Walk the city
as it was written
We walk you through the real streets a writer once described, narrated aloud as you arrive. First stop: Istanbul, in the footsteps of Tanpınar's Huzur.
or email us at support@izlek.net
Literature no longer
stays on the page
Izlek marks the real places a writer once described. Step into that street, and your location is recognized, the narration for that exact spot starts on its own.
Your visit is verified inside the app and you earn a badge for it. We are starting in Istanbul with Tanpınar's Huzur. New cities and writers are next.
Narration Tied to Place
As you near a location, the passage plays on its own. No need to touch your phone.
Verified Visits
Every stop is confirmed by real location data, so your visits are real and your badges are earned.
Build Your Own Walk
Follow a ready route, or plan your own based on your interests, time, and how you get around.
One app, everything you need
Build Your Own Route
Discover What's Nearby
Routes Recommended by Writers
Earn Badges
Chat With the Characters
Walk as a Group
Huzur's Istanbul
Published in 1949, Huzur is one of the most important novels in Turkish literature. Through the story of Mümtaz and Nuran, it traces a changing Istanbul, and the places it moves through still stand today.
Step by Step Through the Old Peninsula
A storyteller in your pocket
Along the route
The places Tanpınar wrote into memory still stand on the same streets today.
Grand Bazaar
The heart of the route: centuries of trade under painted vaults
Beyazıt Mosque
The walk opens beside the square, at this mosque
Sahaflar Book Bazaar
Among books passed from hand to hand
Nuruosmaniye
A baroque dome at the bazaar's edge
Eminönü and Yeni Mosque
Where the route ends and the water opens up
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Morgan Sand (CC BY-SA 4.0) · R Prazeres (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Janabaevazizbek (CC BY 4.0) · Dmitry A. Mottl (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Tarik Kaan Muslu (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Before you set out
Is Izlek free?
Yes, you can download it and use it on the free plan. Some special routes and extra features unlock with an Izlek Pro or Pro+ subscription.
Can I keep my phone in my pocket?
Yes. If you allow location access "Always", the narration starts when you reach a stop even while your phone is locked, so you can keep your eyes on the street.
Do I need an internet connection?
Yes, narrations are streamed. The next stop's audio is downloaded ahead of time, so a short drop in signal won't interrupt your walk.
Do I have to finish a route in one go?
No. Even if you close the app, your tour picks up where you left off.
Who can see my location?
Your location is used to trigger stops on your walk and isn't shown to other users. Only when you join a group walk can the group's owner and organisers see it, and only while the group is active.
Can I use the app in English?
Yes, the app is available in Turkish and English.
We are not live just yet
Izlek is still in development. Volunteer with us, and help test the first route together.
Volunteer With Usor email us at support@izlek.net