Izmir holidays

1. Most visitors will naturally want to visit Ephesus, the sprawling ancient Greek city dating back to the 6th Century BC. Allow half a day to explore the extensive ruins, including the Temple of Artemis, one of the ancient wonders of the world, a vast Colosseum-like theatre holding 25,000, a gymnasium, bath complex and a reconstructed Library of Celsus that held 12,000 scrolls. A separate entrance fee gets you into the terraced houses, which give you a slice of domestic Roman life.

2. You don’t need to travel that far to see some ancient ruins. The Agora Open Air Museum is right in the city centre. The fascinating remains include colonnades, vaulted chambers, basilicas and cisterns. Agora was built in the 4th Century BC when the city was still known as Smyrna. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 178 AD and subsequently rebuilt by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius shortly afterwards. It even served as a cemetery for a period after laying vacant for centuries.

3. Kemeralti Bazaar is the city’s sprawling, 17th Century, open-air market that easily rivals Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. You can spend a full day wandering around its maze of colourful, cobbled streets, historic mosques and synagogues, hidden courtyards and grand caravanserais. Fortify yourself with a strong Turkish coffee in one of the many cafes between the Hisar Mosque and the Kizlaragasi Han before throwing yourself into the melee and shopping for everything from spices and clothes to souvenirs.

4. Take in the fine city and sea views from the top of Asansor, a monumental elevator built in 1907 to connect the Karatas area with its steep hillside environs. Asansor literally translates as ‘elevator’ and while the structure was initially used only to transport goods, nowadays it mostly delivers visitors looking for scenic photo opps, while many also go on to frequent the restaurant of the same name at the very pinnacle.

5. Muradiye Mosque, built around 1584 by Mimar Sinan for Sultan Murat III, is a truly exquisite example of Ottoman architecture and design, from its twin minarets and Iznik tiling, right through to the delicately tiled niche. That it was heavily influenced by Istanbul’s Blue Mosque is no surprise, since one of its supervising architects was also responsible for that structure. Once you’ve finished marvelling at the building’s stunning interiors, you can relax in its pleasant courtyard gardens.

• Konak is the most central location for visitors holding many of the city’s key sights, including Kemeralti Bazaar and Konak Square. It’s also Izmir’s prime dining and drinking destination peppered with many Turkish and international restaurants, alongside a great choice of taverns and bars. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a glass of raki paired with a sublime view of the Aegean.
• Studenty Bornova owes much of its character to the prestigious Ege University. The area is also blessed with pleasant green spaces, such as the Bornova Botanic Park with a great variety of plants, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll. It’s also Izmir’s main nightlife hub, while shoppers will enjoy its fantastic range of stores, bazaars and markets, including open-air shopping mall Forum Bornova.
• Gaziemir, a district to the south of Izmir, is another good bet if you don’t mind staying a little further out. It’s served by excellent public transport and is a key crafts and manufacturing centre for the entire country. The Optimum Shopping Mall delivers a unique shopping experience with fashion brands and an extensive food court.
• Balcova is a western coastal area popular with families, wellness enthusiasts and nature lovers. It’s famed for its medicinal hot springs. The Balcova Therapy Forest is another key attraction in the area, with a majestic waterfall that’s the perfect setting for a relaxing picnic. Reach it with a trip on the Balcova Cable Car and perhaps spend some time in one of the many thermal hotels there.
• Pamukkale Hot Springs, about three hours’ drive from Izmir, contains gorgeous natural rock pools characterised by white terraces formed of sedimentary rock called travertine and warm bright blue waters said to revitalise the body. These contain 17 hot springs which have been used since the 2nd Century BC.