Cruises to Izmir

162 Reviews
Izmir (Photo:muratart/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Izmir

Cradled between mountains and the Aegean Sea to the west, Turkey's third-largest city bears witness to thousands of years of turbulent history -- in the form of war, fire and earthquake. Izmir's been ruled by an Amazon queen, relocated and re-established following a dream by Alexander the Great, and thereafter razed, controlled, razed, controlled by Romans, Arabs, Selcuk Turks, Byzantines, Ottomans and modern Greeks before being reclaimed by the Turks, who expelled the Greco army in a bloody battle that left the city in ashes.

Little of the storied path of ancient Smyrna (Izmir's original name) is visible. Today, Izmir is one of Turkey's most populated (3.7 million) and most thoroughly modern cities, with the second biggest port after Istanbul. The container ships, cranes and concrete high-rises that populate the harbor are a drab sight, and, predictably, most cruise travelers bypass the city. Like Kusadasi to the south, Izmir's main virtue is its proximity to Ephesus, an incredibly well-preserved Roman city that lives up to its lofty reputation. Likewise, the ruins of Pergamum and Asclepion, an ancient Greek center of culture and health, are easily accessible and are included excursion options on all ships docking in Izmir.

The city itself is not without merit, and passengers looking to explore the sprawling cityscape in the relatively short time allotted ashore will have options. The sociable Konak Square, with its emblematic Ottoman Clock Tower, is Izmir's main gathering point for young Turks. The square leads into a long, winding Bazaar, a common site throughout Turkey (if you want to buy something, be prepared to haggle). The bayside cafes that line Birinci Kordon, a long main boulevard running parallel to the waterfront, offer the opportunity to relax, sip wine, enjoy appetizers (mezes) of local seafood and watch people wander by. The Agora, an enormous 2,000-year-old marketplace where Roman farmers and merchants once hawked cotton, olive oil and fruit, is one of the few places that has been spared from urbanization, and is a fascinating site. Find cruises to Izmir on our Turkey cruise itineraries.

Though Izmir's modern vibe may initially be off-putting, it's notable that building projects, such as the subway and high-rises buildings, have often yielded fantastic archeological finds such as roman statues and pottery, a reminder of how much history remains just below the surface.

  • More about Izmir

  • Why Cruise to Izmir?

  • Izmir Cruise Port Facilities?

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Oceania Vista
Oceania's new Vista docked alongside in Valletta, Malta on May 8, 2023 (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

21 Night
World Cruise

78 Reviews
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Seabourn Encore
Seabourn Encore

7 Night
Aegean Gems & Eastern Mediterranean

138 Reviews
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Norwegian Getaway
Norwegian Getaway

10 Night
Eastern Mediterranean

3,258 Reviews
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Nautica
Nautica

12 Night
Mediterranean Cruise

399 Reviews
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7 Night
Turkey & Greek Isle Gems

138 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

21 Night
Venetian Delight & Adriatic Antiquities

1,086 Reviews
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28 Night
Ancient Mysteries & Eternal Cities

267 Reviews
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7 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern Cruise

706 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

7 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern Cruise

706 Reviews
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9 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern Cruise

463 Reviews
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14 Night
Turkey & Aegean Treasures

138 Reviews
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12 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern Cruise

317 Reviews
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7 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern Cruise

1,913 Reviews
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14 Night
Mediterranean Cruise

162 Reviews
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10 Night
Greece & Adriatic Antiquities

1,086 Reviews
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More about Izmir

Why Cruise to Izmir?

Pros:

Take an excursion to nearby Ephesus, a well-preserved ancient city

Cons:

Sellers in the Kemeralti Bazaar can be quite aggressive

Bottom Line:

Izmir itself is worth a visit, but incredible adventures await on day trips to nearby historical sites

Izmir Cruise Port Facilities?

Duty-free shops, cafes, a post box, stamps for sale and other facilities are located inside the cruise terminal, and the chamber of commerce provides free maps of the city and surrounding area. An Internet cafe is close to the terminal on the way into town. The terminal is pretty dreary, but future passengers can expect to see big changes because of plans to redevelop the port, with new berths and infrastructure (no starting or completion date has been confirmed). When the upgrades are complete, the port will have the capacity to handle two million passengers per year.

Good to Know?

In Kemeralti Bazaar prepare for a large number of "salesmen." This is certainly not as bad as some places (like Cairo), but you'll face an incessant wave of requests to buy jeans and designer knockoffs. It also gets quite crowded, so be aware of your wallet.

Getting Around?

On Foot: While initial impressions are not exactly picturesque, and Izmir is not a compact and walkable city like Odessa, Ukraine, passengers can stroll to some of the main tourist areas such as Konak Square, which is also the main entry spot into the Kemeralti Bazaar.

By Taxi: Most cruise travelers will be taking full-day tours to either Ephesus or Pergamum. Those wishing to get around on their own, either to the bazaar or other city monuments like the Agora ancient marketplace, will find yellow metered taxis outside the cruise terminal. A word of advice: Taxi drivers will repeatedly offer tours during the short drive en route to your intended destination. Firmly stating "no" a few times should do the trick. If you do decide to embark on a sightseeing tour by taxi, the cost should be clearly negotiated before setting off. Few drivers will speak fluent English and will be unable to provide a commentary.

By Public Transport: Buses are of limited use to non-Turkish speaking visitors. However, local buses run from the port exit to the bus terminal at Konak. A better bet for cruise passengers is the hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour, which leaves from the port and takes in 17 stops around the city including Konak, the Agora and Archaeology and Ethnography Museums. The full tour takes one hour, with a headphone commentary in five languages. The open-top buses run from the port every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The currency is the Turkish Lira and ATM's abound. For current currency-conversion figures, visit www.xe.com. Some shops and restaurants will also accept euros and U.S. dollars, and all major credit cards are accepted.

Language?

Turkish, but you'll have little trouble with basic English communication.

Where You're Docked?

You'll end up at Alcansak, a rather industrial-looking pier area, which is a five-minute walk from the shops and restaurants in the neighborhood of the same name and 20 minutes along the waterfront to Konak Square in the center of town. Shore excursion buses are a short walk away, but if you're lucky, the port authority may let buses in to pick you up right at the ship when there's only one ship in port.


Izmir Cruise Reviews
Long line to get back onto ship due to short time at the port but not really port’s fault. Security also tight here with both port screening and ship screening.Read More
Seininya
Modern skyscrapers and pretty city, a gateway to ancient Ephesus!Read More
ahoy4me
Beautiful location, but were nearly harassed into buying things.Read More
lstarli1
This port was cancelled prior to sail due to instability in TurkeyRead More
usermom

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