Things to Do in Konak: 11 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Konak

• 3 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious
• 4 Museum
• 1 Attraction
• 1 Cultural

🏛️ Historic Sites 3

1 🏛️ Historic

İzmir Clock Tower

A historic building in Konak.

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i Photo: Mr. E. Unlu (CC BY 3.0) · Source

2 🏛️ Historic

Kadifekale

A historic castle in Konak district.

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3 🏛️ Historic

Kızlarağası Caravanserai

A well-preserved historic caravanserai within Kemeraltı Bazaar, built in 1744.

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🎭 Cultural Venues 1

i Photo: Samizambak (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

11 🎭 Cultural

Kemeraltı Bazaar

A traditional bazaar that makes an important contribution to the district's economy.

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While you are in Konak, 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.
• 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.
• Smyrna Agora — A Roman agora in Konak, founded in the 4th century BC and rebuilt under Emperor Marcus Aurelius after the earthquake of AD 178; the vaulted galleries in the basement of the basilica and the colonnaded stoa can be visited as an open-air museum.

Practical Information for Visiting Konak

Suggested time

2–3 days

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn (April–June, September–November)

Places to visit

11 places

• 🥖

  İzmir Kumrusu (grilled sandwich)

  İzmir kumrusu, a toasted sandwich of sucuk, kaşar cheese and tomato in kumru bread, is the city's best-known street food.

• 🥐

  Boyoz

  Boyoz, a pastry specific to İzmir, comes from the Sephardic Jewish cuisine. It is made by folding layers of rich dough and baking, and is eaten with boiled egg.

• 🍖

  İzmir Köfte

  İzmir köfte, baked with potato purée and tomato sauce, is one of the city's most traditional home dishes.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Konak

• ⚓

  Cosmopolitan Port Culture

  For centuries İzmir has been a cosmopolitan port city where Turkish, Greek, Armenian, Jewish and Levantine communities lived together. This diversity is reflected in its cuisine, architecture and everyday traditions.

• 🏪

  Kemeraltı Tradesmen's Culture

  Kemeraltı Bazaar is a living example of the traditional tradesmen's culture that has been maintained for centuries.

Local Products

• Boyoz — Boyoz, İzmir's protected geographical indication product, is produced fresh every morning in the city's historic bakeries.
• İzmir Tulum Cheese — Tulum cheese made from goat's milk, one of İzmir's traditional cheeses.

Economy

Konak is the historic and commercial centre of İzmir. Tourism, retail trade, gastronomy and the service sector are the main sources of income.

How to Get to Konak

Konak lies in the centre of İzmir. It is connected to all of İzmir by metro, tram, ferry and bus lines. İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport is 20 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Izmir

Konak: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

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

Other Districts of Izmir

• Aliağa 8 places Kyme (Cyme) Ancient City, Güzelhisar Dam and Aliağa Tuzla Bird Paradise
• 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)
• 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