İzmir, Turkey: Airport Transport
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is 16 km (10 miles) south of the lovely city of İzmir. This airport is also a great access point for many neighboring towns and sites within the Aegean region, such as Selçuk, Ephesus, and Şirince. In order to reach your desired location, there are multiple modes of transport from the Izmir airport, each of which are straightforward and accessible.
Izban (Train)
Upon arriving at the Izmir airport, the Izban train is the cheapest and quickest way to access the city and surrounding areas. Located directly outside of departures, the Izban stretches 155 km (96 miles) from Selçuk and Ephesus Archeological Site, to Aliğa, a small town located on the Aegean sea.
There are two methods of payment when riding the Izban. If you are only in the area for a few days, you can purchase a paper city card on which you will put the number of swipes you wish to use.
If, however, you plan to stay in the region for more than a week, or to return to Izmir one day, it will be helpful to purchase an “Izmirim kart.” This is a city transport card which will work to ride the Izban, the metro, the buses, and Izmir’s ferryboats.
The Izban stops in most major subsections of the city of Izmir, including Şirinyer, Alsancak, Bayraklı, Karşıyaka, Bostanlı, and Mavişehir. If you need to reach a different part of the city like Bornova or Hatay, it is possible to directly switch to the Izmir metro from the Hilal or Halkapinar Izban stops. Once you’ve reached the city, there are many modes of transport which can take you to your exact desired location.
Airport Bus
Another option is to take a Havaş bus from the airport. There are routes directly from the airport to Kuşdası, Aydın, Alaçatı/ Çeşme, Alsancak, Karşıyaka/Mavişehir, Urla, or Manisa. The times at which these buses depart from the airport vary, but there are typically around ten buses that depart to each city every day. Their website has an English version, and it is best to use their website to book your bus in advance.
There are also city bus routes from the airport to all major sections of the city of Izmir. Though this is an option, it is not recommended as reaching the city by bus takes more than twice as long as the Izban.
Taxi, Transfer, or Rent a Car
Taxis, private transfers, and car rentals are also easy and accessible to those who arrive in Izmir’s airport. Taking a taxi is possibly the most simple option, however it will surely cost much more than any other route. It is also possible to arrange a private transfer, which would be priced similarly to taxis. Alternatively, there are many car rental agencies located directly past baggage claim which can be convenient for driving to Ephesus.
Enjoy your stay in the Izmir region!
—by Abigail Goosen
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