Top Things to Do in the Izmir | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Izmir

Places To Visit In Izmir

Hisar Camii

Hisar Mosque (Hisar Camii or the Fort Mosque) is an ancient mosque in Izmir and the largest & oldest place for Islamic gatherings in the city. It is known for elegantly designed interiors and has an Ottoman style of architecture. There are separate galleries for males and females, and both galleries embrace beautiful motifs of grapes and roses. The Hisar Mosque was built between 1592 to 1598 by Aydınoğlu Yakup Bey. It is constructed entirely with white marble. There is a large central dome, and three domes are behind the middle dome. Moreover, there is a series of seven domes on the sides of the courtyard. Also, a fountain used for Islamic ablution (şadırvanı) overlooks the yard. Although the mosque is situated amid the market, it has a peaceful ambience. Notably, there are some best cafes nearby. Read More

İzmir Clock Tower ( aka İzmir Saat Kulesi in Turkish) is a classical clock tower situated in Konak Square. It is the focal landmark of the city that boasts ottoman architecture. The tower stands next to the sea and the bazaar and is well-known for walking in the late evening. Also, the area has a clean ambience and is splendid for taking photographs. The clock tower has an octagonal structure constructed with marble and stone and has a height of 25 m with four floors. It has four clocks having a diameter of 75 cm. Besides, there is a bell on the fourth floor. The Levantine French architect Raymond Charles Péré designed this tower. The construction of the clock tower began on 1st September 1900, and it was formally inaugurated on the 25th anniversary of Sultan Abdulhamid II's crowning, i.e., 1st September 1901. Read More

Izmir Museum of History & Art

Izmir History and Art Museum is an art museum set amidst the beautiful Kültür Park in Mimar Sinan. It exhibits unique works of Turkish culture & art and features Greek statues, sculptures, primaeval artefacts, & vintage coins. The Izmir History and Art Museum have three different sections. The first section is dedicated to sculptures or stonework comprising works of Archaic, Roman, Hellenistic, & Byzantine periods and from different primitive sites such as Pergamon, Smyrna, Miletus, Agora in Izmir, and others. The next section is dedicated to ceramic art or pottery exhibiting rich ceramic collections from different eras. . The third section is dedicated to precious works, including antique coins. The most valuable works of Izmir & its surrounding areas are there in the third section. The information regarding the exhibits is represented in highly legible form. Read More

The Izmir Cable car or Izmir Teleferik is situated on Sakarya Street, in Balcova district. It offers stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the city and Agean Sea below. The cable car's starting point is situated opposite Izmir Economy University Balcova. It consists of 20 colorful cable car cabins that can accommodate a maximum of 8 people. The length of the cable line is 810m and is 316m high. It carries around 1200 passengers in a span of one hour, with each new ride only three minutes away. In fact, with two stops, the one-way ride completes in three minutes reaching the elevated viewing terrace. Once on top or at the other end of the cable line, there are several cafes, restaurants, and benches on the viewing terrace to sit, relax, photograph, and enjoy the landscape below. For meat lovers, the Meat House is exceptional for its barbeque services. Do not forget to carry a pair of binoculars to view the city below. Read More

Izmir Wildlife Park is one of the largest zoos in Izmir located at Tuzla, Ahmet Piristina Caddesi, Cigli. It is home to almost 120 distinct animal species, such as ostrich, deer, zebra, monkey, lion, tiger, meerkat, crocodile, hippo, etc. The animals here do not live in cages like any other zoo. They are free to roam & dwell in their natural habitat. It is an ideal weekend getaway or picnic spot.

An ancient hilltop fortress, Kadifekale Castle, also locally known as Kadifekale overlooks the beautiful Gulf of Izmir. Located at 186m above sea level, on Mt Pago, Kadifekale offers some splendid views of the calm waters and bustling city below. The insides of the castle today are relatively empty, though there are a mosque and cistern ruins. It has free entry and can be reached on a dolmus or using private vehicles. Kadifekale was built around the 3rd century BC by Alexander the Great’s successor, Lysimachos. It has a rich history, passed down from different rulers and dynasties.Closely connected historically to the Greek city Smyrna, Kadifekale Castle and the surrounding city were ruled by the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Arabs, Crusaders, and finally by the Ottoman Empire. Most of the ruins of the castle today can be traced to the restoration work done by the Ottoman Emperor Mehmed II. In 2007 restoration and renovation work began at Kadifekale, whereas in 2020 it became a Tentative World Heritage Site. Besides, the stunning view of the Gulf of Izmir, one can also find the local women baking bread and weaving bright textiles that are up for sale. Read More

Kara Lake is a crater lake situated in the Menemen district of Izmir. It is set at an 810 m height and has an area of 35 ha. The lake is a loved spot for camping, hiking, and walking due to its natural features. Also, photography and bird watching are popular here. Visitors can see flocks of ducks swimming in the Kara Lake and relax by the willow trees. Besides, there is a picnic area next to the lake. It has a beautiful landscape as the area is surrounded by red pine, cedar, and willow trees. Also, there is a small & cosy restaurant nearby. Read More

Key Museum is the largest automobile museum in Turkey, situated in Torbalı Izmir. Established in 2015, this museum has an expansive collection of restored classic cars & bikes along with automotive artefacts. It displays more than 165 classic and modern British, American, and German cars from 1930 to 1960. The Key Museum has an enormous indoor area with an appreciable historical collection. There are various beautiful cars here, including different models of Ferrari, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, & Kaiser-Darrin 1957. There is also a motorbike exhibit featuring models from different years, like the Daimler Reitwagen, the first motorcycle model with an internal combustion engine. In addition, the remarkable collection of Key Museum has Murat Özgörkey's private collection that has around 400 chess sets on various themes. Also, it has Shell's Gas Station. Besides, there is a small cafe and a museum shop within the property. Read More

The Kızlarağası Hani or Kizlaragasi Inn is a bustling bazaar in Izmir where one can shop for carpets, clothes, handicrafts, jewellery, rugs, leather items, antique stores, musical instruments, souvenir shops, and more. Located in the area Halim Aga Carsisi, it is located inside the Kemeralti Bazaar. Do try Izmir’s traditional coffee baked in a cup sold in the many cafes here. There are several inns inside Kemeralti Bazaar, however, this is one of the best-preserved inns from the Ottoman era. Kızlarağası Hani has two floors and a huge courtyard in the center. It also has two single-floor covered bazaars, called Cuha and Cevahir. The old Hisar Mosque (no longer used as a place of worship) and the fountain in the courtyard are some other structures of this heritage building. The architecture of the building provides a unique shopping experience. Different Turkish delicacies are also found at some stalls and cafes here. The Kizlaragasi Inn was built by Haci Besir Aga in 1744. Read More

Kulturpark is a public park in the Konak district of Izmir. The lush-green space is home to various endemic and exotic flora with over 200 trees and plant species. It is enclosed by walls and has five entrance gates. In addition, Kulturpark houses an amusement park, a History and Art Museum, and a Parachute Tower, one of the 3 parachute towers in the world. Opened in 1936, Kulturpark regularly hosts important events, including Izmir International Fair and Izmir Book Fair. It is surrounded by walls and has 14 exhibition halls, 4 conference rooms, an open-air theatre and Ismet Inönü Art Centre, where visitors can enjoy different cultural events such as film screenings and concerts. Few other notable buildings include the marriage office and facilities for engaging in sports activities such as a tennis club, gymnasium and a jogging track. Read More