Izmir itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Izmir, day by day: Kadifekale, the Agora of Smyrna, Kemeraltı, the Hisar Mosque, Konak Square, the Izmir Clock Tower and the Asansör first, then Mount Sipylus, the Archaeological Museum and Alsancak Terminal as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Izmir in 1 day
Day 1
Kadifekale
Hilltop fortress of the ancient city, rebuilt by Lysimachus, with ruined walls and wide views over the Gulf of Izmir.
Agora of Smyrna
Ruins of the Roman market square of ancient Smyrna, with colonnades and arcades largely rebuilt after an earthquake in AD 178.
Kemeraltı
Old bazaar district of Izmir with market lanes, mosques, caravanserais and small shops and cafes.
Hisar Mosque
Large Ottoman mosque of the sixteenth century in the Kemeraltı bazaar area, among the oldest in the city.
Konak Square
Central waterfront square of Izmir, home to the Clock Tower and the Konak Mosque.
Izmir Clock Tower
Ornate Ottoman clock tower of 1901 in Konak Square, the symbol of the city, beside the small Konak Mosque.
Asansör
Early twentieth-century lift in Karataş carrying visitors up a cliff to a terrace with a cafe and views over the bay.
Izmir in 2 days
Day 1
Kadifekale
Hilltop fortress of the ancient city, rebuilt by Lysimachus, with ruined walls and wide views over the Gulf of Izmir.
Agora of Smyrna
Ruins of the Roman market square of ancient Smyrna, with colonnades and arcades largely rebuilt after an earthquake in AD 178.
Kemeraltı
Old bazaar district of Izmir with market lanes, mosques, caravanserais and small shops and cafes.
Hisar Mosque
Large Ottoman mosque of the sixteenth century in the Kemeraltı bazaar area, among the oldest in the city.
Konak Square
Central waterfront square of Izmir, home to the Clock Tower and the Konak Mosque.
Izmir Clock Tower
Ornate Ottoman clock tower of 1901 in Konak Square, the symbol of the city, beside the small Konak Mosque.
Asansör
Early twentieth-century lift in Karataş carrying visitors up a cliff to a terrace with a cafe and views over the bay.
Day 2
Mount Sipylus
Mountain east of Izmir, the ancient Mount Sipylus, with rock-cut ancient figures and forest paths above the city.
İzmir Archaeological Museum
Museum in Konak showing archaeological finds from Izmir and its surroundings, including sculpture from the Roman and earlier periods.
Izmir Alsancak Terminal
Historic railway station of 1858 in the Alsancak district, one of the oldest in Turkey, now a working terminus.
Watch: Izmir
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Izmir
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking and day trips, with warm days and mild evenings. July and August are hot and humid, so plan sights for early morning and evening. Winters are mild but can be rainy. The International Izmir Fair in late summer fills hotels.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Izmir on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Izmir on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Izmir on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Izmir with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Turkey from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Izmir with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
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Tips for Izmir
- Kadifekale is a hilltop fortress with wide views over the Gulf of Izmir; it is best visited in the morning or near sunset, when it is cooler and the light is good.
- The Asansör is a historic lift that carries visitors up from the Karataş waterfront to a terrace with a cafe and a view over the bay.
- The Clock Tower stands in Konak Square beside the Konak Mosque; the old Kemeraltı bazaar begins a few minutes' walk away.
- Mosques ask visitors to dress modestly and remove shoes; avoid visiting during the call to prayer and check times around Friday noon.
- Izmir's metro, tram and ferries run on the Izmirim Kart, which saves time on the long hops between districts.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Agora of Smyrna: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Asansör: Yabancı, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hisar Mosque: Francisco Anzola, CC BY 2.0
- Izmir Alsancak Terminal: A.Savin, FAL
- Izmir Clock Tower: User:Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kadifekale: Mr. E. Unlu, CC BY 3.0
- Kemeraltı: Olgunkin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Konak Square: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Mount Sipylus: Carole Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0
- İzmir Archaeological Museum: sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
