16 top things to do in and around İzmir, Türkiye

The azure Aegean Sea sets the scene in entrancing İzmir, one of Türkiye’s most popular destinations. A crossroads since ancient times, this city serves up ancient sites, culinary revelations and exciting day trips, as well as miles and miles of waterfront views. 

For more than 8500 years, İzmir and its environs have played a vital role as a commercial and residential hub, harboring ancient cities and myriad cultural treasures. With a whopping nine universities, the city is also the country’s student hot spot, ensuring plenty of youthful energy and nightlife. 

A typical visit here involves sampling lots of seafood in water-facing restaurants, enjoying long strolls along the Kordon promenade, shopping in ancient bazaars and admiring the sunset from the deck of city ferries. İzmir is an important gateway to Türkiye’s Aegean Coast, with such gems as Alaçatı, Çeşme, and Bergama all easily reached on a road trip from the city.

It’s easy to have unforgettable time in one of Türkiye’s most enticing cities. Here are some of the top things to do in İzmir.

1. Wander through İzmir’s historic bazaar

Kemeraltı Market (Kemeraltı Çarşısı) has served as the commercial hub of İzmir since at least the 17th century – and today is one of the most renowned landmarks of the city, with nearly 2000 registered historical buildings with its precinct. 

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The labyrinthine streets of the bazaar teem with shops, from colorful fabric boutiques, food outlets and scented spice stalls to jewelry stores, footwear vendors and coffee shops. The main street of the bazaar, Anafartalar Caddesi, connects Konak Square – with its iconic 1901 clocktower – to the Mezarlıkbaşı quarter. 

This thoroughfare and all the narrow streets that connect to it are filled with residents and tourists year-round. Wandering through the enchanting bazaar district is an immersive experience, where the possibility of getting lost is as exhilarating as it is inevitable.

Planning tip: Pause for a orientation break and a cup of Turkish coffee in Kızlarağası Hanı, a historic warehouse and inn built in 1744. Once used by traders from across the Ottoman Empire, it’s today the most iconic structure in the bazaar.

2. Discover old İzmir

With over 3000 years of recorded history, İzmir’s rich past lives on in the many (very) old buildings that dot its center. An essential walk is the one down Havra Sokağı (Synagogue Street), where Jews who migrated to İzmir from other countries lived alongside the Ottoman population. Many important synagogues, including the Sinyora, Hevra and Etz Hayim synagogues, are located on this and the surrounding streets. 

You’ll also encounter many Islamic places of worship as you wander around the bazaar. The historic Hisarönü (Hisar) Camii and Şadırvanaltı Camii mosques, to take two, were built at different times in a variety of styles, and always impress with their historical stories and eye-catching architectural features.

Planning tip: After a walk around the old streets, go to Meşhur Hisarönü Şambalicisi for some mouthwatering şambali (semolina cake with sugar), one of the city’s famous desserts.

3. Have boyoz for breakfast

If you haven’t had the trio of boyoz, baked egg and tea for breakfast, you haven’t found the most important piece of İzmir’s gastronomic puzzle. Prepared with sunflower oil and sesame paste, boyoz was introduced to İzmir by the Sephardic Jews who took refuge in the Ottoman Empire after their expulsion from Spain in 1492. 

Made with unleavened dough, these pastries require skill and patience to produce. While boyoz is typically consumed plain, you can find varieties stuffed with eggplant, artichokes and Aegean herbs.

Planning tip: You can find boyoz on every corner in İzmir – but Alsancak Dostlar Fırını is one place where you will relish every bite.

4. Find traces of Hellenic and Roman History

The Agora of Smyrna was the heart of the ancient city of Smyrna, founded in the 4th century BCE after the victories of Alexander the Great against the Persians in Anatolia and İzmir’s direct predecessor. Following a major earthquake in 178 CE, the Agora was renewed with the support of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Intriguing tidbits of Hellenistic and Roman history can still be seen dotted around this archaeological site, once the place where all of the administrative, commercial and judicial affairs of the city were carried out. Today, visitors are captivated by the basilica, the arched corridors, the Faustina Gate, the Roman baths, ancient mosaics and the tombstones in the Muslim cemetery. 

Planning tip: Special concerts take place at the agora from time to time – ask the local tourism office or your accommodation to find outt what’s happening.

5. Explore İzmir’s cultural side

Set inside a restored, 140-year-old cigarette factory, İzmir Kültür Sanat Fabrikası (İzmir Culture and Art Factory) is one of the city’s most important cultural centers. As well as libraries, workshops, cafes and a temporary exhibition hall, the complex contains two very important museums.

The Archaeology Museum exhibits a wide collection of archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, including statues, sarcophagi, clothes, coins and many other treasures from the Greek, Roman and Ottoman periods. In the İzmir Resim ve Heykel Müzesi (İzmir Painting and Sculpture Museum) the works of important Turkish painters, sculptors and ceramic artists take center stage.

Planning tip: Due to their size and scope of their collections, you’ll need a few hours to visit both museums.

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6. Shop like a local at Bostanlı Pazarı

Open only on Wednesdays (from 9am to 7pm), Bostanlı Pazarı is the most famous weekly bazaar in İzmir, and a place to shop and become part of local life. The mix of items for sale ranges from textiles, clothes and bags to fruits, vegetables, nuts and flowers. Don’t forget to check prices at other stalls and bargain with the sellers before you make a purchase – as a true İzmirli would.

Planning tip: The market is a 20-minute walk from Bostanlı İskelesi pier and a 5-minute walk from Vilayet Evi tram station. Many bus lines also pass in front of the bazaar.

7. Experience İzmir’s seaside heart

The Kordon (seafront) is often featured in photographs, documentaries, songs and poems about İzmir. The seafront road of the same name, stretching north from Cumhuriyet Meydanı to Alsancak and south from Konak Pier to Konak Meydanı, remains the heart and soul of the city. 

With the sea on one side and a picturesque array of old houses, restaurants, cafes, bookstores and shops on the other, you’ll lose track of time as you meander here, with fresh breezes easing the summer heat.

Planning tip: We recommend touring the Kordon on two wheels; you’ll find several bike-rental spots along the promenade. At weekends, horse-drawn carriages provide great views at a stately pace.

8. Take a village hike on the Efeler Yolu route

The Efeler Yolu is an approximately 500km trekking route within the borders of İzmir, Manisa and Aydın provinces that passes through 28 villages in total. (Kavaklıdere village in İzmir’s Bornova district lies at one end, with Meryem Ana in Selçuk district at the other.) On any of the stages of this rewarding trail, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the cultural color of the region, as well as Türkiye’s natural beauty.

The clearly marked route sits toward the “difficult” end of the spectrum, but it’s still achievable for most walkers. Don’t forget to try the local delicacies in the villages you visit and pause for Türk kahvesi (Turkish coffee) or çay (tea) in village squares.

Planning tip: Hikers walking the entire route can obtain a special “passport” and collect stamps at each of the 28 villages. As you complete each stage, find the shop in the village that acts as the project partner to get yours marked.

9. Get up close to flamingos

It is inspiring to think that 10% of all the flamingos in the world live in the Gediz Delta, approximately 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres) of wetlands just a few kilometers from İzmir’s city center. To see them, join a Flamingo Road tour by boat from İzmir’s Mavişehir Balıkçı Barınağı fishing harbor.

One-hour tours begin with a briefing on the history of the wetlands and the diversity of their natural life, helping you understand why this region is home to such a large bird population. Later, on a boat, guides share detailed information about flamingos and other birds living in this region.

During the tour, you’ll see thousands of flamingos, Dalmatian pelicans, cormorants and black-billed terns as they eat, fly and squawk. It's a thrill to be able to observe these birds so closely in their natural habitat. Binoculars are distributed during the trip. 

Planning tip: A bus version of the tour starts from Sasalı Doğal Yaşam Parkı, to the north of İzmir. On this 1.5-hour trip, you can see flamingos in the coastal marshes of the delta and – if you are lucky – encounter jackals, foxes and hares, too.

10. Visit Türkiye’s windsurfing capital

If windsurfing is your thing, head Alaçatı, located 80km west of İzmir. This water-sports hot spot is celebrated for its steady winds and sheltered bays, and the smooth transition between shallow and deeper waters. 

Thanks to these conditions (which rarely occur all at once) beginner, intermediate and advanced windsurfing enthusiasts can share the same zones with ease. In addition to windsurfing, kitesurfing and wing-foiling are popular activities here.

Planning tip: The best time for engaging in water sports in Alaçatı is between April and November. MYGA Surf City is a surf school offering gear rental and training. 

11. Embrace the local wine culture in Urla

Southwest of İzmir, the village of Urla has developed a network of award-wining restaurants that have made it the gastronomy center of the İzmir region. Urla also gets plenty of attention thanks to its long history of winemaking and many vineyards. 

The climate, winds and soil structure make local and foreign wine grape varieties thrive here – including chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, pinot noir, Kalecik karası, boğazkere, narince and bornova misketi.

To experience Urla’s wine culture, plot out a vineyard route to visit some of the well-known wineries in the district. Urla Şarapçılık, which has received many national and international awards, offers enjoyable tastings and tours at its elegant and charming premises. 

Located in an enchanting stone wine house, USCA Şarapçılık has the distinction of being the first winery to make red wine from foça karası grapes. Nearby, MMG Şarapçılık offers wines produced from grapes harvested at night, with tastings in a wine house with a valley view.

12. Take a cooking class at a Michelin-recognized restaurant

Hiç Lokanta, a restaurant in Urla with a Michelin Green Star, organizes cooking classes for visitors interested in local gastronomy. During “Urla Food Heritage” workshops, participants cook and taste the traditional flavors of Urla cuisine guided by local chefs. 

At the “Cook the Forest” workshop, you can experience foraging, cooking and tasting the olives, lavender and different herbs that grow in the Hiç Olive Forest. Olive oil-tasting workshops provide participants with valuable information about the production and taste of top-notch olive oil. You can attend these events individually or book one out for your group.

13. Find both beaches and history in Çeşme

Some 90km from İzmir, Çeşme is a popular holiday destination that promises fantastic beaches and a rich historic city core. While it does get crowded in the summer, Çeşme rewards those who want to combine sun sessions with a dose of culture.

Standing watch over the bay, Çeşme Castle was constructed by the Genoese and later repaired by Sultan Beyazıt II, son of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, in 1508. Take a walk on the walls connecting the bastions at the four corners of the castle: on one side you’ll see Greek island of Chios; on the other, Çeşme Marina, sheltered by a bay.

The castle also hosts the Çeşme Museum, with archaeological pieces such as cannons, cannonballs, glassware, weapons, amphorae, coins and military items from different periods exhibited in different chambers of the fortress.

14. Get lost in the charming streets of Sığacık

Less than an hour away from İzmir, Sığacık is famed for its historic center, known as the Kaleiçi. The town’s streets are lined with stalls selling delicacies homemade by local people; small shops selling souvenirs and clothes; cafes and restaurants; boutique hotels; and picturesque old houses decorated with colorful flowers. 

However you enter the area, you’ll find yourself pleasantly wandering through narrow, winding streets – all inside the walls of an Ottoman castle estimated to be 500 years old.

15. Marvel at the treasures of Bergama

You could easily spend a whole day touring the ancient wonders in Bergama, a must-visit destination 118km north of İzmir. The showstopper here is the Bergama Acropolis, a stunning archeological site dramatically set on a hill overlooking the Bakırçay Valley, and packed with Hellenic and Roman ruins. 

The Asklepion healing complex from the 4th century BCE and the Red Hall from the 2nd century BCE offer two more examples of impressive ancient architecture. Visit the Bergama Archaeology Museum for a small but fascinating collection of artifacts that gives an even deeper immersion into the city’s past. 

Planning tip: The best way to reach Bergama from İzmir is by renting a car. You can also take buses and minibuses departing from İzmir’s otogarı (bus station).

16. Teleport to ancient Greece in Teos

Teos, one of the 12 cities of the ancient Ionian League, has accumulated traces of different civilizations since its foundation in 1000 BCE. Teos was one of the most important port cities of its time, and its people had a special connection to Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fruits and festivals; the Temple of Dionysus was one of the city’s most sacred sites. 

When you take your first steps into ancient Teos, you’ll soon encounter the ancient ruins of this temple, along with the monumental tree called Umay Nine Ağacı (named in honor of Umay, a goddess of fertility in Turkic mythology). The tree is estimated to be 1800 years old – still bears olives to this day.

The archaeological site includes many other important buildings, including a theatre, acropolis, bouleuterion (council chamber) and agora (assembly space). Make sure to take the time to explore the whole site.

Planning tip: Teos is about 40km (miles) south of İzmir, and easily accessible on tours or by rental car. There isn’t much shade, so bring sunscreen and a hat.

This article was adapted from Lonely Planet's Türkiye guidebook, published in December 2024.