast experience.
What this map is good for
- Planning a tourist attraction stop or short itinerary in Konak.
- Seeing where the mapped places sit together before choosing what to visit first.
- Saving 2 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Kemeraltı Bazaar
Tourist Attraction in Konak, Anafartalar Cd., 35250 Konak/İzmir, Türkiye, Konak, İzmir, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available - Lucien Arkas Bağları
Wine Bar in Yazıbaşı sokak, Kuşçuburun, Mimarbaşı Sinan Cd. No:88, 35860 Torbalı/İzmir, Türkiye, Kuşçuburun, Torbalı, İzmir, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Gevrek
- Tulum cheese
- Kumru sandwich
- Turkish tea
- Spinach boyoz
- Leek boyoz
Experiences captured
- Explored the historical city of Izmir
- Met with local guide Nükhet from Culinary Backstreets
- Visited a traditional bakery using oak wood ovens
- Observed the process of making gevrek with fig molasses
- Watched a baker stretch paper-thin dough for boyoz
- Experienced a self-service cafeteria-style breakfast in an alleyway
Planning notes for Konak
Konak, the historical and administrative center of Izmir, is situated on the Gulf of Izmir and traces its origins to the 4th century BC. Historically known as "New Smyrna," the district was established on the slopes of Mount Pagos by order of Alexander the Great. Its geography allowed it to function as a primary Mediterranean port through the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, serving as a hub for the export of silk, carpets.
Must-try foods nearby
- Boyoz
A legendary Sephardic Jewish pastry that is a staple breakfast in İzmir. It is unleavened, flaky, and buttery, typically served with hard-boiled eggs sprinkled with black pepper. - İzmir Gevrek
Similar to simit but distinctively İzmir, gevrek is boiled in molasses (pekmez) before being coated in sesame seeds and baked. - Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels)
A quintessential street food found throughout Konak. These mussels are stuffed with aromatic herbed rice, currants, and pine nuts, then finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon. - Enginar (Aegean Artichokes)
Mimar Sinan is at the heart of the Aegean herb culture. Local tradesmen restaurants (esnaf lokantası) serve artichokes braised in premium olive oil with broad beans, peas. - İzmir Bombası
A viral sensation that continues to trend into 2026. This thin, cookie-like dough is filled with a massive amount of molten chocolate hazelnut cream.
When to go: The best time to visit Mimar Sinan, Konak, is during the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to October.
Local tips
- Utilize the nearby Alsancak Ferry Terminal and Izban train station for the most efficient travel across the Izmir metropolitan area.
- Expect a lively social atmosphere in the evenings, as this neighborhood is a hub for local cafe culture and outdoor dining.
- When dining at local meyhanes, it is customary to order several small meze plates to share with the entire table.
- Keep your belongings secure in crowded pedestrian areas like Cyprus Martyrs Avenue to prevent opportunistic pickpocketing.
What travelers are noticing
- MasterChef 'Route of Chefs' Pop-up: A major culinary event at Kültürpark (Mimar Sinan) featuring street food and workshops by top Turkish chefs.
- İzmir Culture and Arts Factory (İKSF): The newly renovated former tobacco factory is the neighborhood's hub for 2026, hosting the '170 Years Embroidered in Hearts' exhibition.
- 39th International İzmir Festival: High-profile classical and jazz performances scheduled for June 2026 at the nearby Smyrna Agora and local cultural halls.
Official tourism resource
The official tourism portal for İzmir and its districts, including Konak, providing comprehensive guides to historical sites, culture, and local attractions.
Planning questions
What are the best spots in Konak, İzmir from this video?
This guide maps all 2 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan your trip to Konak, İzmir.
What are the must-try foods in Konak, İzmir?
Creator picks from the video include Gevrek, Tulum cheese, Kumru sandwich, Turkish tea. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this travel map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.