Old mosques and churches, an 18th-century marketplace combine with wide boulevards, modern buildings and shopping malls with traditional red-tiled roofs. Izmir is a capital city with a Mediterranean atmosphere. It wraps around a vast bay on the eastern coast of the Aegean Sea like a huge horseshoe. It is the country's largest business center and the venue for the prestigious Izmir International Fair.
Explore Kadifekale Castle and its surroundings
Start your journey at Kadifekale Castle, a castle built for the ancient Greek city of Smyrna. It contains the ruins of a 14th-century mosque and part of a Byzantine cistern. Entry to the castle is free. Continue your journey to explore Asansor, a historic building in the Izmara Karataş quarter, within the Konak district of the capital. It was built in 1907 to ease the transition from the narrow Karataş coastline to the steep hillside.
Return to the heart of modern Izmir, to Konak Square with its famous 1901 clock tower. From the square, walk to Kordon, a waterfront café promenade and the Konak Customs House, built by Gustave Eiffel and now a chic shopping mall.
Learn Windsurfing in Alacati
Known for its stone houses and lavender streets, Alacati is a district near Izmir that is also known as one of the surfing paradises. It has strong winds for 6 months of the year, making it ideal for windsurfing at all levels, from beginners to pros. Sign up at one of the many windsurfing schools in Alacati and learn to conquer the sea.
Visit the Ruins of Ephesus
Ephesus is an amazing place with the largest architectural “collection” of Roman ruins in the entire eastern Mediterranean. Visiting the ruins of Ephesus means visiting the heart of the Aegean Sea. This ancient Roman city was once a popular stop on the Silk Road, where people from all over the world sailed to the port, exchanged exotic spices and fruits, and visited the talented Turkish tailors. Ephesus is the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean.
Take a stroll through the Ancient Agora
The Agora in Izmir was founded in the early second century. The buildings were erected during the reign of Marcus Aurelius after the famous earthquake that occurred in 178. The Agora is a 120/80 meter platform on which are located capitals, the remains of three of the four gates, fourteen Coryphon columns, as well as fragments of statues of Ceres, Neptune and Diana.
