We're exploring the pearl of the Aegean, Izmir! A delightful route from the Historical Elevator to sunset, from the alleys of Kemeraltı to the vineyard roads of Urla.
The phrase "Beautiful Izmir" is not just a cliché; it is a tangible reality reflecting the free spirit of this city, permeating its air, water, streets, and people. With its legendary Kordon where you can walk under palm trees, the historical Kemeraltı Bazaar carrying the traces and spice scents of an 8,500-year-old civilization, ferries gliding across the gulf, and each Aegean town being a separate paradise, Izmir is not just a tourist destination but a unique experience to be "lived" to the fullest every second. If you're ready to explore this magnificent geography with the coolness brought by the imbat wind, we turn our route to the heart of the Aegean.
Izmir is one of the rare cities that can perfectly balance a modern and fast-paced metropolitan life with the laid-back, peaceful comfort of an Aegean holiday town. In the early morning, you see office workers rushing to serious meetings in the towers of Bayraklı or Folkart; by the afternoon, you find the same crowd with loosened ties, spread out on the lush grass of Kordon, watching the sunset over the gulf with sunflower seeds in hand. In this city, stress is always replaced by the famous "slow and enjoyable" rhythm of Aegean life.
Why Should You Rent a Car to Truly Explore the City and Its Surroundings? The city center of Izmir (the triangle of Konak, Alsancak, Karşıyaka) is extremely rich in history, culture, and street flavors, and it is quite enjoyable to explore these areas on foot or by ferry. However, the main attractions that make Izmir a worldwide attraction are the gastronomic villages of Urla, the white sandy beaches of Çeşme, the stone houses of Foça, and the ancient cities of Selçuk, all located 45 minutes to 1.5 hours away from the center. If you don't want to limit your vacation to just the hotel and its surroundings, you shouldn't be confined to the restrictive hours and transfer hassles of public transport. If you want to taste wine on the Urla Vineyard Road and watch the sunset in Sığacık or reach Alaçatı in 45 minutes on the highway with your beach gear in the trunk, renting a car as soon as you land at the airport, offering you 100% route freedom, is the most important step that will determine the quality of your vacation.
Here are the famous stops and hidden routes that make Izmir what it is, allowing you to live "like a local," away from crowded tour buses, entirely at the wheel of your own journey.
If you return from Izmir without doing this trio, you haven't truly felt the city:
While exploring the center of Izmir, we recommend leaving your rental car in multi-storey car parks like those around Alsancak or Konak and getting lost on foot in the history-filled streets of the city.
🛍️It is one of the largest and oldest open-air bazaars in the world, not just in Izmir. In this vast labyrinth where you will get lost among the scents of spices, coffee, and leather, you can examine the fresh products of Havra Street and sip your slow-cooked coffee in the courtyard of the historical Kızlarağası Inn.
🌅Built in 1907 by philanthropist businessman Nesim Levi to connect two streets, one 58 meters higher than the other, and to prevent people from climbing hundreds of steps. Pass through the nostalgic "Dario Moreno Street" at its entrance and take the elevator. The viewing terrace at the top will leave the entire Izmir Gulf beneath your feet.
🌴Exit to the sea, Kordon, through the narrow streets (Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street and Gül Street) between the bay-windowed Alsancak houses reflecting old Greek and Levantine architecture. With its bike paths, walking trails, and luxury cafes, Kordon is a massive open-air salon where Izmir residents breathe, meet, and celebrate.
🏛️Rising amidst modern buildings and the İkiçeşmelik district, the massive Roman columns. These ancient ruins, the state and trade center of Izmir (Smyrna) founded by Alexander the Great's commanders, draw you into the depths of history with 2000-year-old water channels still flowing underground.
When you are tired of the pace of Izmir's center, it's time to turn the wheel to the peripheral districts where the real Aegean dream begins. You can reach these magnificent districts, where going by public transport is a serious waste of time, comfortably with your air conditioning on and music of your choice.
Urla, the rising star of recent years, is the address of luxury, art, and peace, just 45 minutes away from the city, with its endless vineyards reminiscent of Tuscany, Michelin-starred chef restaurants, Olive Oil Workshop Museums (Klazomenai), and the famous Art Street adorned with stone houses.
Descending through winding but breathtaking scenic roads, Foça is the place that best preserves the spirit of an Aegean town with its preserved Greek stone houses, wooden fishing boats, famous ice cream shops, and castle walls. Be sure to tour the Siren Rocks by boat, where you might see Mediterranean seals if you're lucky.
Turkey's first "Slow City" (Cittaslow) district. The market, especially on Sundays, where only local women sell their homemade products in the narrow, flowered streets of Sığacık castle, is a feast. You can walk in the shade of the Teos Ancient City in the nearby pine forests.
Selçuk, about 1 hour away from Izmir center via the highway, hosts one of the world's most important archaeological sites. The famous Celsus Library and the massive Great Theatre of Ephesus, a UNESCO heritage site, take you to the grandeur of the Romans. Don't forget to stop by the village of Şirince, famous for its wines, on the way back in the mountains.
Izmir has a unique cuisine with its own rules and names (like calling simit gevrek, and tomato domat).
Boyoz & Baked Egg A crispy breakfast legend made from unleavened dough, inherited from Sephardic Jews to Izmir. Enjoy it hot at Alsancak Dostlar Bakery, with specially baked eggs and tea. Famous Izmir Kumru Made with chickpea yeast special and slightly sweet kumru bread, filled with sausage, salami, and melting sayas cheese cooked over charcoal. The taste of kumru eaten at midnight in Çeşme Ilıca is something else. Izmir Bomb A modern dessert classic filled entirely with flowing hot chocolate, wrapped in a paper-thin dough. Definitely worth waiting in line at the bakeries on Alsancak Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street. Kelle Söğüş A cold offal delicacy unique to Izmir, made by masters around Kemeraltı and Hisarönü. Cheek, tongue, and brain are wrapped in lavash with plenty of cumin and fresh onions.Izmir is one of the cities where the Mediterranean climate is most pronounced. In July and August, temperatures can reach 40 degrees, and the city can be stifling. The ideal periods to explore historical sites and enjoy the less crowded Aegean towns are Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October). During these months, both the sea water temperature is suitable, and you are protected from the oppressive heat.
Especially in busy areas like Alsancak, Karşıyaka Bazaar, and Kemeraltı, finding a parking spot on the streets is almost impossible. However, there are many multi-storey car parks operated by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and private enterprises. Leaving your car in fully automatic multi-storey car parks in Alsancak, the large multi-storey car park in Konak, or the underground car parks in the Kültürpark (Fair) area and exploring the city on foot is the best tactic.
Yes, the "Izmir-Çeşme Highway," a wide and 3-lane road used to go from Izmir city center to Çeşme and Alaçatı, is a toll road. To pass through the toll booths, your vehicle must have an HGS (Fast Pass System) sticker. All fleets of rental companies (such as LenaCars) have HGS stickers as standard, and the toll fees are collected from you at the end of the contract.
Absolutely yes. Şirince Village, connected to the Selçuk district, is only a 15-20 minute drive from Ephesus Ancient City. You can visit Ephesus Ancient City and the House of Virgin Mary early in the morning (before the crowds and heat), and then take a late lunch and wine tasting in Şirince Village, following a mountainous, wooded, and cool route. This plan is quite easy with your own vehicle.
Although Izmir traffic does not get as congested as Istanbul, "Altınyol" (the coastal road between Karşıyaka and Konak) and the Ring Road (Buca and Gaziemir connections) are quite busy, especially during commute hours (07:30 - 09:00) and (17:30 - 19:30). Planning your travel to avoid these peak hours on highways and main arteries will save you a lot of time.
The magnificent beauties stretching from Alsancak in Izmir to the vineyards of Urla, from there to the wind capital Alaçatı or the pearl of the ancient world Ephesus, are quite distant from each other, and public transport unfortunately does not practically reach all these paradise corners. Don't waste this enchanting route by being tied to schedules and stops. As soon as you land at Adnan Menderes Airport, take your key from LenaCars' well-maintained and latest model vehicle fleet; travel freely, safely, and enjoyably on the roads adorned with olive trees of the Aegean.
Explore Izmir Rental Car Fleet → 📞 24/7 Continuous Reservation & Support10 dk
7 dk
12 dk
We're exploring the pearl of the Aegean, Izmir! A delightful route from the Historical Elevator to sunset, from the alleys of Kemeraltı to the vineyard roads of Urla.
The phrase "Beautiful Izmir" is not just a cliché; it is a tangible reality reflecting the free spirit of this city, permeating its air, water, streets, and people. With its legendary Kordon where you can walk under palm trees, the historical Kemeraltı Bazaar carrying the traces and spice scents of an 8,500-year-old civilization, ferries gliding across the gulf, and each Aegean town being a separate paradise, Izmir is not just a tourist destination but a unique experience to be "lived" to the fullest every second. If you're ready to explore this magnificent geography with the coolness brought by the imbat wind, we turn our route to the heart of the Aegean.
Izmir is one of the rare cities that can perfectly balance a modern and fast-paced metropolitan life with the laid-back, peaceful comfort of an Aegean holiday town. In the early morning, you see office workers rushing to serious meetings in the towers of Bayraklı or Folkart; by the afternoon, you find the same crowd with loosened ties, spread out on the lush grass of Kordon, watching the sunset over the gulf with sunflower seeds in hand. In this city, stress is always replaced by the famous "slow and enjoyable" rhythm of Aegean life.
Why Should You Rent a Car to Truly Explore the City and Its Surroundings? The city center of Izmir (the triangle of Konak, Alsancak, Karşıyaka) is extremely rich in history, culture, and street flavors, and it is quite enjoyable to explore these areas on foot or by ferry. However, the main attractions that make Izmir a worldwide attraction are the gastronomic villages of Urla, the white sandy beaches of Çeşme, the stone houses of Foça, and the ancient cities of Selçuk, all located 45 minutes to 1.5 hours away from the center. If you don't want to limit your vacation to just the hotel and its surroundings, you shouldn't be confined to the restrictive hours and transfer hassles of public transport. If you want to taste wine on the Urla Vineyard Road and watch the sunset in Sığacık or reach Alaçatı in 45 minutes on the highway with your beach gear in the trunk, renting a car as soon as you land at the airport, offering you 100% route freedom, is the most important step that will determine the quality of your vacation.
Here are the famous stops and hidden routes that make Izmir what it is, allowing you to live "like a local," away from crowded tour buses, entirely at the wheel of your own journey.
If you return from Izmir without doing this trio, you haven't truly felt the city:
While exploring the center of Izmir, we recommend leaving your rental car in multi-storey car parks like those around Alsancak or Konak and getting lost on foot in the history-filled streets of the city.
🛍️It is one of the largest and oldest open-air bazaars in the world, not just in Izmir. In this vast labyrinth where you will get lost among the scents of spices, coffee, and leather, you can examine the fresh products of Havra Street and sip your slow-cooked coffee in the courtyard of the historical Kızlarağası Inn.
🌅Built in 1907 by philanthropist businessman Nesim Levi to connect two streets, one 58 meters higher than the other, and to prevent people from climbing hundreds of steps. Pass through the nostalgic "Dario Moreno Street" at its entrance and take the elevator. The viewing terrace at the top will leave the entire Izmir Gulf beneath your feet.
🌴Exit to the sea, Kordon, through the narrow streets (Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street and Gül Street) between the bay-windowed Alsancak houses reflecting old Greek and Levantine architecture. With its bike paths, walking trails, and luxury cafes, Kordon is a massive open-air salon where Izmir residents breathe, meet, and celebrate.
🏛️Rising amidst modern buildings and the İkiçeşmelik district, the massive Roman columns. These ancient ruins, the state and trade center of Izmir (Smyrna) founded by Alexander the Great's commanders, draw you into the depths of history with 2000-year-old water channels still flowing underground.
When you are tired of the pace of Izmir's center, it's time to turn the wheel to the peripheral districts where the real Aegean dream begins. You can reach these magnificent districts, where going by public transport is a serious waste of time, comfortably with your air conditioning on and music of your choice.
Urla, the rising star of recent years, is the address of luxury, art, and peace, just 45 minutes away from the city, with its endless vineyards reminiscent of Tuscany, Michelin-starred chef restaurants, Olive Oil Workshop Museums (Klazomenai), and the famous Art Street adorned with stone houses.
Descending through winding but breathtaking scenic roads, Foça is the place that best preserves the spirit of an Aegean town with its preserved Greek stone houses, wooden fishing boats, famous ice cream shops, and castle walls. Be sure to tour the Siren Rocks by boat, where you might see Mediterranean seals if you're lucky.
Turkey's first "Slow City" (Cittaslow) district. The market, especially on Sundays, where only local women sell their homemade products in the narrow, flowered streets of Sığacık castle, is a feast. You can walk in the shade of the Teos Ancient City in the nearby pine forests.
Selçuk, about 1 hour away from Izmir center via the highway, hosts one of the world's most important archaeological sites. The famous Celsus Library and the massive Great Theatre of Ephesus, a UNESCO heritage site, take you to the grandeur of the Romans. Don't forget to stop by the village of Şirince, famous for its wines, on the way back in the mountains.
Izmir has a unique cuisine with its own rules and names (like calling simit gevrek, and tomato domat).
Boyoz & Baked Egg A crispy breakfast legend made from unleavened dough, inherited from Sephardic Jews to Izmir. Enjoy it hot at Alsancak Dostlar Bakery, with specially baked eggs and tea. Famous Izmir Kumru Made with chickpea yeast special and slightly sweet kumru bread, filled with sausage, salami, and melting sayas cheese cooked over charcoal. The taste of kumru eaten at midnight in Çeşme Ilıca is something else. Izmir Bomb A modern dessert classic filled entirely with flowing hot chocolate, wrapped in a paper-thin dough. Definitely worth waiting in line at the bakeries on Alsancak Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street. Kelle Söğüş A cold offal delicacy unique to Izmir, made by masters around Kemeraltı and Hisarönü. Cheek, tongue, and brain are wrapped in lavash with plenty of cumin and fresh onions.Izmir is one of the cities where the Mediterranean climate is most pronounced. In July and August, temperatures can reach 40 degrees, and the city can be stifling. The ideal periods to explore historical sites and enjoy the less crowded Aegean towns are Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October). During these months, both the sea water temperature is suitable, and you are protected from the oppressive heat.
Especially in busy areas like Alsancak, Karşıyaka Bazaar, and Kemeraltı, finding a parking spot on the streets is almost impossible. However, there are many multi-storey car parks operated by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and private enterprises. Leaving your car in fully automatic multi-storey car parks in Alsancak, the large multi-storey car park in Konak, or the underground car parks in the Kültürpark (Fair) area and exploring the city on foot is the best tactic.
Yes, the "Izmir-Çeşme Highway," a wide and 3-lane road used to go from Izmir city center to Çeşme and Alaçatı, is a toll road. To pass through the toll booths, your vehicle must have an HGS (Fast Pass System) sticker. All fleets of rental companies (such as LenaCars) have HGS stickers as standard, and the toll fees are collected from you at the end of the contract.
Absolutely yes. Şirince Village, connected to the Selçuk district, is only a 15-20 minute drive from Ephesus Ancient City. You can visit Ephesus Ancient City and the House of Virgin Mary early in the morning (before the crowds and heat), and then take a late lunch and wine tasting in Şirince Village, following a mountainous, wooded, and cool route. This plan is quite easy with your own vehicle.
Although Izmir traffic does not get as congested as Istanbul, "Altınyol" (the coastal road between Karşıyaka and Konak) and the Ring Road (Buca and Gaziemir connections) are quite busy, especially during commute hours (07:30 - 09:00) and (17:30 - 19:30). Planning your travel to avoid these peak hours on highways and main arteries will save you a lot of time.
The magnificent beauties stretching from Alsancak in Izmir to the vineyards of Urla, from there to the wind capital Alaçatı or the pearl of the ancient world Ephesus, are quite distant from each other, and public transport unfortunately does not practically reach all these paradise corners. Don't waste this enchanting route by being tied to schedules and stops. As soon as you land at Adnan Menderes Airport, take your key from LenaCars' well-maintained and latest model vehicle fleet; travel freely, safely, and enjoyably on the roads adorned with olive trees of the Aegean.
Explore Izmir Rental Car Fleet → 📞 24/7 Continuous Reservation & Support10 dk
7 dk
12 dk
Ücretsiz filo analizi ile tasarruf fırsatlarını keşfedin.
Türkiye'nin en geniş araç filosu ile güvenli ve konforlu yolculuklar.
Ücretsiz filo analizi ile tasarruf fırsatlarını keşfedin.
Türkiye'nin en geniş araç filosu ile güvenli ve konforlu yolculuklar.