İzmir facts for kids

View of İzmir.

İzmir is a city in the west of Turkey. It has one of the biggest seaports in the Aegean Sea region and all of Turkey. İzmir is a popular destination for tourists, who come for beaches and cultural tours. It has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa in the Koeppen climate classification).

The Greek name for this formerly Greek city is Smyrna. That name was also used in English until the 20th century. About 30 km (20 miles) south of İzmir, there is an ancient Greek city named Ephesus.

İzmir was a candidate for Expo 2015. However, Milan had more support, so İzmir lost.

Images for kids

Panorama of İzmir
A view of central İzmir
Karabel rock-carving of the Luwian local leader "Tarkasnawa, King of Myra" is near Kemalpaşa, a few kilometres to the east of İzmir.
Nearby ancient site of Klazomenai in Urla, slightly outside İzmir urban zone, is associated with some of the oldest known records of trade in olive oil.
Entry of the castle walls in Kadifekale (ancient Pagos)
Agora of Smyrna
Agora of Smyrna
Hisar Mosque (1592–1598) in the Kemeraltı neighbourhood of İzmir.
Konak Square in 1865
The port of İzmir, from an 1883 encyclopedia.
The St. Stepanos Armenian Church (1863) located in the Basmane district served the Armenian community of İzmir. It was burned during the Great Fire of Smyrna in 1922.
The Great Fire of Smyrna as seen from an Italian ship at the Gulf of İzmir, 14 September 1922.
A distant view of the Pasaport Quay (1877) in the background, as seen from Konak Pier (1890) at the port of İzmir.
Astronaut photograph highlighting the modern urban landscape of İzmir
Asansör (1907) offers panoramic views of the city
İzmir Clock Tower (1901)
Crowne Plaza Hotel]] at left.
A view of the city park in İzmir Kültürpark
Ahmet Adnan Saygun Art Center
The mascot of the 2005 Summer Universiade which was held in İzmir.
Kemal Koyuncu during the 2011 European Team Championships First League in İzmir.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality building in Konak
A view of the İzmir International Fair (center) and the seaport of İzmir (right)
Volleyball tournament between faculties at the Ege University sports hall in İzmir.
Adnan Menderes International Airport is the main airport in İzmir.
Alsancak Railway Station (1858) in İzmir, where the first railway line in the Ottoman Empire, the İzmir–Selçuk-Aydın line, entered service two years earlier, in 1856.
İzmir Municipality's urban ferry services in the Gulf of İzmir.
İzmir Metro: Stadyum (İzmir Atatürk Stadium) Station.
İZBAN commuter train heading towards Adnan Menderes International Airport.
Kıbrıs Şehitleri is one of the most popular streets in Alsancak
Enjoying Kordon with a ride on İzmir's phaetons
View of Cumhuriyet Square in Konak
Governor's Office at Konak Square
View of Konak's shore
Museum of Ethnography
View of Karşıyaka Bazaar Street from Karşıyaka Pier
Typical residential buildings of the Karşıyaka district
Forum Bornova Shopping Center is inspired in concept by İzmir's traditional architecture
İzmir Commodity Exchange Building
A view of İnciraltı Urban Forest from the bike path dedicated to cycling
Hippodrome of İzmir in Şirinyer, Buca
19th century Levantine house in Dumlupınar, Buca
Buca street with old houses (Dumlupınar, Buca)
Easygoing lifestyle in Buca