Things to Do in Izmir: The Kordon, Kemeraltı Bazaar & Ephesus Nearby

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.