Things to Do in İzmir: Places and Attractions

Erythrae or Erythrai later Lythri was one of the twelve Ionian cities of Asia Minor, situated 22 km north-east of the port of Cyssus, on a small peninsula stretching into the Bay of Erythrae, at an equal distance from the mountains Mimas and Corycus, and directly opposite the island of Chios. It is recorded that excellent wine was produced in the peninsula. Erythrae was notable for being the seat of the Erythraean Sibyl. The ruins of the city are found north of the town Ildırı in the Çeşme district of İzmir Province, Turkey.

Nature & Adventure

Sığacık Castle is a castle located in the Seferihisar district of İzmir province, Turkey. It is located in the Sığacık Neighborhood, from which it takes its name, just northeast of the Sığacık Port, which is still in use today. Sığacık Castle is estimated to have been built during the Seljuk period. The most important repair phase of the castle, which underwent repairs during the Aydınoğulları and Ottoman periods, took place between 1521-1522 when, upon the recommendation of Piri Reis and the order of Suleiman the Magnificent, who was preparing for the Rhodes Campaign, the Teos ruins were used as a quarry by the fleet commander Parlak Mustafa Pasha.

Yel Değirmenleri, located at the summit of Top Dağı at the entrance of Foça, are historic structures dating back to the 17th century. These windmills are important symbols reflecting the region's agricultural past and engineering skills. Restoration efforts began in the 2000s, and one windmill has been authentically restored, allowing visitors to climb a spiral staircase inside and enjoy the view of Foça. The closest public transport to Yel Değirmenleri is the Foça ferry stop, 733 meters away, and it is within walking distance of Phokaia Ancient City (620 m).

Teos or Teo was an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, on a peninsula between Chytrium and Myonnesus. It was founded by Minyans from Orchomenus, Ionians and Boeotians, but the date of its foundation is unknown. Teos was one of the twelve cities which formed the Ionian League. The city was situated on a low hilly isthmus. Its ruins are located to the south of the modern town of Sığacık in the Seferihisar district of İzmir Province, Turkey.

Âşık Veysel Recreation Area, located in Bornova, İzmir, is a large park covering 231,000 square meters. Named after the Turkish folk poet Âşık Veysel, this recreation area was opened by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality on September 25, 2010. It features a 5,000-person amphitheater, a 12,000-square-meter ice sports hall, a semi-Olympic swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, a mini football field, an artificial pond, children's playgrounds, and cycling and walking paths. Free Wi-Fi service is also available throughout the park.

Historic & Cultural

Kadifekale is a hilltop castle in İzmir, Turkey. The castle is located on the Mount Pagos which has an elevation of 186 metres. It was built in the 3rd century BC.

İzmir Parachute Tower is a parachute tower located within Kültürpark in İzmir, Turkey. It was built in 1937 by the Turkish Aeronautical Association. It is one of the two parachute towers in the country.

Historic & Cultural

The World Peace Monument is a monument built by the Karşıyaka Municipality of İzmir in the Orgeneral Nafiz Gürman Neighborhood in memory of the 33 intellectuals who died in the Sivas Massacre fire in Sivas in 1993. It was transferred to Bayraklı Municipality within the scope of Law No. 5747 on Division, which was enacted before the local elections. The World Peace Monument was built by Bülent Kantarcı, a Senior Civil Engineer who became the Mayor of Çaycuma district of Zonguldak province in the 2014 elections.

Museums

Çeşme Museum is a general interest museum in Çeşme ilçe (district) of İzmir Province, Turkey.

City Guides

Historic & Cultural

Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha Monument is a monument in Çeşme ilçe of İzmir Province, Turkey. The monument is situated in Çeşme downtown in front of the historical Çeşme Castle. Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha was an Ottoman admiral and later grand vizier.

Historic & Cultural

The Izmir Archaeological Museum is an archeology museum in İzmir, Turkey, containing a number of artifacts from around the Gulf of İzmir. Most of the artifacts, which include busts, statues, statuettes, tools, and various eating and cooking utensils, come from the Bronze Age, or from the Greek and Roman periods.

Historic & Cultural

The Flying Dolphins Sculpture (Uçan Yunuslar Heykeli), located in Karşıyaka, İzmir, is a monumental work created by İsmet Erayda in 1984. This 6.5-meter-high, 10-ton sculpture features intertwined dolphins leaping from the water, symbolizing friendship and love in the Aegean Sea. The sculpture is 50 meters from the Yunuslar tram stop, 532 meters from the Bostanlı Open-Air Museum, and 683 meters from the Human Rights Monument. Wheelchair access is limited.

Beach & Vacation

Historic & Cultural

The Izmir Atatürk Museum is a museum in İzmir, Turkey. Founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a Turkish field marshal, revolutionary statesman, and the first president of Turkey, the Izmir Atatürk Museum opened to the public on 11 September 1941, on the 19th anniversary of Atatürk's arrival in Izmir. On 13 May 1988 it was officially named the Izmir Atatürk Museum, which it is called today.

The İzmir Ethnography Museum is an ethnography museum in İzmir, Turkey. It contains a number of pieces of clothing and pottery from the Seljuk period of Turkish history onwards. Admission to the museum is free.