Izmir

Introduction

Izmir is a city in Turkey along the Aegean coastline.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

The foyer is a very big public park with an amusement park, which has some great rides including roller coasters and the 360 degrees drop one. The main shopping areas are about a 10 minute walk from the foyer. One should also go to the souks near the 'boerse' because clothes and accessories there are much cheaper than those at the shopping malls.

Other places of interest would be the ferry terminal. At sunset this place rocks as most of the young people descend in droves from the ferries to spend their time there.

Izmir doesn’t have the same nightlife as Istanbul, but it has a lot of hear and character. It has a whole different experience from what you would find in Istanbul. The city still doesn’t have the same coffee culture but it makes up in other areas.

Events and Festivals

Weather

The weather is mild in winter and hot in summer. Winters average around 15 °C during the day, and 5 °C at night. Summers average over 30 °C with warm nights of 21 °C. Temperatures of -11 °C and 42 °C respectively have been recorded though. Most of the rain falls from November to March, with summers very dry and sunny.

Getting There

By Plane

Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) is located 18 kilometres from Izmir. A few dozens of airlines serve the city, with some main destinations including Istanbul, Tehran, London, Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Vienna, Zürich, Ankara, Athens, Frankfurt, Oslo, Stockholm, Paris, Brussels, Dublin and Belfast.

The easiest way to get there from Izmir is by the Havaş airport shuttle bus (every 20 minutes, 35 to 60 minutes) from the Turkish Airlines office. Trains operated by the Turkish State Railways stop at the Airport Station. There are 14 trains daily in both directions. Northbound trains all go to Basmane Terminal in the city centre, while southbound trains serve Ödemiş, Tire, Söke, Aydın, Nazilli and points in between. From September, IZBAN commuter rail service will service the station.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

There are bus connections to Izmir from nearly all major Turkish cities including Ankara and Istanbul.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

The places around the ferry terminal have small cafés and snack food outlets where they have good, cheap food.

Drink

Sleep

The centre of the city where the foyer and the globe are is the place to find cheap hotels. There are no hostels around.

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

There are many upscale hotels like the Hilton, which is in the middle of the shopping district.

Work

Learn

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Post

PTT is the national post service. Services are generally moderately fast but quite reliable. Sending a standard letter or postcard costs €0.65 within Turkey and €0.80 (letters) or €0.85 (postcards) internationally. There is an extended price list on the PTT website. For sending packages one might also use international companies such as DHL and UPS and local companies such as Yurtici Kargo. Post offices bear the distinctive yellow PTT sign and are generally open between 9:00am to 12:00 noon and 1:30pm to 5:00pm from Monday to Friday.