Things to Do in Aliağa: 8 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Aliağa

• 3 Ancient City
• 4 Nature
• 1 Attraction

While you are in Aliağa, you can also see the highlights of Izmir province. These places are in other districts.

• Ephesus Ancient City — An ancient city in Selçuk that was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015. Its most important structures are the 2nd-century Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre seating 25,000, Curetes Street and the Terraced Houses with their frescoes and mosaics.
• Pergamon Acropolis (Bergama) — Capital of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Pergamon, famous for its theatre on a steep slope, the Temple of Trajan and the foundation of the Altar of Zeus, which is now displayed in Berlin.
• Temple of Artemis — The remains of the temple, counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, in Selçuk; only a single column still stands today.
• House of the Virgin Mary — On Mount Bülbül near Selçuk, a house believed in Christian tradition to be where Mary spent her last years; identified in 1891, it is an important pilgrimage site that many popes have visited.
• Izmir Clock Tower — A 25-metre tower in Konak Square, built in 1901 for the 25th anniversary of Abdülhamid II's accession to the throne; it is the symbol of the city.
• Kemeraltı Bazaar and Kızlarağası Caravanserai — A historic bazaar that grew from the 17th century onwards as the shoreline was filled in; with its caravanserais, mosques, synagogues and narrow lanes it is the heart of the city.

Practical Information for Visiting Aliağa

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

8 places

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  Aliağa Fish Soup

  A traditional fish soup made with fresh fish from the Aegean, served with lemon and garlic.

• 🌱

  Stuffed Artichokes in Olive Oil (Zeytinyağlı Enginar)

  Artichokes grown around Aliağa are cooked with olive oil, lemon and dill and served cold.

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  Şevket-i Bostan (wild herb dish)

  A wild herb dish of Cretan origin which, in Aliağa, merged with the cuisine of Balkan and island migrants and became one of the signature dishes of the region.

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  Şakran-style oven-baked red mullet

  A red mullet dish prepared in the oven, specific to Şakran, which stands out for its olive oil culture.

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  Aliağa olive oil

  Olive oil obtained from the Aliağa and Şakran region, described as high quality in terms of its chemical and sensory properties.

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  Pomegranate molasses (Çıtak Neighbourhood)

  Traditional pomegranate molasses produced by natural methods in the homes of the Çıtak Neighbourhood at the foot of Dumanlı Mountain, where pomegranate trees grow.

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  Pita böreği (Çakmaklı Neighbourhood)

  A pastry handed down from generation to generation, made in the Çakmaklı Neighbourhood, where the population of Bosnian Herzegovinian origin is concentrated. In the area it is also known as Boşnak böreği (Bosnian pastry).

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  Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge)

  Keşkek made in the villages of Aliağa, especially Güzelhisar, at weddings, festivals and when soldiers are sent off.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Aliağa

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  Legacy of the Aeolian Civilisation

  Aliağa has been home to Kyme and Myrina, important centres of the ancient Aeolian civilisation. These ancient cities are among the earliest settlements on the Aegean coast.

Local Products

• Aliağa Olive Oil — Natural extra virgin olive oil obtained from olives grown on the fertile plains of Aliağa. It is an important agricultural product of the region.

Economy

Aliağa has one of the largest industrial zones in Türkiye. The TÜPRAŞ refinery, the PETKİM petrochemical plants and the ship-breaking yards form the economic base of the district. Alongside industry, olive growing and fishing are also practised.

How to Get to Aliağa

Aliağa is 50 km from İzmir. There is a direct connection to İzmir city centre by the İZBAN suburban train. It lies on the İzmir–Çanakkale motorway.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Izmir

Aliağa: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Aliağa Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Izmir The province's 17 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Izmir

• Balçova 6 places Balçova Thermal Facilities, Balçova Cable Car and Dino Park and İnciraltı City Forest
• Bayındır 10 places Bayındır Çiçek Festivali Alanı, Bayındır Tarihi Çarşı and Ergenli Canyon
• Bayraklı 5 places Bayraklı Mound, Folkart Towers and Bayraklı Business Centre and Smyrna Ancient City (Tepekule)
• Bergama 8 places Asklepion (Temple of Health), Kızıl Avlu (Temple of Serapis) and Bergama Museum
• Beydağ 7 places Beydağ Dam, Beydağ Historic Mosque and Çamlık Picnic Area
• Bornova 8 places Ege University Campus and Botanical Garden, Bornova Levantine Mansions and Bornova Big Park
• Buca 6 places Buca Levantine Houses, Buca Pond and Hasanağa Garden
• Çeşme 5 places Çeşme Castle, Ilıca Beach and Çeşme Marina
• Çiğli 3 places İzmir Bird Paradise (Kuş Cenneti), İzmir Natural Life Park and Çamaltı Saltworks
• Dikili 9 places Çandarlı Castle, Dikili Thermal Springs and Atarneus Ancient City
• Foça 9 places Mediterranean Monk Seal Habitat, Foça Coves and Foça Castle
• Gaziemir 6 places Adnan Menderes Airport, ESBAŞ Free Zone and Surroundings and Gaziemir Pond Park
• Güzelbahçe 5 places Güzelbahçe Fishing Harbour, Kahramandere Beach and Güzelbahçe Art Village
• Karabağlar 5 places Yeşildere Valley, Uzundere Waterfall and Karabağlar Market
• Karaburun 6 places Karaburun Peninsula Coves, Karaburun Underwater Archaeology Museum and Karaburun Wind Power Plants
• Karşıyaka 8 places Zübeyde Hanım Mausoleum, Opera İzmir and Karşıyaka Seafront
• Kemalpaşa 8 places Kemalpaşa Castle (Nif Castle), Nif (Nymphaion) Ancient City and Kemalpaşa Cherry Orchards
• Kınık 9 places Yıldırım Beyazıt Mosque, İbrahim Ağazade Mosque and Kınık Castle
• Kiraz 11 places Kiraz Plateau, Kiraz Historic Bazaar and Bozdağ Ski Centre (nearby)
• Konak 11 places İzmir Clock Tower, Kemeraltı Bazaar and Kadifekale
• Menderes 5 places Notion Ancient City, Klaros Temple of Apollo and Tahtalı Dam
• Menemen 3 places Menemen Museum (Kubilay Museum), Kubilay Monument and Menemen Historic Bazaar
• Mordoğan 8 places Kocakum Beach, İskele Beach and Yeni Liman (New Harbour)
• Narlıdere 8 places Sancak Castle, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine Hospital and Narlıdere Seafront Promenade
• Ödemiş 9 places Bozdağ, Gölcük Lake and Birgi Historic Houses
• Seferihisar 5 places Teos Ancient City, Sığacık Castle and Harbour and Akkum Beach
• Selçuk 11 places Ephesus (Efes Antik Kenti), Temple of Artemis Ruins and Ephesus Museum
• Tire 4 places Tire Historic Bazaar and Hans, Tire Museum and Kaplan Village Yörük Park
• Torbalı 4 places Metropolis Ancient City, Küçük Menderes Plain and Mount Nif
• Urla 6 places Klazomenai Ancient City, Limantepe Mound and Bademler Neighbourhood