Izmir, Turkey is a city that I visited way back in March 2001. I remember thinking that it was a boring industrial city that was a good midpoint between Istanbul, Ephesus and the great Turkish coast to the south. I never gave much thought to going back to Izmir.

However, as luck would have it I was invited to return and now I have done a complete 180. Izmir is a great town that has made huge strides in the past decade or so. There are so many things to do in Izmir that I could write several posts about it. But in the interest of time and trying not to gush too much about it, here are 5 awesome things to do in Izmir and the surrounding area.

Swissôtel Büyük Efes

I normally don’t start with hotels but the Swissôtel Büyük Efes was such a great base to explore Izmir that I wanted to make sure it got its proper due. First the hotel was fully renovated just 7 years ago and is top of the line in terms of technology and style. It is very Swiss/Scandinavian in look and feel as you might imagine but that’s never a bad thing.

The rooms are large, the beds are comfortable and the wireless is tremendous; which is always a huge plus in my book. But the coolest things about the Swissôtel Büyük Efes are visible when you go exploring around the hotel.

The Swissôtel Büyük Efes has amazing art pieces pretty much everywhere in the hotel. They even have their own private gallery along with many sculptures and pieces from before it was renovated. Some of them are quite impressive.

The Swissôtel Büyük Efes is super modern. The art, along with the great spa, chic rooms and furniture (especially the amazing beds), make it really special. The other great thing about the Swissôtel Büyük Efes is the location. It’s right off the water and the Kordon and about as centrally located as you can get. It’s the place to stay and hang out in Izmir.

The Swissôtel Büyük Efes has Skybar at the top of the hotel for awesome drinks and views. The Flames of Fig is amongst my all-time favorite cocktails and the presentation is second to none!

Also, worth mentioning for both excellent food and incredible ambience is their Aquarium Restaurant which as you can see, is built under and into the swimming pool for an awesome feel. Live music and Greek/Turkish flavors make it a must dine at in Izmir.

The Kordon

The vibrant coastal city of Izmir, a city that dates back to biblical times, resembles Thessaloniki, Greece in many ways but mainly for its water setting. It has a great coastal walk called the Kordon that encircles much of the center part of the city.

The Kordon is a beautiful part of the city that acts as a central hub for friends and families on the weekends and is a great place to stroll or jog. It is also very nice, attractive and has a ton, literally, of trendy restaurants, bars and great views across the bay.

The Kordon is the type of place that you want to hang out at. You want to see the locals doing their thing and café hop while sipping delicious Turkish coffee.

Old meets new on the Kordon. You can see new trendy apartment buildings next to old homes that survived years of conflict, fire and earthquakes. One amazing place I visited and highly recommend is the Arkas Museum. It houses many masterpieces by Hoca Ali Riza and the building itself is worth a visit even if you don’t love art.

I’m the first to admit I am not a huge art guy but the Arkas Museum is great because it’s small, has nice pieces of art, you can get a feel for the history of the pieces and the place-plus the curator is very nice!

I really enjoyed my time in the Arkas Museum, plus walking and driving along the Kordon. You can actually still ride a horse and carriage if you want. Just make sure to take some time and admire the view!

Sirince

Sirince is a little jewel of a place! I literally had no idea it existed until my trip to Izmir but I am so happy I do now. Most people take day trips to Ephesus; which rightfully so is a fantastic place and pretty famous. However, quietly nestled up in the mountains above Ephesus and Selcuk is Sirince.

Sirince is simply put a small little town situated on a mountain where you walk around and just enjoy the tranquility of being there. There is a little bazaar and a few churches and mosques of course but the real attraction is the peacefulness.

Nowhere better is this exemplified than at the Nisanyan Hotel. This little slice of heaven is actually situated over a pretty large piece of land. It has a main house with some guest rooms and if you climb up a bit there is so much more.

They have cottages, gardens, a marble pool and the most picturesque walkways you’ve ever seen. You honestly could be in Sicily.

The Nisanyan also has the absolute best views of Sirince below. The owner is the nicest woman ever and will happily show you around. She’s been there for over 30 years and has literally built the place from the ground up.

So stop in, have a look around, try some coffee and walnut liqueur and tell them that I sent you. You won’t regret visiting Sirince!

Yedi Bilgeler Winery

The Yedi Bilgeler Winery is another hidden gem in the Turkish countryside around Selcuk. To be honest, I knew they made wine in Turkey but I knew nothing about it. So stopping at the Yedi Bilgeler Winery was a must-do for me and what a great stop it turned out to be.

Yedi Bilgeler Winery is as picturesque as anything in Italy or Spain. I won’t go so far as to say the quality of taste is as good but as far as beauty of the vineyard it was fantastic.

Not only did we do a wine and cheese pairing but we also had an amazing lunch that the vineyard arranged for us. It was tremendous and afterwards I was so full I could barely walk!

However, walking around the grounds is where you get the best views, especially as the sun is starting to go down. Whether it’s the pool, the cottages, the rooms in the main house or the private dining areas, Yedi Bilgeler Winery has something for everyone and surprised me with how beautiful it was. I forgot I was in Turkey.

Sights Around Town

As I keep saying, Izmir is a great town with a lot to see and do both in and around it. Like most smaller cities, the best way to see it is to just explore on your own or even better with a local. Here are three of my favorite sights around Izmir.

1. Asansor is what it sounds like if you translate it into French or Spanish; it’s an elevator! This elevator is very special to the people of Izmir and is a popular place to hang out with friends. It also serves as a means of getting from the lower town to the upper town. Plus many couples who get married or families for special occasions come here to take photos together. The reason is it gives the best view of Izmir and the Aegean Sea from an elevated viewpoint. It has truly stunning views!

2. The Clocktower Square is the main square in town and is a very cool place to walk around. On weekends and holidays it teems with life as locals take their families out for walks and kids are playing. It’s a very pleasant place to be and worth a visit. It also makes for great photos!

3. The Old Bazaar is similar to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul but it’s a lot more manageable and less hectic. Much of it is outside and there are really cool pockets of peace for having a coffee or a light meal if you head off the main drag. You can pretty much buy anything here as you’d imagine and it’s a real mix or old and new Izmir. It’s definitely worth a visit if you have some time in Izmir.

Izmir is the second city, well maybe even the third city (if you count Ankara) of Turkey but can certainly hold its own. I find it very relaxing, pleasant and found the people incredibly hospitable and full of life and passion. What else could you ask for?

Enjoy Izmir for what it is and definitely see the amazing old cities in close proximity but stop to look around town-you will be pleasantly surprised as there’s way more than 5 awesome things to do in Izmir!

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