Izmir travel guide

Aegean port city with a seafront promenade and a historic bazaar. Most people stay 2–3 nights. Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct.

Highlights

• Kemeraltı bazaar
• Kordon seafront
• Konak clock tower
• Alaçatı & Çeşme

Things to do in Izmir

• Kemeraltı bazaar & Kızlarağası Han · 2.5 h · free. One of the largest open bazaars in the country; stop for Turkish coffee in the han courtyard.
• Konak Square & clock tower · 0.75 h · free
• Kordon seafront sunset & Alsancak · 2.5 h · about ₹1,200 per person
• Historic Elevator (Asansör) & Karataş · 1.5 h · free
• Kadifekale castle viewpoint · 1.5 h · free
• Agora of Smyrna · 1 h · about ₹700 per person
• Alaçatı & Çeşme day: stone houses, windmills and Ilıca beach · 8 h · about ₹1,500 per person. ~1h by bus from Üçkuyular; Alaçatı is windy (kitesurf centre) and very busy on summer weekends.
• Pergamon (Bergama) Acropolis day trip · 8 h · about ₹4,000 per person. ~2h north; a cable car climbs to the acropolis. Asklepion is a separate ticket.

Where to stay in Izmir

• Basmane / Kemeraltı (budget, ₹2,500–₹5,000 a night): Next to the bazaar and Basmane station for trains to Selçuk.
• Alsancak (mid, ₹5,500–₹11,000 a night): Lively bars and cafés a block from the Kordon seafront.
• Kordon & Konak seafront (premium, ₹10,000–₹22,000 a night): Bay-view hotels along the promenade.
• Alaçatı stone-house hotels (premium, ₹12,000–₹30,000 a night): Boutique stays in the Çeşme peninsula's resort village, ~1h from the city.

What to eat

• Boyoz & gevrek with tea: Kemeraltı and Alsancak bakeries
• Kumru sandwich: Çeşme and Alsancak sandwich shops
• Midye dolma (stuffed mussels): Kordon street sellers

Getting there

• Izmir Adnan Menderes (ADB): İZBAN train to the city and direct trains to Selçuk
• Metro, ferries across the bay and buses to Çeşme

Good to know

• Jul–Aug is hot; Çeşme and Alaçatı are packed on summer weekends.

Türkiye itineraries with Izmir

• Aegean: Izmir, Ephesus & Bodrum · 8 days · 8 days, Izmir → Selçuk (Ephesus) → Bodrum · from ₹51,300 per person, base estimate before flights. A seafront city, the ruins of Ephesus and a Bodrum beach finish, linked by short train and bus rides.
• Food trip: Istanbul, Bursa & Izmir · 8 days · 8 days, Istanbul → Bursa → Izmir · from ₹63,400 per person, base estimate before flights. Istanbul markets and meyhanes, İskender in its home town and Izmir's bakeries, with the main sights in between.