Photos: Candemrag, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 BerkeKayalarr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Francisco Anzola, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo credits
Photos: Candemrag, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 BerkeKayalarr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Francisco Anzola, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Inside Hisar Mosque's courtyard
Your local guide
Tolga Koç
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Highlights
- Izmir's oldest mosque, explained simply
- A calm courtyard beside a busy bazaar
- Dome and minaret above the rooftops
- A 16th-century building, still in use
- History explained without assumptions
About this tour
This session stays within the courtyard of Hisar Mosque, the oldest mosque in Izmir, tucked directly beside the Kemeraltı Bazaar. You see the courtyard's calm compared with the bazaar noise just outside its walls, and the mosque's dome and minaret from below. Tolga, who has prayed here for over a decade, explains the building plainly for viewers who may never have been inside a mosque before.
The call opens with a sound check at the courtyard entrance, then moves around the space as Tolga explains what each part is used for. He answers questions simply and sends a short note afterwards on the mosque's place in the old city's layout.
This suits anyone curious about a working mosque explained without assumptions about prior knowledge. It also pairs well with a wider Kemeraltı Bazaar session.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Izmir before heading out.
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Mosque courtyard 15 min
The camera moves into the calm courtyard of Hisar Mosque, the oldest in Izmir, and Tolga points out the worn stone steps leading up from the bazaar entrance beside it.
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Prayer hall exterior 15 min
You see the mosque's exterior from the courtyard, its dome and minaret rising above the surrounding bazaar rooftops, and Tolga explains the building's place within the 16th-century layout of the old city.
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Your questions 7 min
Time to ask anything about Izmir: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 3 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Lokma and Karşıyaka, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Istanbul time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 10 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Izmir, showing you Mosque courtyard and Prayer hall exterior live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We connect on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk the courtyard live with my phone.
Times shown in Istanbul time (GMT+3)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Wed 4 Nov · 10 seats left From 18,00 €
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