Things to do in Izmir
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Izmir
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best all round window, 18 to 26 degrees, herbs and artichokes at peak, ruins walkable all day.
Beach and surf season with reliable meltemi, but city heat, peak crowds and peak prices.
Connoisseur window, warm sea into October, harvest on the wine route and golden light.
City break season with empty ruins and low prices, but the peninsula and beach clubs are closed.
What's on
- İzmir European Jazz Festival first half of March
İKSEV festival across city venues.
- Maraton İzmir April
Marathon on coastal city routes.
- Alaçatı Herb Festival April
Aegean herb cooking festival that opens the peninsula spring season.
- Urla Artichoke Festival late April
Enginar Festivali in Cumhuriyet Square, Urla.
- İzmir International Festival June-July
Music and performance festival including ancient theatre venues in the region.
- İzmir International Fair late August to early September
Turkey oldest fair at Kültürpark, the 2025 edition ran 29 August to 9 September.
- Liberation Day (Dokuz Eylül) 9 September
The city biggest civic celebration, with flags, parades and concerts.
- İzmir Coffee Festival October
Coffee festival in Bayraklı.
- Boyoz Festival early October in some years
Festival celebrating Izmir signature Sephardic pastry.
Best things to do in Izmir
Kemeraltı Bazaar
A working 17th century bazaar of about 100 streets, still used by locals more than tour groups.
Kızlarağası Hanı
A 1744 caravanserai courtyard inside the bazaar, now antiques, jewellery and coffee houses.
Hisar Mosque
The bazaar landmark mosque from 1592, best paired with a cezve coffee in the lanes around it.
Kordon
The seafront lawn and promenade where the whole city sits facing west at sunset.
Agora of Smyrna
Roman basilica arches and vaulted galleries you can walk in an hour without cruise crowds.
İzmir Culture and Arts Factory
A converted tobacco factory holding the archaeology, ethnography and painting museums.
Tarihi Asansör
A free 1907 elevator tower with a classic panorama over the Gulf of İzmir.
Dario Moreno Street
A pretty lane of restored houses and small cafes named for the Izmir born singer.
Where to stay in Izmir
Alsancak / Pasaport
first trip, all-round base
The Kordon, bars, museums and transport on foot, on the city best lit and busiest streets.
Konak historic centre
bazaar-first, short stays
Bazaar, Agora and Ephesus trains at the door, but quieter at night with fewer dinner options.
Karşıyaka / Bostanlı
local life, families, longer stays
Leafy, cafe rich and cheaper across the bay, with the ferry ride as part of the pleasure.
Bornova / Bayraklı / Balçova
business, malls and thermal stays
Useful chain hotels for business and events, but a ride from the central sights.
Urla
food and wine second base
Vineyards and fine-dining restaurants 40 minutes west, ideal for one or two nights.
Alaçatı
surf and scene second base
Restored stone house boutiques for surf and beach days, very expensive in July and August.
Think twice about
- Basmane
Run down streets around the station with rough sleeping and transit hotels. Use the station, do not sleep there.
- Kadifekale hillside and Ballıkuyu-Tepecik surrounds
Poor hillside neighbourhoods with little tourist infrastructure and poor lighting. Visit the castle by taxi by day.
Best restaurants in Izmir
Vino Locale
Modern Aegean tasting menus in a stone house, pouring only Urla route wines.
OD Urla
An estate restaurant among vineyards with open wood fire and estate grown produce.
Teruar Urla
Minimalist terroir first Mediterranean cooking over the valley, with rooms upstairs.
Deniz Restaurant
The Kordon classic fish institution, known for meze and whole fish baked in salt.
Yengeç Restaurant
A large, smart, group friendly Kordon fish restaurant known for meze variety.
Beğendik Abi
A great-value lokanta serving homestyle Aegean dishes at prices far below the starred names.
Asma Yaprağı
Slow Aegean home cooking in a stone house and garden, chosen from the kitchen counter.
Sakız Alsancak
A cosy Aegean kitchen named for mastic, serving artichokes, herb mezes and seafood.
Outdoor things to do in Izmir
Ephesus
One of the best preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean, with the Library of Celsus.
Terrace Houses
Roofed hillside homes with frescoes and mosaics that many visitors rate the best part of Ephesus.
Şirince
A hill village of stone houses, fruit wines and olive oil above Selçuk, lovely by late afternoon.
Pergamon Acropolis
A dramatic acropolis with the steepest theatre in the ancient world and far fewer crowds.
Urla Vineyard Route
A signed route of boutique wineries pouring Bornova Misketi whites and serious reds.
Alaçatı Surf Paradise Club
A leading surf school in a shallow sandy bay where beginners can stand up on day one.
Ilıca Beach
A long, shallow, warm beach where thermal springs seep into the sea, good for families.
Gediz Delta
A Ramsar wetland of lagoons and salt pans famous for thousands of feeding flamingos.
Best hotels in Izmir
Swissôtel Büyük Efes İzmir
The city grand resort hotel behind the Kordon, with pool, spa and multiple restaurants.
İzmir Marriott Hotel
A newer glassy waterfront hotel at Pasaport with rooftop pool and sea view rooms.
Key Hotel
A small design led boutique in a former bank headquarters on the waterfront.
Met Boutique Hotel
The mid range sweet spot near Basmane, walkable to the Kordon in ten minutes.
Renaissance İzmir Hotel
A reliable upper mid hotel in Alsancak with a rooftop pool and bar.
L'Agora Old Town Hotel & Bazaar
A restored han style boutique with a courtyard and the bazaar at the door.
Emens Hotel
A practical, well reviewed mid range option on the Konak to Pasaport seam.
Mövenpick İzmir
A practical, well reviewed mid range option on the Konak to Pasaport seam.
Is Izmir expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | TRY 2,050 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | TRY 3,450 a person |
| Splurge | TRY 7,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Kemeraltı Bazaar: a few days ahead
- Ephesus: weeks ahead
- Terrace Houses: weeks ahead
- Urla Vineyard Route: weeks ahead
- Alaçatı Surf Paradise Club: a few days ahead
- Gediz Delta: a few days ahead
- Kuşadası International Golf: a few days ahead
- Pamukkale: a few days ahead
- Urla fine-dining restaurants 2 to 4 weeks ahead for weekends from April to October.
- Ephesus at the 8am opening or late afternoon to avoid cruise crowds and heat.
- Alaçatı surf lessons, beach clubs, restaurants and hotels days to weeks ahead in July and August.
- Alsancak hotels early for the International Fair and 9 September week and festival weekends.
Is Izmir safe?
- Pickpocket awareness in Kemeraltı and on packed trams, and use app or licensed taxis on the meter.
- Buy train tickets from machines or the app and check the fare on screen at Alsancak station.
- Izmir is in an active seismic zone, so know your hotel exit route. Emergency awareness still applies.
Izmir travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Konak Pier restaurants are generic mall dining at waterfront prices. Drink there, dine elsewhere.
- Kordon fish by weight without asking the per kilo price and the fish weight first.
- Ephesus tours padded with carpet, leather and jewellery commission stops.
- Pamukkale sold as an easy day trip, and Alaçatı centre at peak prices in August.
- Stuffed mussels from slow, unrefrigerated trays and swimming off the city waterfront.
Getting around Izmir: public transport and more
- İzmirim Kart covers metro, tram, İZBAN rail, buses and ferries with transfer discounts.
- Walk the flat Alsancak to Konak waterfront and use ferries to Karşıyaka and Bostanlı as transport.
- Take İZBAN from the airport to Alsancak in about 25 to 30 minutes and for Ephesus via Selçuk.
- Rent a car only for Urla wine, Foça and multi stop days, never for a tasting day you drive yourself.
Who Izmir suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Izmir your trip
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