Izmir, Turkey
After spending 10 days in Istanbul it was time to move on to another adventure. We chose Izmir because it is the 3rd largest city in Turkey and a great jumping off point to visit Esephus (separate post coming soon). Skip to the bottom of this post if you just want the short version.The great thing about Izmir is their Metro which is fairly easy to use- this was key when deciding where to stay. While we could have spent a little bit more and stayed in the trendy area of Alsancak we chose to save some money and stayed in Konak. We found a listing on Airbnb for $17 a night right near a metro station (and the Gulf of Izmir). To elaborate, we rented a room in a woman's house, it didn’t have AC and she had a small kitten that was…. mischievous. There also weren’t as many restaurants near by which was inconvenient. However, what the neighborhood lacked in food options it made up for in local charm. We were situated right near a park by the water and every night the locals gathered to drink tea or beers and watched their kids play. It was heartwarming to watch everyone enjoying themselves!
We knew the metro station was only a 5 minute walk when we booked the Airbnb but what we didn't know is that you have to have a metro card to get on- sounds easy right? NOPE. You can only purchase a metro card in certain areas. So we walked 45 minutes to the nearest spot and purchased ourselves a metro card. The walk was relaxing, easy and beautiful- right along the water and there are clear walking paths. There are 2 options- you can pay for a plastic card and load as much money on it as you want, or you can pay 27 Turkish Lira for a paper card that is good for 3 rides (no matter how long or short). Many blogs we read also mentioned renting a bicycle or a scooter- however this proved to be more difficult. You have to download an app or use a kiosk to rent them and the app had a glitch and as tourists we were not able to rent one. If I remember correctly you also have to have a Turkish phone number so keep that in mind.
We admired the clocktower (and avoided the pigeons) before walking around Konak Square where we found the Kemeralti Market and tons of places to eat and drink. We found the cutest spot to eat and drink called Frida Cafe- this place is a MUST if you come to Izmir. It’s located on the famous Dario Moreno Street and the staff and owners will take fantastic care of you. This street leads up to the Asansor Lift, which-according to google, is a “charming historical tower offering sweeping ocean views”. And google is not wrong- the views are STUNNING and this spot is so underrated. The elevator was built in 1907 by a wealthy Jewish banker who recognized that the people of Izmir needed a better way to reach the hillside…. basically Izmir is very “hilly” and people have to walk up TONS of stairs to get up the hills. So this man, Nesim Levi, kindly had a beautiful tower built with 2 elevators inside. The views here…. I could go on and on about them but you will have to see for yourself. Make sure to stop at the cafe at the top and have some tea and relax for an hour.
We made our way to the Agora Open Air Museum- remember to wear sunscreen because you will be outside and bring water because it will be HOT in the sun. There weren't many people there and some of the area was blocked off but it was inexpensive to get in at only 40 Turkish Lira per person. Here you can explore an ancient Roman and Greek marketplace. It’s also a great spot to get some killer photos and videos.
We also stopped in the trendy neighborhood of Alsancak- this would be a good area to stay in. Though the neighborhood can be noisy- the food and drink options are ENDLESS and there is a walking street which makes it easier to… walk lol. We stopped at La Puerta to have a couple drinks for happy hour- they brew their own beer here and Lemon enjoyed a couple while I gulped down an Aperol Spritz. We ate at Yasam Vegan and it was FABULOUS! Lemon got a burger and I got a doner kebab made with vegan meat and it was so freaking tasty! They do not serve alcohol here but they do have delicious artisan kombucha and fresh lemonade.
Overall, Izmir was a fun town to visit and as I mentioned before a great starting point to take a day trip to Esephus.
Stay near Konak or Alsancak
Use the metro to get around and buy your card at the Konak Pier
Walk around the Kemeralti Market
Get drinks (coffee or alcohol) at Frida Cafe and people watch
Take the Asansor Lift up and admire the views at the cafe
Wear sunscreen as you will be outside most of the time
Stop at the Agora Open Air Museum- wear sunscreen and bring water. Also great spot for Instagrams pics
Get drinks at La Puerta or really anywhere in Alsancak- tons of options
Take a day trip to Esephus (more on that soon)
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