Izmir Trip Planning & Itineraries

1:41 AM Sunday, Oct 12
Passing clouds. Mild.
7 day forecast »

Although it has a dramatic setting around a bay backed by mountains, most of İzmir is modern, which makes it a hard city in which to fall in love with at first sight. Give it a chance and you may find Turkeys third-largest city growing on you. However, for most people it will be a place to skip through as quickly as possible.

Nowadays, the sea-facing Kordon is a great place for jogging, cycling, walking the dog and just plain lounging about, while the northern district of Alsancak is being steadily restored, its lovely old Chios-style houses metamorphosing into inviting restaurants and bars.

Izmir Itineraries

With a day to spare, you can take in the few antiquities and museums, loiter in the cafés along the waterfront, and enjoy the wonderful, sweeping views from Kadifekale castle. The labyrinthine bazaar also remains a colorful area to while away a few hours.

The ancient Agora, built for Alexander the Great, was ruined in an earthquake in AD 178, but rebuilt by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Colonnades of Corinthian columns, vaulted chambers and a reconstructed arch give you a good idea of what a Roman bazaar must have looked like.