Izmir is a city on Turkey’s Aegean coast. 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 was built during Alexander’s reign, overlooks the city. It is the third largest city in Turkey with a population of around 4 million and the second biggest port after Istanbul. There are many attractions to explore in this city. If this is your first time visiting Izmir, do not worry as you can learn more about the city in the Visitor Information Centre.

Airports in Izmir

1. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport

Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is an international airport serving Izmir and most of the surrounding province in Turkey. The airport was named after former Turkish prime minister Adnan Menderes. The airport is located 18 km southwest of the city center in the Gaziemir district on the way to Selçuk, Ephesus and Pamukkale. The airport is a hub for Corendon Airlines, Pegasus Airlines and SunExpress. The airport has many interesting shops and eateries within the airport so you can shop or dine in while waiting for the plane to arrive or depart. To go in and out of the airport is easy because there are many types of transportation available in Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for the visitors.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Izmir?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travelers to find the cheapest flights to Izmir.All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Izmir.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Izmir?

The peak season to visit Izmir is from mid-June to August. Flight tickets and hotel tariff will be slightly costly than usual. If you plan to visit Izmir in one of these months, it is advisable for you to purchase your tickets and to plan your trip early. The off-peak season would be around October to December, and if you are planning to visit during the least expensive period, this is the time. Relating to that, the best time to visit Izmir, for experiencing its best ideal weather and least crowd of tourist, you can drop a visit in between February to early June.

Izmir is blessed with four seasons, and if you would like to enjoy the beautiful blossoming flowers in Izmir, you can come in between March and May. It is spring over there with the average temperature ranges 16.3°C to 25.4°C. Then, the awaited moment, sky blazes blue and sun is a celebration of yellow, strong and bright which indicates summer in Izmir. It falls in between June and August, and it falls in the busiest months of Izmir, people flock to visit this city in this period. During September through November, the temperature ranges between 19.9°C and 31.1°C, will give you chill and nice windy yet humid autumn season in Izmir. With the least amount of tourist, Izmir is the least visited place in winter. Although the average temperature is around 14.9°C to 18.5°C, still, it is too cold for warm weather travelers.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Izmir?

Izmir is one of the most visited places in the world. Many attractions can be found in Izmir.

1. Konak Square — Main square of the city center, famous for the clock tower, one of the unique symbols of Izmir. The clock tower was built in 1901. There are also Konak Yali Mosque and Kemeraltı Bazaar located around the square. You can visit the mosque there and be amazed with its architecture. At the Kemeraltı Bazaar, you can stroll along with the market and visit each of the shops there. You might be interested in some of the souvenir there.

2. Alsancak — Alsancak is a small street with lots of bars in old Ottoman era houses, where you can have a Çay (Turkish tea), Turkish coffee or a beer and try several waterpipe flavors. Here you can relax and enjoy the taste of Turkey and at the same time, you can explore the street and be amazed by the old Ottoman architecture. If you want to relax for a while, this place is a must go destination for you.

3. Izmir Wildlife Park – Izmir Wildlife Park is a must place to visit if you like to see wild animals. It is situated at one of the districts in Izmir, Turkey. You can see a lot of protected animals here like crocodiles, lion, elephants, wolves and many types of protected birds too. This place is quite special and a real testament to Izmir’s effort at the Preservation and Ecology. There are many cafés here where you can dine in and relax after exploring this place.