• City Overview
• Travel
• Sightseeing
• Accomodation

Clock Tower: The clock tower at Konak Square, which is the center of the city, is the symbol of the city. It was built in 1901 for the 25th anniversary of Sultan Abdulhamits inauguration with the order of Sadrazam (grand vizier) Little Sait Pasha. The clock tower decorates Konak Square with its extremely elegant appearance. The tower is 25 meters high, over a base with three marble steps.  With its sharp archs that get thinner as the terrace gets higher, its small domes, mukarnas workmanship and stone workmanship full of geometric figures that surround the tower it is a very graceful sight to see. The clock of the tower was given as a present by the German Emperor Wilhem II. Under the Clock Tower, which is accepted as the symbol of Izmir is a room which has fountains on all for corners.

Kemeralti Bazaar: The Kemeralti Bazaar is the most interesting and active market place worth seeing in Izmir. Almost everything is sold at this bazaar which is spread over a large area. There are old synagogues at Havra Street of the bazaar. The Kemeralti and Kestanepazari Mosques, constructed in the seventeenth century, and the Basbudak, Corakkapi, Hatuniye and Konak Mosques built in the eighteenth century are small and charming mosques located near Kemeralti.

Kizlaragasi Hani: The Kizlaragasi Hani, the most beautiful restored inn in the city, was constructed in the eighteenth century. The monumental portal of the inn, which has more than one thousand rooms on four sides, is on the western facade.

Alsancak: A select neighbourhood with a unique character in modern Izmir. Stretching from the waterfront esplanade inland most of the area has been transformed into a pedestrian precinct, so there is no traffic to disturb shoppers and strollers. The streets lined by modern buildings and attractive shops lead onto the square where Alsancak station stands.
Some of the attractive old houses under conservation order in Alsancak now house bars and restaurants.

Kordon: The famous esplanade between Konak Meydan and Alsancak is packed with promenades on weekends and fine evenings. As families and young lovers hand in hand stroll along the waterfront, horse-drawn phaetons with colourful ponpons swinging from the harnesses es trot past, and cars cruise by. Izmir's esplanade is the subject of a popular old song: "My lover seemed to say/Let us meet on the Kordon one day/Perhaps at ten o'clock".

Historical Lift: The Historical Lift is another symbol of Izmir. In old Izmir, Jewish people were living in mastic houses on the both sides of the street . In order to facilitate the people who had to climb 155 steps to go from Mithatpasa Street to Halilrifat Pasa Street, Jewish Nesim Levi Bayraktaroglu had built the lift in 1907.

Ephesus: It can be said that Ephesus is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the world. In ancient times its favorable location at the mouth of the Cayster River made it the foremost commercial city of a coastal region that also included the cities of Miletus, Smyrna and Pergamum, but the silting up of its harbor gradually resulted in the loss of this preeminence. The city has been excavated for more than one hundred years; the extensive remains are predominantly from the later Roman period. Ephesus formed a focal point in the ancient world because of its protected harbor and as a starting point for the Royal Road via Sardis to Susa. It was also a cult center attracting thousands of pilgrims for traditional worship of the female, first Cybele, then Artemis and finally the Virgin Mary. Ephesus was also home for the early philosopher Heraclitus.

Bergama (Pergamum): Located 100 km north of İzmir in the Bakircay river basin, Bergama is one of Turkey's oldest civilized settlements and it has been inhabited from pre-historic times through the Ionic, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. It has yielded archeological treasures of which importance is recognized world-wide. To the southwest of Bergama, Asclepion, an important health center of the ancient world, the acropolis founded on top of a steep hill (300 m) and the Temple of Serapis (Kizil Avlu) make this area a fascinating stop for history-loving tourists. The Altar of Zeus was smuggled to Germany in 1897.

The modern day name comes directly from its ancient name, Pergamum. Known for centuries for its monuments, it was a great city and served as the centre of Pergamum kingdom. Its location made it strategic in the Middle Ages and it was the centre of the Karesiogullari Principality before it finally became a part of the Ottoman State. The city's golden era was during the reign of Attalos I and his son Eumenes II, the time when an acropolis, theatre and other important projects were completed. It was an important city in the Roman period. The city experienced many developments during the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD), and it was adorned with Roman works of art. In the Byzantine era after the spread of Christianity, Bergama was first under the influence of the bishopric of Ephesus, and then became a metropolis.

Kadifekale (Velvet Castle): The old fortress on the hill at the southeast of the city offers unrivalled views of the surrounding area, and at its best at sunset, when the lights start to come on and the call to prayer echoes from many mosques. It was founded in the 4th century BC by Lysimakhos, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, and was strategically placed in view of the harbour and the city. It is possible to walk up to the citadel from the Agora, through narrow streets and old houses, and it remains open although is not lit at night. On the walls of the ruins are Roman and Byzantine engravings and the remaining structures include the south walls and five towers at the west, which date back to the Medieval Age.

Bayrakli (Former Izmir): Located at the northeast of Izmir Bay, Bayrakli was the first known settlement of Izmir, which archaeological excavations indicate was probably around 3000 BC. There is a structure from the 7th century BC, situated on the upper part of Bayrakli, which was the grave of the mythological king, Tantalus. 

Agora: Within the crowded streets of Konak, the agora used to be the venue for political gatherings and elections. It was built on the orders of Alexander the Great, probably in the 2nd century BC, and is the only surviving pre-Ottoman monument, although what remains was the reconstruction by the Romans after a devastating earthquake. There are 14 Corinthian columns, vaulted chambers and hundreds of Ottoman graveyards in the eastern section. Many treasures unearthed during excavations are now exhibited in the Archaeology Museum.

Urla(Klazomenai): Urla is a resort 42 km from Izmir n the road to Cesme. Izmirians spend their summers and weekends here, the site of the ancient Ionian city of Klazomenai. This city was the birthplace of the illustrious philosopher Anaxogoras, and is latterly also famous for a local pastry dish "katmer" and for its meat and fis restaurants

Foca(Phokaia): The ancient Phocaea, Foca, once formed part of the Ionian Federation. Today it is a modem lively holiday resort on two deep bays. The pleasant accommodations, clean beaches and inviting restaurants make it an attractive vacation spot. Those seeking the perfect tan can find it on the natural rock terraces of the Siren Islands.

Candarli(Pitane): Candarli, is a sub-district of Dikili and is 20km from Dikili. It is a peninsula, surrounded by the sea on three sides. It is famous for its delicious fish, a place to relax, and offers some superb diving opportunities. 
Candarli Castle is one of the best-preserved castles in Turkey. Built in the 13th &14th century it was restored in 1995.
Pitane became, like Elaea, a harbour-city of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period. According to Strabo (XIII,I.67),it had two natural harbours. The one to the west was sheltered by a mole, the remains of which may still be seen in the sea. 
Pitane was known as the birthplace of the philosopher Arcesilaus (316-241 BC) (10). The ancient authors, such as Strabo (XIII, 614) claimed that bricks which floated in water were made at Pitane; but no specimens survive today.

Teos: The ruins of Teos are set amidst olive groves at one end of Sigacik harbour near Seferihisar, famous for its beaches and thermal springs. Thales relates that Teos was selected as capital of the league of twelve Ionian cities in the 7th century BC. The largest temple of Dionysus ever built in Teos.

Selcuk: The 18 km of road from Kusadasi to Selcuk pass through spectacular beach and mountain scenery. The pretty town Selcuk is famous with its being a fascinating mixture of all historical periods. The strategic location of Selcuk has provided to be a popular place to settle down during the centuries. The name "Selcuk" comes from the Turkish tribes settled in the region by the 12th century.

Sirince Village: This small village 7km through the hills from Selcuk is attractive for its setting among fruit orchards, old-fashioned stone houses with red tiled roofs, and narrow streets. It is also famous for its home-made wine, and lace made by the local women. Once known as Kirkince, the village was built the Greeks around 800 years ago and since the population exchange in 1924 has since been inhabited by Muslims from Salonica. The village has a few guest-houses and restaurants, and is popular with foreign and Turkish tourists to experience a taste of traditional village life in a peaceful environment.

Cesme: Cesme, connected to Izmir by a highway, is among the most developed holiday towns in Turkey. There is a large harbor for ferry boats at Cesme, which adopted this name because of the large number of fountains built there during the Ottoman Period. Ferry boat trips are organized from this harbor to Greece and Italy. There are ideal racing courses and coves for yachts to overnight in Cesme, where yachting is also rather developed, with the Altin Yunus (Golden Dolphin) Marina in the lead. An International Song Contest is organized every year at Cesme, famous as the town of festivals and night life.
Windmills, some of which have been converted into attractive restaurants, dot the hill above Alacati, a delightful and typical Aegean town. Alacati lies to the south inland from Ilica and the coast. A couple kilometers to the south is a good beach. Many lovely bays along the coast southeast of the town are accessible only by boat, ensuring peaceful and relaxing anchorage in this popular sailing region.
In Dalyan, a fishing village built on a sheltered deep water inlet just north of Cesme some of the region's best fish restaurants border the quay of the lively marina.

Ephesus Museum: The museum shows around 50,000 exhibits, in chronological order, from the Miken, Archaic, Roman, Byzantine and Turk periods, and is split into Archaeological and Ethnographic sections. The most interesting items include the Myken vases found at Ayasuluk Hill, pieces from temple of Artemis, a tomb from the Belevi Mausoleum, two statues of Artemis, an embossed image of Theodosius from Hadrian Temple, and many more statues and portraits from early Christianity. The ethnographic section is set up in an arasta (row of shops) with examples of Turkish and Ottoman daily life.

Bergama Museum: Most of the archeological artifacts in the museum, which belong to various periods from the early bronze era to the Byzantine Period have been found in the excavations made in Bergama and its surroundings. Among the finds found in the archaic residences around, samples belonging to Pergamon sculpture school; Archaic Period finds coming from Pitane and Gryneion and Myrina terracotta draw attention. In the ethnography section, carpets, kilims of the region (Yuntdag, Yagcibedir, Kozak, Bergama weavings); cloth weaving samples, hand works and other hand made examples belonging to other regions of Anatolia are exhibited.

Izmir Archeology Museum: This was one of the first museums to be established in Western Anatolia, and has exhibits unearthed from excavations in the Izmir region. In addition to Greek and Roman remains, friezes, ancient terracotta, Lycian sarcophagi, and Bronze age  pottery, there is also art from the Ion, Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods. The entire collection is spread over three floors and a garden floor.

Ethnography Museum: Opposite the Archaeological Museum, the Ethnographic Museum building was constructed on an inclined terrace in the early 19th century, in a Neoclassical style. It used to be St Roch’s Hospital for treating patients with the plague, was repaired by the French in 1845 and then became a centre for an organization caring for poor Christian families. It was restored between 1985 and 1988, and then re-opened as the museum. 
Inside, the colourful displays reveal local crafts, homes and folk culture from the 19th century. These include a reconstruction of the first Ottoman pharmacist in the area, and part of a traditional house, bridal chamber and kitchen. There are explanations and displays relating to camel wrestling, pottery production and even a kiln to make the blue beads to ward off the evil eye.

Izmir Ataturk Museum: This building, on the huge waterfront street Birinci Kordon, was constructed as a residence between 1875 and 1880. Ataturk stayed here whilst participating in the Izmir Economic Congress on 17th February 1923, and the building was presented to him as a gift in 1926 and then opened to the public as a museum after his death. The mansion contains furnishings and ornaments from Ataturk’s era.

Odemis Archeology Museum: There are exhibition halls, administrative departments, library, warehouses, photography hall and laboratory room. 12.000 years of age pieces of art coming from Prehistoric Age are exhibiting in the Museum, opened on 1987.

Tire Museum: In the museum composed of an archeological and ethnographic hall 3592 pieces of archeological pieces of art, 3080 ethnographic pieces of art, 21980 coins, 78 pieces of archive documents, 16 pieces of manuscripts and other pieces of art.

Kulturpark (Fair): The Kulturpark, at the center of the city, is the place where the annual International Izmir Fair is held and attracts great interest. The city is also known for the "International Izmir Festival" which is among the most influential festivals in Turkey. The activities during the festival, in which famous artists participate, are followed with interest.
Kulturpark, the principle park of the city, offers a variety of activities. It is the site for the International Izmir Fair and contains an amusement park, zoo, restaurant and quiet gardens.

Izmir Bird's Paradise: Izmir Bird 's Paradise located between the boundaries of Menemen and Cigli counties has 205 species of birds. There are 63 species of domestic birds, 54 species of summer migratory birds, 43 species of winter migratory birds, 30 species of transit birds.   56 species of birds have been breeding in the Park. Izmir Bird's Paradise which covers 8.000 hectares of land was registered as "The protected area for water birds and for their breeding" by Ministry of Forestry in 1982.

Balcova Thermal Springs: Mentioned in Homer’s epics as Agamemnon Thermal Springs, and in the writings of geographer Strabon, these waters have been used to cure various ailments. Members of Alexander the Great’s army used the spring to heal their wounds, which made their healing powers famous. The hot water mud baths and mineral springs, which contain sodium bicarbonate and chloride, are said to cure upper respiratory inflammation, nephritis, rheumatism, skin diseases and metabolism problems. The resort is 10 km west of Izmir, and there is accommodation available at the resort.

Cable Railway: Cable Railway to the most important recreation sites of the district in free area the plant of the aerial ropeway belongs. At the north slopes of the mountain Dede there extends it over a distance of 1000 meters and transports themselves the visitors on 400 m a high hill. 

Beaches: The province of Izmir has a huge coastline on the Aegean, with beaches and areas for watersports easily accessible from the city by private or public transport from Uckuyular bus station. Good beaches include Pamucak, Urla, Gulbahce, Cesme, Altinkum, Foca and Dikili.

Karagol: The Karagol Lake is 40 km northeast of Karsiyaka and a popular picnic spot that also provides restaurants and a swimming pool.