As a purveyor of malls, it was a pleasure to finally be able to go to Optimum after I heard all the…read morehoopla about it. I gotta say it was worth the wait. My wife beat me to it & bragged how awesome the mall was. Well, until I saw it in person I didn't believe it. The mall is HUGE. I think its about 3 levels iirc, maybe 4 & has an additional 2 levels of underground parking space. I went there in the winter of 2013 & the summer of 2014. No matter what time of year...this place stays super packed. GREAT atmosphere as I don't mind being around people. The movie theater in this mall is the best I've been to in Turkey so far. Practically brand new! I will visit again soon!

It's a new mall in an older area Eşrefpaşa. It's great because it's only a short walk away. 0…read moreforeigners so if you're a foreigner expect some stares. Close to BUCA Garrison if you're in that area. 5* ultra clean & ultra new. Good amount of stores but NO FENERIUM :/ NOT CROWDED :)

The go to place when you have nothing else to do…read more This is a slice of Turkish suburbia in the eyes of an American. For those who do not have the luxury of having a Watson's in their country(!!!) this is a great place to stock up on their health goodies. Note of warning though: You cannot convert to TL without someone who is Turkish at the banks in the mall. Once in LC Waikiki they let my friend convert USD to TL after she made a huge purchase, but don't bet on that to complete your shopping. Very clean atmosphere, but not the hugest selection of stores. Can get old after a while. We often came here via taxi, but via the train, I think you can get off at Ege Universitesi and then walk across the campus until you hit the mall. Ikea has great comfort food for those missing a slice of Americana/Swedish food.

Bornova Forum - what can I say? Its pretty awesome. If you think its "small" now, you should have…read moreseen it in 2007/2008...the expansion they made recently (as of last year when I went back) is pretty significant. Was the go to place in regard to hitting up IKEA for apartment items & the huge Kipa where I did most of my grocery shopping...kill time at the movie theater & grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants. Plenty of shopping to be done. This open air shopping center is legit. As for money conversion, I have never had any issues (since 2007). Don't be scared to use your debit card out in town as the system do in fact convert your USD to TL automatically. Also the various ATMs around the shopping center are perfectly fine to use. 99% of them will allow you to withdraw TL & the other 1% will allow for USD/Euro also. We usually drove from Alsancak (which is roughly a 10-15 min drive depending on traffic) & parking is pretty easy. IIRC, they offer valet, but self parking is free so :) I will add this however, even with the expansion this mall pales in comparison to say Agora or the gigantic Optimum (100% LEGIT!)

As in most of the street markets around the world, you can find almost anything you need in…read moreKemeralti. It is located in the very center of the city, close to the Izmir Clock Tower, where most tourists will have their picture taken at some point. This market is big enough that if you don't know it that well you may find yourself lost in its somewhat tight and busy corridors, full of vendors competing for your attention. And I do mean competing: they will shout, stalk and follow you if they feel you are a potential customer (it can feel a little creepy for foreigners, but it is just the local culture and deep down they all want to please you). You can get almost anything here, from clothes and costumes to spices and all sorts of food (there are restaurants and a lot of street food too if you are willing to try the local flavor). I remember there was an area of the market that was fully dedicated to party and wedding dresses, other to jewelry (the fake kind) and there are even some places selling electronics. It is worth saying that this is a place where you should watch out for your belongings, as it can get crowded and pickpocketing is pretty common. Nevertheless, if you are in Izmir, you have to check it out, even if only for a few minutes. While here, try looking for a place to have Gözleme, a traditional pastry dish that is one of my favorites (it is a delight to watch them make it right in front of you too).

5 Stars because its Kemeralti...the place for someone to go if they need just about anything. Need…read morehousewares? Kemeralti! Need gold? Kemeralti! Need spices? Kemeralti! You get the idea. just like majority of the street bazaars around the world, they have a LOT of stuff for sale & LOTS of people hawking their wares. I think I mastered the "hayir sagol" (no thank you) here. And its always something to see a vendors reaction when they see a yabanci (foreigner) speaking turce haha. Living in Izmir...means you MUST go here. Visiting Izmir? Its a no brainer. Places where you can barter are few and far between...this place keeps that tradition alive. Check it out!

It's an old Caravanserai from Ottoman period where the caravans used to bring goods from other…read morecountries or cities and unload their cargo to sell. Now it's restored and used as souvenir shops for tourists. It's located in the corner of Kemeralti bazaar area in the center of Izmir and offers intersting stuff to both tourists and locals. The architecture of the building is also amazing. There are also several coffee shops around, just outside of the building, where you can sit and enjoy the traditional Turkish coffee or black tea.

Great touristic spot and a place where you can go with friends for a chill out spot. Shop or look…read morearound, at end have a tea or coffee to end the day. I enjoy this place each time!