About Izmir
Turkey’s third city, on the Aegean. Older than Rome, livelier than Istanbul in summer, and the gateway to Ephesus.
A quick orientation
A city that has been everything
Greek Smyrna, Roman Ephesus’s twin port, Ottoman Levantine trading hub, and now Turkey’s third city. Izmir has been most things and is comfortable being all of them at once. Sit on the Kordon at sunset and you can see the whole Aegean history laid out in front of you.
The shape of the city
Three neighbourhoods to know
Most of what a visitor wants is in three areas: Alsancak (the seafront, restaurants, the Kordon promenade), Konak (the historic centre, the bazaar, the clock tower), and Karsiyaka (the quieter side, reachable by ferry across the bay).
- Alsancak: where most travellers eat dinner
- Konak: the bazaar, the museum, and the ferry pier
- Karsiyaka: a 20-minute ferry, very local
Climate
A long, warm season
Hot dry summers, mild winters, and a long shoulder season either side. Spring and autumn are the easiest times to be in the city itself; summer is for the coast.
Practical
A few useful facts
- Population: about 4.4 million in the metro region
- Airport: Adnan Menderes (ADB), 18 km south of the centre
- Currency: Turkish Lira (try). Cards widely accepted.
- Time zone: TRT (UTC+3) all year
- Language: Turkish; English in tourist areas
Next step
Pick where to stay
The single biggest decision after deciding to come. We have a shortlist for every kind of trip.