Kordon, İzmir

Overview

Along the gulf in Alsancak, a strip of lawn and a wide path run beside the water. In the evening, half of İzmir seems to sit here, facing the sunset. This is the Kordon. For a morning of tastings, join our İzmir food tour.

About the Kordon

Alsancak is one of the liveliest parts of İzmir, known for its sunsets, cafés and fish restaurants, and for parades and running and cycling routes. The first Kordon runs along the sea on Atatürk Caddesi, while the second Kordon runs one street inland. At the south end, the Pasaport pier is called the Kordon’s first pier. Our five best restaurants in Izmir, all from the MICHELIN Guide, run from a börek house in the old bazaar to starred tables in Urla. For a room near the sea, read where to stay in İzmir.

What to See on the Kordon

On the seafront, the Atatürk Museum fills a house built between 1875 and 1880. Atatürk stayed there on his visits between 1930 and 1934. Further on, the old streets of Alsancak hide Levantine houses, churches and synagogues.

Squares and Piers Along the Seafront

Walking north from Konak (a large traditional mansion), the Kordon passes Cumhuriyet Square and then Gündoğdu Square, with the shops of Kıbrıs Şehitleri Caddesi just inland. At the south end, Pasaport Pier is known as the first pier of the Kordon. The Atatürk Museum, at No. 248 on the seafront, was once used as a hotel, and İzmir still calls it the Gazi Mansion. Further inland, Alsancak railway station, whose foundation was laid in 1857, was the start of the first railway built to carry crops from the lands between İzmir and Aydın to the port.

How to Visit the Kordon

Walk up from Konak Square and the Clock Tower, or arrive by ferry at the Alsancak pier. Combine it with Kemeraltı Bazaar and the Asansör. We plan your walk along the Kordon with Kemeraltı Bazaar and the Asansör. The Kordon is the last stop of our İzmir city tour.

Would you like to see the İzmir coast with a private guide and driver? We walk the Kordon on our İzmir city tour, and our İzmir food tour tastes boyoz and kumru in Kemeraltı nearby; our İzmir guide has the rest.