Karşıyaka, İzmir

Places to visit in Karşıyaka It should be the first place you will visit from the moment you step into İzmir. This charming district of Izmir has sea, land and railroad connections. Therefore, it allows you to easily reach your destinations. In this district, the sea route is most preferred and it is known as one of the most famous districts of İzmir. The average temperature in the district never sees minuses throughout the year. In the summer months, the temperature hovers around 30 – 35 degrees. Most of the precipitation is seen in winter and spring. The most suitable season to come here is spring. Only in the winter months, the wind blows hard, so precautions should be taken accordingly.

Places to Visit in Karşıyaka

1. Karşıyaka Bazaar

Karşıyaka Bazaar offers a pleasant shopping opportunity. This street is an area closed to traffic. Since restaurants, clothing stores, entertainment venues are always open here, it is the first stop for both locals and people who come here for sightseeing. As a location, it is possible to find multiple activities together here. There are resting places to take a breather after shopping or bars for those who want to have fun. Shopping, dining, recreation and entertainment are all intertwined here. When Alsancak Karşıyaka Sports Club has matches, this street is filled with colorful club flags and fans and the public flock to this street. 

2. Hamza Rüstem Photograph House

Hamza Rüstem Photography House is known as the oldest photography house in Izmir and is located in Karşıyaka district. The photographs here date back to quite old times. Places to visit in Karşıyaka Old cameras are exhibited here as well as photographs. You can also see Hamza Rüstem Bey’s personal belongings.

3. Zübeyde Hanım Mausoleum

Zübeyde Hanım Mausoleum is a valuable mausoleum located on Zübeyde Hanım Street. The mausoleum is located in a lush green park and the park is named with the same name. It is impossible not to come to this district and visit this beautiful park and the centuries-old plane tree and mosque in it.

4. Uşakizade Mansion

Uşakizade Mansion, located on Latife Hanım Street in Karşıyaka, is where Atatürk and Latife Hanım lived for a short time. This house was restored by the municipality and opened to the public as a memorial house. You can visit the mansion, which is closed on Mondays, every day except this day. The mansion has two floors and there are many items related to Atatürk and his family. If you want to relax after visiting the mansion, you can have a pleasant time in the cafeteria in the lush green park of the mansion.

5. Karşıyaka Science Museum

The Science Museum, the first museum of its kind in the Aegean Region, covers an area of 750 square meters. There are 60 stations inside the museum. You can participate in any activity you want in the museum, get information from expert trainers and take a nice tour in their company. You can see various science tools and equipment here. However, we recommend that you make an appointment before deciding to visit here.

6. Bostanlı Fine Arts Open Air Museum

Bostanlı Fine Arts Open Air Museum is an archaeology museum and 90 artifacts are presented to visitors here. It is very popular with tourists who come here. There are also painting workshops in the park of the same name. You can also see the works made here.

7. St. Helen’s Catholic Church

The name of Karşıyaka district was once known as Kordelya. St. Helen’s Catholic Church was built in 1904 – 1905 as the first Catholic church of Karşıyaka. It is known that it was the Aliotti family from the Italian Levantine family who built the church. Masses are held in this church on weekends, that is, on Saturdays and Sundays. The church was built in a typical basilica style. 

The central space is high, the naves on the sides are low and the space in between, which is made high to get more light, has an inner part. The basilica has neo gothic architectural features. Colorful stained glass windows stand out in the interior decoration of the church. In addition to many sculptures, there are panels made in gothic style presenting sections from the life of Jesus Christ. In a chapel on the south side of the church, there is an inscription written to the sons of a Levantine family from Karsiyaka who passed away at a young age. You can also see marble statues of Saints Helen and Constantine all around the church. Today, St. Helen’s Church hosts weddings, baptisms and funerals.

8. Mezake Et Arabim Synagogue

Mezaket Arabim Synagogue, which plays a very important role in terms of reflecting the image of Karşıyaka district, is known as the historical synagogue of the Jewish people. Places to visit in Izmir Karşıyaka This place is a very important structure that shows how people of all religions and languages are under one roof. 

The foundation of the synagogue was laid in 1881 – 1882. All four sides of the building are surrounded by a small garden. The garden walls are not too high but at normal height. There are iron railings in most of the garden. When you first enter the building, you are greeted by the Bed Midrash section, whose floor is paved with original patterned tiles. This is a room for both reading and lectures. At the back of this section you can see a few small rooms. From the right you enter the actual synagogue, which is a very bright hall. On the opposite side of the hall is the sanctuary. Hebrew scriptures, stained glass windows and the 6-pointed Star of David welcome you.

9. Historical Alibey Bath

Alibey Hamam, which was built in the early XIXth century, was constructed of cut, rubble stone and brick. The bath has warmth, changing places and temperature sections. The place used as a changing place is in the shape of a trapezoidal rectangle. The warmth section was built in two sections. When you look up, you can see the dome and flat vaults. Places to see in Karşıyaka The temperature room is located on the east side of the warmth. Its structure has a square plan. The dome is pendant. If you go to the south side of the temperature section, you will see two halvet sections there. Their tops are also covered with a dome.