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
Kızlarağası Han: a working courtyard
Your local guide
Emre Doğan
View profile
Highlights
- An 18th-century caravanserai, still working
- Original stone arches above modern shops
- A trader's honest shop recommendations
- Kızlarağası Han's oldest businesses
- History used, not preserved behind glass
About this tour
This session moves into the courtyard of Kızlarağası Han, an 18th-century caravanserai now filled with small shops and cafes rather than travelling merchants. You see the original stone arches above the newer shopfronts and the stall Emre himself runs inside. Emre, who works in the han every day, explains which businesses have been there the longest.
The call opens with a sound check at the han's entrance, then moves through the courtyard stop by stop as Emre talks to his neighbours along the way. He answers questions honestly, including about shops he would not personally recommend, and sends a short list afterwards.
This suits anyone who wants a working Ottoman building rather than a museum piece. It also gives an honest, insider view of a shopping district most visitors only glance at.
Included
- Live video session with a local guide
- A close look at the dishes and where locals buy them
- A short list of places and dishes to try later
Not included
- Food and drinks shown on camera
- 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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Han courtyard 21 min
The camera moves into the central courtyard of Kızlarağası Han, an 18th-century Ottoman caravanserai now filled with small shops and cafes, and Emre points out the original stone arches above the newer signage.
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Emre's own stall 21 min
You see the stall Emre runs inside the han, and he talks about which of his neighbours have been trading there the longest.
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Your questions 9 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 4 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Kumru and Bornova, 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 Han courtyard and Emre's own stall 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 buy or cook anything?
No. This is a conversation: the guide describes the dishes and where to find them, so you can try them yourself whenever suits you.
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 han 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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Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Fri 30 Oct · 10 seats left From 21,00 €
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