İzmir is Turkey's third city, yet it feels calmer than Istanbul: the Kordon seafront, the old Kemeraltı bazaar and ancient Smyrna in the middle of residential streets. My saved list here had ten places, almost all of them sights, and they make up this article; some are recommended by 34travel too. All descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews; I have no notes of my own yet.
Tickets are from reviews, opening hours are Google's; valid as of 1 October 2026. Rate: 100 ₺ ≈ $2.
In short
- Free: the Tarihi Asansör lift with its view over the bay, and wandering Kemeraltı.
- Coffee in a caravanserai courtyard: Kızlarağası Hanı, built in 1745.
- Antiquity in the centre: Agora Ören Yeri, if you can't make it to Ephesus; tickets in lira, cash only.
- A view over the whole city: Kadifekale, but go in daylight.
- On Sundays Kemeraltı and Kızlarağası Hanı are closed.
Kemeraltı and Konak
İzmir Saat Kulesi
Konak · clock tower · free · always open
Google Maps · Konak Meydanı
The tower has no Google reviews, only a description: a 25-metre Ottoman-style clock tower with four fountains, built in 1901 and the city's symbol. It stands on Konak Square by the sea, the natural starting point for a walk into Kemeraltı.
Kemeraltı Çarşısı
Kemeraltı · historic bazaar · free · Mon–Sat 8:00–19:00, closed Sun
Google Maps · website · Anafartalar Cd.
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 33,000+): a huge old bazaar of narrow streets and passages: fabrics, rugs, spices, jewellery, souvenirs, and upstairs in some buildings vintage records and designer jewellery. Coffee houses, dessert shops and small eateries sit between the stalls. Haggle: prices near the entrances are higher than deeper in, but overall cheaper than the bazaars of Istanbul or Antalya. It's crowded, which is part of the point. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Kızlarağası Hanı
Kemeraltı · Ottoman caravanserai · free · Mon–Sat 9:00–20:00, closed Sun
Google Maps · 871. Sk. 19, Hisarönü
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 19,000+): a caravanserai from 1745 inside Kemeraltı, with stone galleries around a courtyard, shops selling jewellery, crafts, antiques and spices, and a few cafés. The best thing to do is have a Turkish coffee or tea in the courtyard, then go upstairs. Downside: there's no museum inside; it's really a market with cafés, which disappoints some.
Kahveciler Sokağı
Kemeraltı · street of coffee shops · daily 8:00–22:00
Google Maps · 906. Sk.
According to Google Maps reviews (4.1 from 150): the coffee-makers' street inside Kemeraltı, where the whole lane smells of fresh-ground coffee. Small cosy cafés, Turkish coffee and döner nearby; the reviews are short but nearly all glowing.
Ancient Smyrna and Kadifekale
Agora Ören Yeri
Namazgah · ancient agora, open-air museum · ticket about €6 (≈$7), in lira cash · daily 8:30–17:30
Google Maps · website · Tarik Sari Sk. 29
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 3,400+): the ruins of a Greek and Roman market square right in the city: columns, vaulted basements and ancient water channels where water still runs. It's small and quiet; an hour is enough. Reviews from 2025 put the ticket at about €6, payable only in lira cash; if you have no time for Ephesus, this is a good stand-in. Downside: part of the site is closed. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Smyrna Antik Kenti
Namazgah · excavations of the ancient city · daily 8:30–19:30
Google Maps · website · Eşrefpaşa Cd. 13
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 850+): the dig around the agora of ancient Smyrna: a basilica, underground arched galleries, and what visitors describe as the world's largest collection of ancient Greek graffiti. Excavation is still under way, so some areas can only be seen from a distance; the underground vaults leave the biggest impression.
Kadifekale
Kadifekale · hilltop fortress · free · daily 8:30–18:30
Google Maps · 5271. Sk.
According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 3,100+): the remains of an old fortress on the hill above the city. The reason to climb up is the view over all of İzmir and the bay, and there's a café. The downsides are frequent and frank: the fort is neglected, with rubbish, graffiti and stray dogs, some ruins are fenced off, and the way up runs through a poor area on narrow streets and steep steps. Go in daylight. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Karataş
Tarihi Asansör
Karataş · historic lift and viewpoint · free · daily 8:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · Şht. Nihatbey Cd. 76/A
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 30,000+): a brick tower from 1907 whose lift carries you from Dario Moreno street up to the Karataş hill. It was built by the Jewish merchant Nissim Levy with bricks shipped from Marseille, and the inscription in Hebrew and French is still above the door. The ride is free; at the top there's a balcony and a café over the bay, best at sunset. Downside: it's crowded, and there can be a queue for photos on the balcony.
Alsancak and Kültürpark
Aziz Polikarp Kilisesi
Konak · Catholic church with painted ceiling · Google's hours are wrong: reviews say it's open to visitors around 15:00–17:00, Sunday for Mass only
Google Maps · website · Necati Bey Blv. 2/A
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 380+): plain outside, but inside an old, well-kept church with colourful paintings across the ceiling, calm and quiet. Entry is through a security check with ID; if it looks shut, ring the bell at the right-hand gate, not the one on the corner. Reviews say it's closed on Mondays and Thursdays, and sometimes for renovation. If you've seen plenty of big churches, it may feel modest.
Alsancak Katolik Kilisesi
Alsancak · Catholic church · Mon–Wed and Fri 9:30–18:30, Thu to 16:00, Sat to 15:00, closed Sun
Google Maps · 1481. Sk. 8
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 150+): a peaceful church in the heart of Alsancak with Mass in Italian and Turkish, and the occasional visiting choir. The staff are welcoming and may hand you brochures at the door. Downside: one visitor found the gate locked twice during the posted hours, so go in the morning.
Kaskatlı Havuz
Kültürpark · cascade pool with sculptures · free
Google Maps · İzmir Fuarı, Mimar Sinan
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 48): a stepped pool with sculptures just inside the Lozan Kapısı gate of Kültürpark, on the old İzmir Fuarı fairground, and one of the park's symbols. A good shady place to rest after Alsancak.
One last thing
On Sundays Kemeraltı and Kızlarağası Hanı are closed, so save the bazaar for a weekday and give Sunday to the Kordon, the Agora and the Asansör. Go up the Asansör for sunset, but Kadifekale in daylight.
More on İzmir: where to eat, cafés and bars.