IZMIR
A laid-back city on Turkey’s West Coast, Izmir is in many ways Istanbul’s opposite.
Istanbul bustles with imported voices, faces, and visitors from around the globe; in Izmir, you’ll mix with locals whose roots in the area go back to ancient times.
Istanbul offers a dizzying array of sights, colours, and sounds; in Izmir, the silent azure sea can soak up all your attention for hours.
Don’t worry, though, there are plenty of fantastic active things to do in Izmir, too.
With only three days in the city, my Izmir itinerary was packed so full and I didn’t get to see and do half of the things I wanted to.
Izmir seems to be built for a slow pace, and I longed to spend more time relaxing in picturesque locations with a coffee or a glass of Turkish wine in hand.
If you’re heading to Izmir, leave yourself plenty of time not just to see the sights but also to chill in the charming city centre.
Here are 11 fantastic things to do in Izmir.
IZMIR AGORA
Any list of things to do in Izmir has to start at the ancient monument right in the city centre. Surrounded by hillside residential neighbourhoods, bustling market streets, and tall commercial buildings, Izmir Agora is just a part of the everyday landscape for most residents.
Inside the Agora grounds, the ruins of a Roman-Greek marketplace transport you back to the days when Izmir was an important stop on the Silk Road.
Ancient water channel under the arches at the Izmir Agora.
The archways on the lower floor of the 2,000-year-old marketplace are still intact and the same fresh water that supplied the ancient market still bubbles out of fountains and runs through a channel along the floor today. This place was built to last!
· Address: Namazgah, Tarık Sarı Sk. No:29
· Opening hours: every day from 8:30 AM – 7 PM (summer season) & 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (winter season)
The ancient Roman city of Ephesus was once a hugely popular stop on the Silk Road and it is now one of the most popular things to do in Izmir, welcoming almost 2 million visitors a year.
In ancient times, people from all over the world sailed to the port to stock up on exotic spices and fruits, visit the talented Turkish cloth-makers, or just soak up the flavour of the multicultural city.
The Celsus library in Ephesus used to house 12,000 scrolls.
The restored Celsus library, constructed with a double-wall technique to preserve the 12,000 scrolls that were housed there, is a great reminder of the value we humans have always placed on knowledge and learning.
It’s an Izmir must see.
· Address: Atatürk, Uğur Mumcu Sevgi Yolu
· Opening hours: every day 8 AM – 6:30 PM
High on a hilltop overlooking the modern town of Bergama sits the Pergamon Acropolis, an ancient Greek city that was a seat of power in the 2nd Century BC.
The height and size of the Pergamon Altar in Izmir is just stunning.
The site is best known as the location of the Pergamon Altar, a colossal construction with soaring pillars.
For me, the highlight of Pergamon was the world’s steepest ancient theatre that hangs dizzyingly off the hillside overlooking the town of Bergama.
There are many things to see in Izmir but among many of Izmir attractions, this one’s unmissable.
· Address: Hamzalısüleymaniye
· Opening hours: every day from 8 AM – 5 PM (winter season) & 8 AM – 7 PM (summer season)
This Greek-Roman spa town is at the top of many traveller’s bucket lists for its white travertine terraces, created by the natural hot springs that flow down the hillside.
The Pamukkale pools have been in use for thousands of years.
After exploring the ancient temples of Hierapolis and walking along the narrow pathway through Pamukkale, spend some time bathing in the hot mineral pools just as the Romans once did.
· Location: Denizli
· Opening hours: 24h/7, but the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum is open every day from 9 AM – 12:30 pm & 1:30 PM – 7 PM
Have extra time and not sure what to do in Izmir? If you love the bustle and chatter of a busy market, don’t miss out on this Izmir tourist attraction.
In the welcoming central bazaar in Izmir, marketeers smile and shout, inviting visitors and locals alike to inspect their wares.
Unlike in many marketplaces around the world, Izmir’s marketeers are happy to chat, even if it’s obvious you won’t be buying a pound of sardines or a traditional Turkish wedding costume.
There’s plenty on offer here for the curious foodie, too. Invest a few lira for the chance to watch the happy candy vendor expertly twirl his vats of liquid sugar onto a stick for you.
Sweet, sticky Turkish delight is on offer in every colour of the rainbow while salty sour olives range from deep black-purple to bright green. A visit to Kemaraltı Market is definitely one of the tastiest things to do in Izmir.
· Address: Konak, Anafartalar Cd
· Opening hours: every day from 8 AM – 8 PM
To experience the local culture, there’s nothing quite like getting lost in the back streets of a small town, chatting with the curious locals, and discovering your own hidden gems.
An hour or two wandering Bergama is a perfect introduction to the local way of life. Make sure to leave a little time to explore Bergama before you head up the hill to the Pergamon Acropolis.
The narrow streets of Şirince hide secrets behind every curve and the crumbling old houses are an architecture-obsessed photographer’s dream.
In the town centre, friendly shopkeepers wave hello and proudly show off their artisanal products.
Climbing up to the highest parts of the village is like wandering back in time. Tiny elderly women in traditional dress call to each other from open doorways, bread bakes in arcing stone ovens, and cats lounge on every available surface, soaking up the afternoon sun.
Leave plenty of time to wander the streets of Şirince.
The hillsides around town beckon to anyone adventurous enough to explore them. Give Şirince a few days – a few hours here is not nearly enough.