Things to Do in Izmir: The Kordon, Kemeraltı Bazaar & Ephesus Nearby
Izmir is Turkey's third-largest city and its main Aegean port, built around a long bay with a seafront promenade, the Kordon, running along it.
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Quick answer
The city is the practical base for two of the most significant archaeological sites in the country: Ephesus, one of the best-preserved classical cities in the Mediterranean, and Pergamon, whose acropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the city itself, the Kemeraltı bazaar district and the Roman agora sit within walking distance of the waterfront.
What to see in Izmir — top sights
- The Kordon — the waterfront promenade along Izmir Bay, the centre of the city's evening life.
- Kemeraltı — the historic bazaar quarter, a warren of covered market streets, courtyards, mosques and caravanserais.
- The Agora of Smyrna — the Roman marketplace of the ancient city, with its vaulted basement galleries intact.
- Ephesus — roughly an hour south, with the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre; one of the best-preserved classical cities anywhere.
- Pergamon — the UNESCO-listed acropolis north of the city, reached by cable car, with a famously steep theatre.
- Asansör — the historic street elevator built to connect two levels of the old Jewish quarter, with a view over the bay.
Why visit Izmir
Izmir is the base that puts Ephesus and Pergamon within a day trip each while giving you a working Aegean city rather than a resort — a seafront promenade, a centuries-old bazaar and a Roman agora, all walkable.
FAQ
- How far is Ephesus from Izmir?
- Ephesus is roughly an hour south of Izmir near Selçuk, reachable by train, bus or car, which makes Izmir a practical base for visiting it as a day trip.
- What is Kemeraltı?
- Kemeraltı is Izmir's historic bazaar district — a dense network of covered market streets, courtyards, mosques and former caravanserais that has functioned as the city's commercial heart for centuries.
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