10 Places to Discover in Winter

With its wonderful climate, İzmir is a destination that you can enjoy during the winter as well. Here are 10 places waiting to be discovered in Izmir during the winter.

1. Thermal Springs

Turkey has great importance in terms of thermal springs and İzmir is a city with thousands of years of experience in thermal springs and therapy since ancient periods. In thermal springs; skin diseases especially rheumatism, gynecological diseases and respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal, kidney and urinary tract disorders, metabolism, and allergic diseases are treated.

You can enjoy the thermal springs of Izmir in winter by staying at five-star hotels or hostels.

2. Teleferik

Teleferik, which is one of the most popular places in Balçova between the red pine trees, picnic areas, and fresh air, it the second-largest cable car in Turkey. Here you can spend a day enjoying the winter view of the city.

3. Stone Mansions of Şirince

Şirince (which means "cute" in Turkish) village of Selçuk district lives up to its name thanks to its nature, streets, houses, and hospitable people. You can visit stone mansions in Şirince, which welcomes you with its cobbled streets, or you can stay in those mansions that serve as hotels and pensions today. While having dinner by the fireplace, do not forget to open a bottle of Şirince wines made with the essence of many fruits such as blackberry, blueberry, melon, and strawberry.

4. Bozdağ Ski Resort

Bozdağ Ski Resort is located in the Ödemiş district of İzmir. If the winter is a little harsher and there is enough snowfall, you can go skiing at Bozdağ Ski Center, also known as the Uludag of the Aegean.

5. Museums of Izmir

Izmir has 300 sunny days per year but if you happen to wake up to a rainy one in winter, you can visit the museum of Izmir for a journey full of history and culture. Museums of Izmir include but are not limited to İzmir Community Painting and Sculptures Museum Art Gallery, İzmir Archeology Museum, İzmir Ethnography Museum, Ümran Baradan Game and Toy Museum, İzmir History and Arts Museum, İzmir Atatürk Museum, İzmir Museum of Radio and Democracy, İzmir Mask Museum, and İzmir Women’s Museum.

6. Alsancak

Cyprus Martyrs' Street, the most famous street in Alsancak, is considered one of the iconic streets of the city. With its colorful shops, cute cafes, and bookstores, Cyprus Martyrs' Street is one of the destinations you should definitely visit. You can shop on the street, which is lively at all hours of the day, and have a pleasant evening at some of the numerous restaurants, cafes, bars, and nightclubs.

7. Historical Turkish Baths

İzmir has many baths from the Ottoman period that have managed to survive until this day. Over 20 of them are still in operation and can be visited in winter as well. The baths that are still in operation include Ali Bey Bath, Çukur Bath, Çivici Bath, Kadı Bath, Hoşgör Bath, Namazgah Bath, Tevfik Paşa Bath, and İstanköy Bath.

8. Karagöl Natural Park

If you love camping in winter too, you should definitely try Karagöl Natural Park, one of the best winter camping destinations in Izmir. The Karagöl Nature Park, which is located around Bayraklı and is open for 12 months, has an area of 20 hectares and is 850 meters above sea level.

9. Birgi Village

Birgi, one of Turkey's most beautiful villages, is even more fascinating in winter. This 700-year-old village has so many historical and cultural values that have survived to the present day from its history dating back to 2,000 BC that you will feel like you are wandering in an open-air museum.

10. Seferihisar

Seferihisar, Turkey's first slow city (Cittaslow), is one of the most peaceful places you can ever visit. Can you imagine how peaceful Seferihisar -which manages to remain a quiet city even during summer- is in winter? When you come to Seferihisar in winter, do not forget to visit Seferihisar Bazaar, which is set up on the weekend and eat fish at the restaurants on the shore.