The best 10 things to do in İzmir in Summer
Table of Contents
İzmir is known as the most modern city in Turkey. We can easily say that İzmir has many activities and features that other big cities in the world have. We have prepared a guide list that will be suitable for guests who visit the city and think about what activities to do here. This article and the list in the content have been prepared with the suggestions of local guides. We made our ranking of activities to do in İzmir according to the preferences of locals. Thus, you can both explore the city in detail and find the most popular places easily.
1- Walk along Kordon and Spend Time on the Grass
One of the most romantic things to do in the city is to take a stroll around Kordon, the well-known shoreline that you have heard of before you have even arrived in İzmir. In addition, Kordon offers a variety of venues to relax and is home to a number of organizations. Popular mussel shops can be found in Kordon, which features major locations including Gündoğdu Square and Alsancak Pier. The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality’s BSM bicycle rental service also allows you to pedal along Kordon.
2- Surf in Alaçatı, Çeşme
Alaçatı is known for being windy and is probably one of the most popular places in İzmir. Alaçatı has become one of the best places in the country for windsurfing by taking advantage of its location. The name “Alaçatı Surf Paradise” comes from the fact that Alaçatı is one of the best places in Europe for windsurfing. Alaçatı has a lot of well-known surf schools and often has windsurfing competitions because the water is shallow and it blows all year. Even if you have never done it before, you can learn to windsurf at one of Alaçatıs well-known surf schools.
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If you are on vacation in or near Alaçatı and want to do something different, windsurfing in Alaçatı might be for you. Çark Beach in Alaçatı is one of the most popular places to do this. Yumrukoy and Seaside are also popular places to go windsurfing. You should most definitely add this to your list of things to do in İzmir.
3- Visit the Naval Museum in İnciraltı
With its cafes, restaurants, and shopping center, İnciraltı is one of the places to go. Many people like to go to İnciraltı to breathe in the sea air and feel at peace. But İnciraltı can be the center of attention not only because of these things, but also because it has a museum. In 2007, a submarine and a warship from the Naval Forces were put on display here as part of a deal between the Naval Forces Command and the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. The two naval museums, which are open all year, have enough to keep people interested.
At İnciraltı Seaside, people who are interested in the maritime history of Turkey visit the TCG Ege Frigate and the TCG Pirireis Submarine. In the museum, where people are especially interested in the submarine, the lifeless mannequins inside the ships act out what happened during the missions. It is easy to see how the sailors who work in very hard conditions spend their time at work and what tools they use. A helicopter and an assault boat were added to the museum after the first two ships. These two vehicles can also be seen by people who come to visit. When you go to İzmir, you should go to İnciraltı to see the Naval Museum.
4- Spend Time at İzmir International Fair in Kültürpark
Since 1936, Kültürpark, one of the most central places in Izmir, has been both a place for people to relax and hold events. With its fairgrounds, this area hosts the Izmir International Fair every year. On the other days, it is used for culture, arts, and other things. Kültürpark is one of the must-see places. It has a man-made lake, tennis courts, an art center, an amusement park, a museum, and many other buildings that are used for many different events.
When you go to Kültürpark, if you go during the right time of year, you can take part in many free activities at the International Fair. There are a lot of local and international events. At this fair, you can try delicious foods from other parts of Turkey. Every night there is also a concert and different theater shows.
You can also spend time sitting on the grass in Kültürpark and enjoy the peace and quiet. When you go to İzmir, you should make sure to stop by Kültürpark and do some of the activities there.
5- Taste the dessert “İzmir Bomba”
İzmir Bomba Dessert is a pastry dessert that is known for having liquid chocolate in it. The sugar in the liquid chocolate inside a thin cookie gives the person who eats it a lot more energy. Because of this, many people wait in long lines for the “Bomba” dessert in Alsancak, Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street, which is where it was first made. The fact that many people can’t eat it more than three times at a time shows how satisfying the chocolate is.
Recently, İzmir Bomba has become so well-known that its fame has spread outside of İzmir. Even in Istanbul and other big cities, you can find bomba dessert today. But eating this dessert from the bakery goods in Alsancak, where it was first made, is an experience that can’t be beat. So, if you go to İzmir, you should add trying a bomba dessert to your list of things to do. So, after you try boyoz, you can try another İzmir dish, the bomba dessert, which has become very popular recently.
6- Watch İzmir from the Cable Car in Balçova
The cable car is a unique way to see the city and is one of the most beautiful places in Izmir. The 418-meter-high vehicle takes you to the top of Dededağ, where you can look down and see all of İzmir. There are cafes in the building where you can buy food and drinks.
The cable car in İzmir’s Balçova district is still one of the best ways for locals and tourists to have fun. This may be the right place for you if you want to see the city and spend a beautiful day in nature. If you want to see as much of İzmir as possible, you shouldn’t leave this place off your list.
7- Spend a Unique Day at Space Camp
Space has always been a place that people find interesting. In the 1960s, people were finally able to go into space, which led to a lot of exciting adventures. But a few scientists still get to see and learn more about space. If you’ve trip with your kids to İzmir and want to satisfy their interest in space and give them a special day, Space Camp might be just the place you’re looking for. Space Camp, which is in the Free Zone in Gaziemir, helps a little with this longing. This camp, which grew out of a project for kids, makes it easy to learn about science, technology, and all the secrets of space.
In Space Camp, you can go on day trips or stay for a long time and camp. Space Camp is usually for kids, but they have made a program for adults that gives them an introduction to space. In the adult programs, you can have a unique time with fun activities that focus on things like how to solve problems well and work as a team. When you go to Izmir, you should definitely go to Space Camp, either with your kids or by yourself, to learn and have fun.
8- Discover the Bays with Cesme Boat Tours
Çeşme is a popular place to go on vacation in both İzmir and Turkey. Some beaches and bays in the area, which is popular because of its clear water and beautiful beaches, can only be reached by boat. Because of this, boat tours are very appealing. With boat tours in Çeşme, you can sail to new bays and swim in places where most people have never been. Most boat tours in eşme leave from the same place, eşme Harbor. Some tours start with their passengers at 10:30 in the morning, while others start at 11:00. All the boats go the same way, and the places they stop at are similar. Donkey Island, Aquarium Bay (Blue Bay), Makri Island, Winter Harbor, and Coral Bay are all stops on the tour. Many boats charge their customers more because lunch is included in the price. Tea and cookies are served on the way back in the evening. On some boats, there are also shows with animation.
You can’t visit İzmir without taking a boat tour in Çeşme. So, make sure that you put this on your list of things to do. On the boat, don’t forget to bring a towel, sunglasses, and cream.
9- Visit Izmir Atatürk House Museum
This museum in Kordon displays Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s items and the War of Independence. İzmir Atatürk House and Museum is a historic site. After İzmir’s independence, this 1880 Armenian merchant’s home was abandoned and became state property. The mansion, which Atatürk utilized during the İzmir Economic Congress to make critical economic decisions for the nascent Republic, was restructured as a museum in 1941 and has endured until today.
Atatürk House and Museum is room-by-room. Thus, each room is unique. On the upper floor of the two-story museum, Atatürk’s apartments and belongings were preserved. This remarkable spot near Kordon is a must-see for information and papers about the War of Independence and İzmir’s freedom. Rent a car to see the city in luxury.
10- Taste the Boyoz
Finally, we reached our top 10 things to do in İzmir in summer. We wish this list will make you happy while you are traveling İzmir.
The last thing to do in İzmir in this list tasting the Boyoz which is symbol of İzmir dish.
Boyoz, which has been made and consumed in Izmir since the early 1500s, was brought here by Sephardic Jews. Since it has been made since then, you can find boyoz in almost every bakery in Izmir. We can say that boyoz, which contains sugar, salt, flour, oil and water, which seems simple but turns into a work of art in skilled hands, is an indispensable flavor especially for breakfast with tea.