Izmir walking tour & city guide

Kemeraltı and the historic center

Kemeraltı is one of the largest historic bazaars in the region, a maze of lanes filled with fabric shops, coffee roasters, copper workers and old inns. Its centerpiece, Kızlarağası Han, is an 18th-century Ottoman caravanserai where you can drink Turkish coffee in the courtyard.

Nearby, Konak Square is home to the elegant Clock Tower, built in 1901 and the symbol of the city. A short walk away lies the Agora of Smyrna, the remains of the ancient Roman marketplace, a reminder that Izmir is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the Mediterranean.

Alsancak and the Kordon

The Kordon is a wide seafront promenade running for kilometers along the gulf. At sunset it fills with families, cyclists and friends picnicking on the grass. Behind it, the Alsancak district has lively streets of bars, cafés and restored Levantine houses, especially around Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street.

For the best view of the city, take the historic Asansör, an elevator built in 1907 in the Karataş neighborhood, which links the lower and upper parts of the district. Ferries cross the gulf to Karşıyaka and are a cheap and scenic way to see the skyline.

Day trips

Izmir is the ideal base for the ancient city of Ephesus, about an hour south, as well as the seaside towns of Çeşme and Alaçatı with their windmills and stone houses, and the hilltop village of Şirince known for its fruit wines.