Izmir
Turkiye's Aegean metropolis
Izmir is Turkiye's third-largest city and its most laid-back metropolis. Stretched along a beautiful bay, it offers excellent medical facilities, a famous waterfront promenade (Kordon), lively bazaars, and a progressive, cosmopolitan atmosphere that makes international visitors feel right at home.
Izmir is Turkiye's third-largest city and arguably its most liveable. Stretched along the shores of a beautiful bay, backed by mountains and surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, Izmir has a character that is distinctly different from Istanbul or Ankara. The city is modern, progressive, cosmopolitan, and deeply connected to its Aegean setting. Its famous waterfront promenade, the Kordon, stretches for kilometres along the bay, and is the social heart of the city — a place where joggers, families, couples, and friends gather from dawn to late at night. Izmir has excellent medical facilities, a thriving food and cafe culture, and a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere that makes international visitors feel immediately at home. The city's location makes it an ideal base for exploring the wider Aegean region — the ancient city of Ephesus, the charming towns of Alacati and Cesme, the wine-producing region of Urla, and countless beautiful beaches are all within easy reach. For medical tourists, Izmir offers the perfect balance of big-city medical infrastructure and Aegean lifestyle relaxation.
Places to explore in Izmir
Discover the landmarks, attractions, and hidden gems that make Izmir an unforgettable destination.
Kordon Waterfront
The Kordon is Izmir's most beloved public space — a wide, palm-lined waterfront promenade that stretches for kilometres along the bay, offering panoramic views of the water, the mountains, and the city skyline. From early morning joggers and dog-walkers to evening strollers and couples watching the sunset, the Kordon is alive with activity at all hours. The promenade is lined with cafes, restaurants, and tea gardens, making it the perfect place for a leisurely waterfront meal or a glass of tea as the sun goes down. On weekends, the Kordon becomes an open-air carnival of street musicians, food vendors, kite-flyers, and families enjoying the sea air. The promenade also connects several key neighbourhoods — from the historic Konak Square (with its iconic Ottoman clock tower) at one end to the trendy Alsancak district at the other. During your recovery, the Kordon offers the ideal gentle walking route — flat, scenic, and with a cafe or restaurant at every turn when you need to rest. The sunset views from the Kordon, with the bay turning gold and the silhouettes of fishing boats against the evening sky, are among the most beautiful in the Aegean.
Kemeralti Bazaar
The Kemeralti Bazaar is one of the largest and most authentic traditional markets in Turkiye. Dating back to the 17th century, this sprawling network of covered and open streets stretches inland from Konak Square and encompasses thousands of shops, workshops, mosques, synagogues, and historic hans (caravanserais). Unlike more tourist-oriented bazaars, Kemeralti remains a working market where local families come to shop, creating a vibrant, authentic atmosphere. You can find everything here — gold jewellery, textiles, leather goods, shoes, household items, electronics, books, and a dizzying array of food. The spice sellers' section is particularly atmospheric, with colourful mounds of sumac, cumin, chilli flakes, and dried fruits. Historic hans within the bazaar — such as the Kizlaragasi Hani, a beautifully restored 18th-century caravanserai now housing cafes and shops — provide atmospheric resting points. The bazaar's small restaurants and eateries serve some of the best and most affordable food in Izmir, including the city's famous boyoz pastries, fresh-baked simit, and rich Turkish coffee.
Alacati
Alacati is a charming stone-built village on the Cesme Peninsula, about an hour's drive from Izmir, that has become one of the most fashionable destinations on Turkiye's Aegean coast. Originally a Greek settlement, the village's narrow streets are lined with beautifully restored stone houses, many converted into boutique hotels, design shops, and restaurants. In spring, bougainvillea cascades over whitewashed walls and blue shutters, creating scenes that are impossibly photogenic. Alacati has become a centre of the new Aegean cuisine movement, with restaurants like Asma Yapragi and Agrilia reinterpreting traditional recipes with creativity and flair. The village is also internationally famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing — the bay's consistent winds and shallow, warm waters attract enthusiasts from around the world. On Saturday mornings, the Alacati farmers' market is a wonderful display of local produce — olive oils, cheeses, herbs, homemade preserves, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. For medical tourists, a day trip to Alacati offers gentle strolling, excellent food, and a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere — the perfect prescription for a good recovery day.
Available treatments
Best time to visit
April–November
Airport
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB)
Free cancellation before 15 days
Medical tourism in Izmir
Izmir has a well-developed medical tourism sector, with numerous internationally accredited hospitals and specialist clinics. Hair transplant, dental, and aesthetic clinics offer the full range of procedures at prices that represent excellent value compared to Western Europe. The city's medical professionals are highly trained — many have studied or practised abroad — and English is widely spoken in medical settings. Izmir's universities and teaching hospitals contribute to a high standard of medical education and research. For patients, the city offers a comfortable, modern environment for treatment, with excellent hotels, restaurants, and transport infrastructure to support a seamless medical tourism experience.
Culture & history
Izmir has been inhabited for at least 5,000 years and is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in the Mediterranean world. The ancient agora (marketplace) of Smyrna, located in the city centre, dates from the 4th century BC and has been partially excavated, revealing colonnaded streets and market halls. The Kemeralti Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in Turkiye, is a sprawling labyrinth of covered and open streets selling everything from gold jewellery and textiles to spices, leather goods, and fresh produce. Unlike many tourist-oriented bazaars, Kemeralti is a living, working market where local families do their daily shopping, giving it an authenticity that is increasingly rare. Izmir's modern cultural life is equally vibrant — the city hosts the annual Izmir International Fair (the oldest trade fair in Turkiye, running since 1927), the Izmir European Jazz Festival, and numerous art exhibitions and performances. The Arkas Art Centre and the Izmir Museum of History and Art are both worth visiting.
Food & cuisine
Izmir's food culture is one of the city's greatest pleasures. The cuisine is classic Aegean — light, fresh, and centred on seafood, olive oil, herbs, and seasonal vegetables. The city is famous for its boyoz (a flaky pastry of Sephardic Jewish origin that is unique to Izmir, traditionally eaten for breakfast with hard-boiled eggs), its kumru (a sandwich made with a special sesame bread, filled with cheese, tomatoes, and sausage), and its lokma (fried dough balls soaked in syrup, often distributed free at celebrations). The Kordon waterfront is lined with cafes and restaurants, and the side streets of Alsancak are packed with meyhanes (taverns) offering meze-driven evenings of great food, raki, and live music. The nearby towns of Urla and Alacati have become centres of a new Aegean cuisine movement, with chefs reinterpreting traditional dishes using local, seasonal, often organic ingredients. The fish market at Bostanli, on the north shore of the bay, is excellent — choose your fish and have it grilled at one of the surrounding restaurants.
Where to stay
Izmir offers a wide range of accommodation, from international chain hotels on the waterfront to charming boutique hotels in the Alsancak neighbourhood. The Kordon area is the most popular for visitors, offering sea views, easy access to restaurants and nightlife, and proximity to the main sights. Alsancak, just behind the waterfront, has trendy boutique hotels, bars, and restaurants. The Konak and Basmane areas, closer to the bazaar and historical sights, offer more affordable options. For a beach-focused stay, the resort towns of Cesme and Alacati, about an hour's drive from the city centre, offer stunning beaches and upscale boutique accommodation.
Getting around
Izmir has an excellent public transport system, including a metro, bus, ferry, and IZBAN commuter rail network. The ferries, which cross the bay between the north and south shores, are the most enjoyable way to travel and offer beautiful views of the city skyline. The Izmir Card (a rechargeable transit card) works on all public transport. Taxis are plentiful and affordable. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) is well-connected to the city centre by the IZBAN train line, which takes about 20 minutes. For day trips to Ephesus, Sirince, Alacati, or Cesme, rental cars are available, but regular buses and dolmus also connect these destinations.
Recovery in Izmir
Izmir is an excellent city for post-treatment recovery, offering the medical infrastructure and convenience of a major city with the relaxed lifestyle of an Aegean resort town. After your procedure, you can walk along the Kordon promenade at your own pace, sit in waterfront cafes, browse the bazaar, and enjoy excellent food — all without the intensity and crowds of Istanbul. The city's modern public transport makes it easy to get around without stress, and the bay ferries offer a particularly pleasant way to travel while enjoying fresh sea air. As you feel stronger, day trips to Alacati, Cesme, or Ephesus offer gentle adventures that enrich your trip. The overall atmosphere of Izmir — modern, tolerant, cosmopolitan, and deeply Aegean in its love of food, conversation, and the good life — creates a recovery environment that feels natural and enjoyable rather than clinical and restrictive.
Izmir at a glance
Travel tip
Walk along the Kordon at sunset for the city's best view. Day-trip to Alacati for boutique shopping and wine, or Cesme for beach time.
Ready to visit Izmir?
Book your treatment in Izmir today. Hotel and transfers included. Free cancellation before 15 days.
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