İzmir Travel Guide

Why visit İzmir

This Smyrna was 5 km north of the present centre, in what is now the suburb of Bayraklı, and founded about 3000 BC by the Trojans. In folklore it was the birthplace of Homer, the 8th century BC author of the Odyssey, which describes a war between Greeks and Trojans 500 years earlier. No-one really knows where Homer lived, but a major harbour city is as good a guess as any. By his day Smyrna was settled by the Aeolians from mainland Greece, who were superseded by another Greek tribe the Ionians. The Lydians… (Source: Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA.)

İzmir is a stop in Türkiye, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 2 days. If time is short, prioritise Kemeraltı Bazaar, Konak Square and Clock Tower, Kadifekale (Velvet Castle) instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 45–110 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: November–March for cooler, drier conditions. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.

Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.

Prefer a full 9-day trip with costs and FAQs? Read the İzmir itinerary guide.

Typical on-the-ground spend in İzmir, Türkiye. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.