Things to do in  Izmir

The ancient city of Ephesus (Efes) is one of the eastern Mediterranean’s most impressive archaeological sites. It was a significant city in both the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. Many reconstructed structures and ruins, including the Temple of Artemis (Artemision), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, can be seen here.

St. Mary’s House in Ephesus is believed by many to be the place where the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, spent her final days, and has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and pilgrims seeking the healing properties of the spring that runs beneath the stone home since its discovery in the 19th-century.

One of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the marble Temple of Artemis (Artemision or Artemisium at Ephesus once spanned more than 63,000 square feet (around 5,850 square meters. Today all that remains of 127 original columns plus countless frescoes and statues is a teetering pillar and some foundation fragments.

A cluster of ancient 2-story homes spread across three tiers, the Ephesus Terrace Houses reveal how wealthy Romans lived during the city’s glory days. Glass floors let you admire geometric mosaics and still-colorful frescoes gleaming on the walls—it’s a small wonder some compare the site to Pompeii.

In Christian tradition, St. John the Apostle came to Ephesus after St. Paul and ministered to the Ephesians. The vast Basilica of St. John, built by the sixth-century emperor Justinian, houses a fourth-century tomb that drew pilgrims from across Europe in search of miracles. It is still one of the world’s largest cathedrals today.

The magnificent hilltop city of Pergamon dates back to the 5th century BC and was once a hotbed for learning, culture, and invention, flourishing until the 14th century. Remnants of the city’s most important structures remain, such as the Acropolis, the Red Basilica, aqueducts, a major medical center, audaciously steep amphitheatre and a historically important library.

A grand two-story facade adorned with statues of the four Virtues makes the Library of Celsus the most photographed and best-known monument in the Ephesus UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in AD 110 to honor Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, it once held 12,000 scrolls, making it one of the largest libraries in the ancient world.

The Temple of Hadrian is one of the most remarkable highlights of Ephesus, an archaeological site in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye). Built in the 2nd century, this monument serves as a tribute to Hadrian, Artemis, and the people of Ephesus, and it’s considered to be one of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the country. Though small in size, it boasts a stunning exterior arch, a porch, and a cozy main hall, all supported by pillars and Corinthian columns—a true masterpiece of ancient Roman engineering. What makes the Temple of Hadrian truly special are the hidden gems scattered throughout the grounds. Taking the time to stroll through the surrounding park can offer incredible views of the temple and its surroundings.

Şirince, a small village of just 600 inhabitants, has a long history dating back to the fall of Ephesus. Today, the mountainous town is mainly known for its well-preserved stucco homes, olive groves, and wineries with verdant backdrops. St. John the Baptist Church is another popular attraction, adorned with stunning Byzantine frescoes.

Explore the ruins of what was one of the most impressive structures in the ancient Roman city of Ephesus. The Temple of Domitian dates from the 1st century and is the earliest known structure dedicated to an emperor. It is located on the south end of Domitian Street.

Just east of Izmir in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), Sardis—or Sardes—was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia before falling to the Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. Its ruins span everything from a Roman gymnasium to the relics of a nearby Greek temple to the remains of the fifth church of the Bible’s Seven Churches of the Revelation.

In Roman times, the Bergama Asklepion (Pergamon Asclepeion) was one of the world’s most important medical centers, built in honor of the Asklepios, the Greek god of healing. Situated in the ancient city of Pergamon, it dates back to the 4th century BC and is one of the most visited ruins of the Pergamon archeological site.

The storied past of Izmir—once the ancient Greek city of Smyrna—takes center stage at the Agora Open Air Museum (Izmir Agora. Dating back to the fourth century BC and rebuilt by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius in 178, the Agora is one of the best-preserved sites of its kind in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye).

Dominating Izmir’s busy Konak Square, the Izmir Clock Tower (İzmir Saat Kulesi has been a city landmark since 1901. Standing 82 feet (25 meters tall, with a fountain on each corner, its lacy tower and Arabesque arches have a distinctively Ottoman feel. The German Emperor Wilhelm II gave the 4-faced clock to the sultan as a gift.

The Izmir Archaeology Museum (İzmir Arkeoloji Müzesi), located near Konak Square and the Ethnography Museum, lets you explore an impressive collection of artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age as well as the Greek and Roman periods. Originally opened in 1927, the museum relocated to its current location in 1984 and offers a diverse selection of historical treasures waiting to be discovered. With over 5,000 square meters of exhibition halls, laboratories, libraries, and conference spaces arranged across multiple floors, it’s one of the most important museums on Turkey’s coast.