Places that Feel at Home in Izmir | Turkiye

Together with VAGMAG, I have been gathering places around the world where I feel at home.

As a woman, traveling alone initially felt intimidating, but over time, it has become one of my obsessions.

In my Izmir Guide, you will find places that make me feel at home.

For now, it is a short list, as I am still discovering. Please remember to revisit it from time to time, because I am sure I will expand this list with new places, or perhaps even shorten it.

There are times when we change our homes, when we move on.

Places and Experiences

Photographs of Izmir from my gallery.

When I talk about the feeling of home, I do not see it as a single definition. I believe the sense of home can be divided into a few different categories.

One of them is the student home.

It is simple, unpretentious, and somehow hides its flaws well.

It is perfect for adapting quickly, spending a few hours, and stepping away from our usual routines. We may not necessarily miss the places we lived in as students, and we may not be fans of them, but the memories we created there are unforgettable.

I use this definition for places that feel simple, spontaneous, and creative, places where I enjoy being, but not for more than an hour or two.

Kantin is always dynamic and full of life.

My tips

✨ Always dynamic, always alive

🍢 Skewers that pair perfectly with a beer

🍺 Ideal for a midday beer or a pre-dinner meet-up

🗺️ Ask about their transformation story

⏳ Stay for the memories, then keep getting lost in Alsancak

Another type of home is the place that feels like my own home.

After every trip, the only place I want to run back to, believing I will truly rest, is my own home. 🕊️

Everything is exactly the way I want it to be. I could live there for a lifetime. I use this definition for places that feel carefully and intentionally built, places I want to return to again and again, and places that stand out with every single detail. 🕯️

With its philosophy and transformation story, Bon Vivant is truly inspiring.

My tips

🤍 Inspiring philosophy and transformation story

💫 Perfect for romantic dates

🖼️ Exhibitions worth seeing

✨ Everything feels carefully selected and high quality

There are also places I define as parent homes.

These are places where I once enjoyed staying and where I definitely felt at home, but where I no longer belong. 🌴

They are always the same and always offer the same comfort I remember. ☕

However, I would not want to stay there as long as I would in my own home, nor as briefly as in a student home.

My tips

🎨 Beautiful colors, appetizing menu

🌿 Calm and comforting, just like a parent home

☕ Affordable, welcoming, and easy to move on after

Lastly, there is the grandmother’s home.

It cannot be compared to any other type of home. 🤍

The food is always the most delicious, and the conversations are always the warmest.

Every time I visit, it feels as if my heart is warmed and my wounds are gently healed.

There is no room for bad experiences, and it is impossible to leave without feeling happy.

I do not use this definition for places to settle permanently, but for places where I seek special and meaningful experiences.

My tips

🏛️ Designed in 1890 by Gustave Eiffel

🧺 Clean, quiet corners that feel nostalgic

🎬☕🛍️ Cinema, coffee, and more

🌅 One of the best spots for sunrise or sunset

If the places I mentioned are homes, then Kültürpark is their garden.

In the middle of the city, Fuar/Kültürpark feels like the garden of a home, a shared space where mornings, events, and slow moments naturally come together. 🌳 🏃‍♀️

My tips

🌿 A place to breathe in the middle of the city

🏃‍♀️ Perfect for morning runs and slow walks

🎶 From cultural events to quiet moments

🌳 Just like a home’s garden, it welcomes everyone

✨ A space to pause, gather, and feel at ease

These home definitions are not about what is better or worse.

There is no competition here, only feelings. 🤍

P.S. You can view all the places I mentioned together on this map.

with care, Idalia