İZMİR CİTY TOURS

The beauty of the Aegean"Beautiful İzmir"

"Beautiful İzmir" draws you into a world of picturesque modernity and traditions, with its refreshing touches to human souls. İzmir hypnotizes visitors in an aura of history and modernity.

İzmir, ancient Smyrna, is located at a point where the Anatolian Peninsula extends into the Aegean Sea.

İzmir is one of the oldest cities with continuous settlement for 8500 years. Yeşilova and nearby Yassı Tepe Mounds are the oldest Neolithic settlements where idols and symbols of the Mother Goddess have been found. One of the founding legends of İzmir states that the city was founded by the legendary Amazon Queen Smyrna. The city dates back to the third millennium BCE (at Tepekule, modern Bayraklı) and was one of the most advanced civilizations of its time, along with ancient Troia Western Anatolia.

The ancient historian Herodotus wrote: "They built their city under the loftiest dome of heaven and the best climate in the world." Aristotle told his student Alexander the Great, "You are not complete unless you have seen it," and Victor Hugo describes the city as "İzmir is a princess adorning a necklace."

Known throughout Türkiye as "Beautiful İzmir", the city surrounds a large bay adorned by yachts, ships and ferries. As the terminus of the ancient "King's Road" that runs across Anatolia to Persian Gulf, İzmir remains a focal point of tourism and entertainment. Its streets are shaded by palm trees, the sidewalks are beautiful and the houses elegant. The city's coastline is known for its seafood restaurants along the coast as well as its cafes, restaurants serving Aegean Cuisine and other leisure facilities, while the hinterland is rich in ruins and monuments that tell the stories of countless ancient civilizations.

İzmir is the sound of the sea and the wind. Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, İzmir is mostly sunny all year round. Summers are hot and winters are mild. With its cities and historical sites such as Bergama, Çeşme, Foça, Kemalpaşa, Selçuk, Seferihisar, Karaburun, Tire and Urla, İzmir plays a very important role in the history not only of Western Türkiye but in the entire Aegean. With a total coastline of 629 kilometers, İzmir also promises a life in contact with the sea. In İzmir, you can enjoy the sea by walking in Kordon or taking a ferry from Alsancak to Karşıyaka, or you can explore the bluest waters at 49 blue flag beaches. This makes the city a very popular destination for the beaches where you can find every shade of blue and enjoy all kinds of water sports.

SMYRNA: The ancient name for Izmir and the heroic Amazon who founded the city according to Herodotus and Strabon.

KADIFEKALE: Velvet Castle, to be literal. This 4th century BC castle commands a bird's eye view of Izmir and is th perfect place to watch the sun set over the city.

AGORA: Revealed in central Izmir during excavations carried out in 1932-1941 in the district of Namazgah. eovering an area of 120 x 80 m, the agora throws invaluable light on Roman period Izmir. it was not only a market place, but the location of public institutions and the Temple of Zeus. The statues found here are on exhibit in Izmir Archaeological Museum.

KEMERALTI: The old fashioned shopping district of Izmir, consisting of narrow streets winding their way from Konak towards central Izmir around Anafartalar Caddesi. Here you can find jewelers, drapers, shoemaker, and shops specializing in all kind s of goods from leather to olives and cheese. The atmosphere of an earlier century still pervades the buildings here, with their distinctive 19th century doorways and roof tiles

CLOCK TOWER: Another symbol of the city, this picturesque clock tower in Konak Meydan was built in 1901 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Abduhamit II's accession to the throne. The clock itself was a gift of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany.

HISAR MOSQUE: The city's most magnificent mosque in the district of Hisar next to Kemeralti office complex. The mosque was built by Yakup Bey in 1592. It is roofed by a large dome resting on eight piers, and noted for the decoration on the altar niche and pulpit.

ASANSOR: The city's famous public elevator, and a symbol of Izmir. This elevator links Mithatpasa street below with Halil Rifat Pasa street at the summit of the precipitous hill. It was built in 1907 and restored by the municipality in 1993. The upper terrace has a breathtaking view over the city and the bay. Here there is an Open-air cafe, a restaurant and a Genoese tavern.

ALSANCAK: A select neighborhood with a unique character in modern Izmir. Stretching from the waterfront esplanade inland most of the area has been transformed into a pedestrian precinct, so there is no traffic to disturb shoppers and strollers. The streets lined by modern buildings and attractive shops lead onto the square where Alsancak station stands. Dating from 1858 the colonial architecture of the station distinguishes it in style from the rest of the city.

This tour is between 09:00-17:00 every day.

Duration: 8 hours

Places to visit: Ancient Agora, Izmir Archaeological Museum, Clock Tower, Kemeralti Bazaar,Asansör,Alsancak

Tour Prices:

• 90 € Per Person

Included

• Hotel Pick up and Drop off (from Çeşme Hotels)
• Professional Tour Guide
• Transportation by A/C vehicle,
• Entrance Tickets ( Ancient Agora )
• Lunch
• Parking fees for the vehicle.
• Drop-off to your hotel

Excluded

• Drinks (at lunch)
• Any Private Expenses
• Optional tips to the drivers and guides

Important to know

All of our tours are group tours. Contact us for your private tour requests.
Please dress accordingly to the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes
This tour may be operated by a multilingual guide
If you have special dietary requirements, please contact directly the local tour provider. You can find their contact information in the voucher after booking
The duration of transfers is 2 hours approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions