Izmir in 5 Days on a Budget (With Daily Costs)
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Izmir in 5 Days on a Budget (With Daily Costs)
Five days adds a full Çeşme and Alaçatı beach day to the Ephesus-and-Pergamon core, the cheapest day of the whole trip once you’re past the bus fare out there. Lira prices below are snapshots (verify), figured at roughly 47 TRY to the US dollar. Shorter trip? See the 4-day itinerary ; got 2 more days, the 7-day itinerary adds Şirince and Urla wine country.
Book these before you go:
- Çeşme and Alaçatı full-day excursion on Viator
- Ephesus day tour on Viator
- Hotel in Alsancak or Konak on Booking.com
| Day | Focus | Est. spend (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kordon, Konak Square, Kemeraltı Bazaar | $25-30 |
| Day 2 | Kadifekale, Asansör, the Agora, a bay ferry | $20-25 |
| Day 3 | Ephesus day trip | $60-70 |
| Day 4 | Pergamon day trip | $40-50 |
| Day 5 | Çeşme and Alaçatı beach day | $20-25 |
Day 1: Kordon, Konak and the bazaar
İZBAN from the airport into Alsancak, 35-40 minutes for 15-20 TRY (verify). Boyoz and gevrek breakfast, 40-60 TRY. Walk the free Kordon to Konak Square for the Clock Tower and Yalı Mosque, then the Kemeraltı Bazaar, free, with the Kızlarağası Han and Havra Sokağı inside. Kumru lunch, 120-150 TRY. Dinner in Alsancak, 250-350 TRY casual or 600-900 TRY for seafood and rakı.
Day 1 spend: roughly $25-30. Tip: get the İzmirim Kart at the airport, it saves a stop later.
Day 2: Kadifekale, Asansör and the bay
Kadifekale’s hilltop, free, in the morning; the Asansör and Dario Moreno Street, free or nominal, after. The Agora of Smyrna costs a modest ticket (verify, roughly 100-150 TRY). Cross to Karşıyaka by İZDENİZ ferry, a normal fare, for a cheaper dinner around 200-300 TRY.
Day 2 spend: roughly $20-25. Tip: take the evening ferry back for the lit-up skyline.
Day 3: Ephesus
Regional train from Basmane to Selçuk, about 1h20-1h30, or book the Ephesus tour above . Entry about €40 (verify), Terrace Houses an extra €15. See the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre; the Temple of Artemis is now a single column, manage expectations. Lunch near the site, 150-250 TRY.
Day 3 spend: roughly $60-70. Tip: bring water, there’s little shade on site.
Day 4: Pergamon
Intercity bus from Izmir Otogar toward Bergama, roughly 2-2.5 hours for 150-200 TRY each way (verify), or book the Pergamon tour above . The Acropolis, about €15 (verify), and the separate Asklepion, about €13, plus a cable car for a small extra fee (verify). Lunch in Bergama town, 150-250 TRY.
Day 4 spend: roughly $40-50. Tip: eat in Bergama town rather than at the site gate, it’s cheaper.
Day 5: Çeşme and Alaçatı
Bus from Izmir Otogar or Üçkuyular terminal to Çeşme, roughly 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for 150-200 TRY each way (verify), then a short dolmuş on to Alaçatı, 30-50 TRY. Çeşme’s 16th-century castle and marina cost nothing to see from outside; the beaches are free. Alaçatı’s restored stone-house streets are also a top windsurfing spot if you want to rent gear, an optional extra on top of the day’s base cost. Seafood lunch by the water, 300-400 TRY.
Day 5 spend: roughly $20-25, the cheapest day of the trip. Tip: there’s no direct Izmir-Alaçatı bus, Çeşme is the transfer point, plan the connection rather than expecting one bus straight through.
Check current Otogar bus schedules before you go. Read more: Izmir on a Budget: 7 Cheap and Free Things to Do covers the full list this itinerary draws from, or for a longer trip, Izmir in 6 Days on a Budget adds Şirince and Foça.