All citiesİzmir Things to do and walking itinerary
Türkiye İzmir travel guide
25 things to do in İzmir, where to stay, airport transfers. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in İzmir
- İzmir Clock Tower — clock tower in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Atatürk Mask — sculpture in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 15 min)
- St. John's Cathedral — cathedral in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Kadifekale — castle in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Hisar Mosque — mosque in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Konak Mosque — mosque in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- İzmir Archaeological Museum — museum in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Saint Polycarp Church — church building in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Saint Voukolos Church — church building in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Kültürpark — public park in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Başdurak Mosque — mosque in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Bet Israel Synagogue — synagogue in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- St. Stepanos Church — Armenian church in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Alsancak Hocazade Mosque — mosque in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Agora of Izmir — Ancient agora in Izmir (visit ≈ 60 min)
- İzmir Women's Museum — museum in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Saint Mary's Catholic Church — church building in Konak, İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Salepçioğlu Mosque — mosque in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Atatürk, His Mother and Women's Rights Monument — monument in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Atatürk Monument — monument in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Kestanepazarı Mosque — mosque in İzmir, western Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- İzmir Toy Museum — toy museum in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 120 min)
- St. John the Evangelist's Anglican Church — church building in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 30 min)
- İzmir Painting and Sculpture Museum — museum in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 120 min)
- İzmir Atatürk Museum — museum in İzmir, Türkiye (visit ≈ 120 min)
2-day İzmir walking itinerary
Starting point: Alsancak. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 10.0 km · 13,500 steps · 2 h 14 min on the way): St. John's Cathedral → Saint Polycarp Church → Hisar Mosque → Konak Mosque → İzmir Clock Tower → İzmir Archaeological Museum → Kadifekale
- Day 2 (≈ 5.0 km · 6,700 steps · 1 h 6 min on the way): Saint Voukolos Church
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in İzmir
- Kemeraltı Bazaar — İzmir's historic bazaar of hans, courtyards, synagogues and trade lanes; best explored by getting a little lost. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Havra Street — Narrow, lively lane inside Kemeraltı lined with fish and grocery stalls and ringed by old synagogues. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Arkas Art Center — Free art gallery in a former consulate building on the Kordon, hosting rotating exhibitions. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Alsancak Station — Anatolia's first railway station; pair it with the small railway museum across the street. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Ahmet Piriştina City Archive and Museum — Museum in a former fire station telling İzmir's urban history through photos and documents. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street — Alsancak's pedestrian street of cafés, shops and bars; ideal for a late-afternoon stroll. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Sevgi Yolu — Short, pleasant palm-lined walkway in Alsancak known for its second-hand book stalls. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Pasaport Pier — Old ferry pier with its historic customs building; hop on a ferry to Karşıyaka for a short bay cruise. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Historic Gasworks Culture Centre — Late-19th-century gasworks in Alsancak whose brick halls now host exhibitions and events. (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Balçova Cable Car — Cable car climbing from Balçova to a hilltop with picnic areas and a broad view over the gulf. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- National Library and Elhamra — Ornate building of a library founded in 1912 at the edge of Kemeraltı, beside the old Elhamra cinema. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Dario Moreno Street — Narrow, colourful stepped lane at the foot of the Elevator, named after the singer who grew up in Karataş. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Sasalı Natural Life Park — Large wildlife park at Sasalı with habitat-style enclosures; a half-day outing that suits families. (visit ≈ 150 min)
- KEY Museum — Private museum in Torbalı showing classic cars and motorcycles inside a former factory hangar. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Ephesus — One of the best-preserved Roman cities of the Mediterranean, with the Library of Celsus and terrace houses. (visit ≈ 180 min)
- Şirince — Hillside village of stone houses and narrow lanes amid olive groves and vineyards near Ephesus. (visit ≈ 150 min)
Where to stay in İzmir
- Alsancak: The liveliest area with the seafront, bars and cafés; near the suburban train and ferries.
- Konak / Kemeraltı: Next to the Clock Tower and the old bazaar; metro and ferry pier are here.
- Karşıyaka: A calm seaside district across the bay; a short ferry ride to the centre.
- Göztepe / Güzelyalı: A quieter option with a long seafront and local eateries; on the metro.
- Bornova: A university district with cheaper hotels at the end of the metro line.
Getting from the airport to İzmir
- Adnan Menderes (ADB): İZBAN suburban train ≈ 30 min
Getting around
Metro, the İZBAN train and bay ferries link the city; all take the İzmirim Kart or a contactless card. The seafront and the bazaar are best on foot.
Classic places to eat
- Deniz Restaurant: Known for decades on the seafront for fish and meze.
- Altınkapı: An old İzmir döner house; the döner on pide is famous.
- Alsancak Dostlar Fırını: Stop by in the morning for warm boyoz and a boiled egg.
- Kızlarağası Hanı: Turkish coffee brewed on embers in an Ottoman inn courtyard.
- Ayşa Boşnak Börekçisi: Bosnian-style börek and home cooking.
Romantic views
- Kordon Seafront (Sunset): Sit on the grass and watch the sun set over the bay.
- Historic Elevator (Evening): Ride up and see the whole bay from the terrace.
- Kadifekale (Sunset): The widest city view from the old castle walls.
- Konak Pier (Evening): A historic pier building linked to Eiffel’s design, right on the water.
Football stadiums in İzmir
- Gürsel Aksel Stadium: Home of Göztepe S.K.
- Buca Arena: Home of Bucaspor
- Alsancak Mustafa Denizli Stadium: Home of Altay S.K., Altınordu F.K.
Good to know before visiting İzmir
- Fine: Insulting the memory of Atatürk, the Turkish flag or state symbols is a criminal offence.
- Fine: Exporting antiquities is banned; keep receipts and, for old carpets or objects, ask for a museum export certificate.
- Fine: Photographing military zones and facilities is prohibited; obey "military zone" signs.
- Fine: Smoking is banned indoors and on public transport; lighting fires in forests in summer is fined.
- Warning: Carry your ID or passport; police may ask for it at checks.
- Warning: Shops and kiosks may not sell alcohol between 22:00 and 06:00.
- Emergency: 112
- Plugs: C/F, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is treated, but most people drink bottled or jug water.
- Tipping: A 5–10% tip is common in restaurants; round up taxi fares.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Türkiye, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Resmî e-Vize, Wikivoyage — Turkey · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
İzmir travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in İzmir?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in İzmir?
- Highlights: İzmir Clock Tower, Atatürk Mask, St. John's Cathedral, Kadifekale and Hisar Mosque. The map has 25 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in İzmir?
- Alsancak: The liveliest area with the seafront, bars and cafés; near the suburban train and ferries. Other options: Konak / Kemeraltı, Karşıyaka, Göztepe / Güzelyalı and Bornova.
- How do you get from the airport to İzmir city centre?
- Adnan Menderes (ADB): İZBAN suburban train ≈ 30 min
- How do you get around İzmir?
- Metro, the İZBAN train and bay ferries link the city; all take the İzmirim Kart or a contactless card. The seafront and the bazaar are best on foot.
- What is the emergency number in İzmir?
- Emergency: 112.
- Do you tip in İzmir?
- A 5–10% tip is common in restaurants; round up taxi fares.
Nearby cities
Assos (Behramkale) · Bodrum · Bozcaada · Çanakkale · Gökçeada · Rhodes · Bursa · Santorini (Fira)
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