Izmir, is a metropolitan city in the western extremity of Anatolia. It is the third most populous city in Turkey, after Istanbul and Ankara, and the second largest urban agglomeration on the Aegean Sea after Athens. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Today, its expansive archaeological sites include the Roman Agora of Smyrna, now an open-air museum. The hilltop Kadifekale, or Velvet Castle, built during Alexander’s reign, overlooks the city.
Tourist Attractions
• Blue Mosque of Izmir
• The Clock Tower
• Kizlaragasi Hani
• Bazaar District – Keremalti Market
• Agora
• Asansor
• Ataturk Museum
• Konak Square
• Hisar Mosque
• The Dock
• Kadifekale (Velvet Castle)
Local Delicacies
• Boyoz
• Kumru
• Kokorec
• Lokma
• Meatballs
• Pisi
• Sambali dessert
• Sogus
• Meze
• Gozleme
• Grilled octopus
• Lokum (Turkish delight)
Where to shop
• Mavibahce shopping center
• Izmir Optimum Shopping Center
• Bazaar District
• Keremalti Market
• Forum Bornava
• Westpark Outlet
Things to buy
• Leather suede
• Spices
• Kilim
• Lokum (Turkish delight)
• Gold and Jewerly
• Turkish Coffee
When to visit Izmir
The weather is generally good with mild winters and warmer temperatures in the summer with very little rainfall.
If you prefer a cooler climate with less humidity, the best time to visit Izmir is in early autumn. October is warm without being overly hot and you’ll get to enjoy cooler evenings, which makes trying to sleep a lot easier. The average temperature is 18°C with daily highs of 23°C.
For the warmest weather, the best time to go to Izmir is from May to September. The hottest time of the year is in July, which has an average high of 33°C.
There’s plenty of annual sunshine to enjoy with up to 14 hours of sunlight per day in the summer. Rainfall increases in autumn to around 40mm per month. The wettest season is winter, which has at least 13 rainy days and an average monthly rainfall of 137mm.
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