Swissotel Buyuk Efes Izmir - Luxury hotel - Destination Izmir

Swissôtel Büyük Efes Izmir puts you where you want to be – right in the heart of this vibrant, cosmopolitan city. Our 5-star hotel overlooks the iconic Kordon promenade and broad, palm-fringed Cumhuriyet Meydanı square, with its equestrian statue of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Atatürk. And it’s all backed by the sparkling blue expanse of the Gulf of Izmir.

With a history stretching back over 8,000 years, and a location endowed with a perfect climate between fertile land and sea, Izmir, long known under its Greek name, Smyrna, has always been a dynamic, worldly city. During its lifetime, it has been part of the Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, and its openness and energy can still be felt today.

The city is packed with fascinating remnants of its eventful past, and our concierge is looking forward to helping you experience them. Our Concierge Cards, available in the lobby, will help you find these remarkable sights, many of them within comfortable walking distance of Swissôtel Büyük Efes Izmir.

A short stroll away are the slender Izmir Clock Tower, built in 1901 and the city’s emblem, and the vast, bustling Kemeraltı Bazaar. One of Turkey’s oldest markets, its labyrinthine lanes are lined with tea shops and stalls offering spices, dates, ceramics, carpets and much, much more. For breathtaking views over the skyline and the Gulf of Izmir, ride to the top of the nearby Historical Elevator, 56 metres high and opened in 1907. Feeling like a break from the urban buzz? The Kültürpark İzmir, just a few steps from Swissôtel Büyük Efes Izmir, is a vast green oasis with palm-shaded paths lined by sculptures and fountains.

If you’d like to learn more about ancient Izmir, the Izmir Archeology Museum has a vast selection of artefacts spanning prehistoric times to the Byzantine era. You can admire relics in situ at Smyrna Ancient City, with remains of a fountain, burial grounds and a temple to Athena, or steps from the hotel at the Agora Open Air Museum, the centre of ancient Smyrna dating from the 4th century BC.

The most remarkable ancient remains in Turkey, and among the best-preserved in the Mediterranean region, are those of the classical city of Ephesus, around an hour south of Izmir. Founded during the Neolithic Age, it went on to be a major Greek and Roman port city. The vast, UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is filled with impressive ancient monuments including the Great Theatre, the Library of Celsus, Hadrian’s Temple and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. You’ll find a striking recreation by Şadi Çalık of the temple’s statue of the goddess Artemis in the lobby at Swissôtel Büyük Efes Izmir, and our concierge is happy to help with transport to Ephesus.

Our luxury Izmir hotel is a perfect base for exploring the sun-drenched Aegean coastline. The Çeşme Peninsula is famed for its deep-blue coves and sandy beaches, its windsurfing spots and the delightful town of Alaçatı, with its windmills and bougainvillea-covered stone houses. The nearby İzmir Bird Paradise is a vast salt marsh which is a natural habitat for hundreds of bird species and an important breeding ground for flamingos. Other idyllic beaches within easy reach of Izmir include Dikili, Mersi̇naki̇ and Pamucak.

Izmir lies at the heart of one of Turkey’s most important wine-growing regions, and the gently rolling hills around the village of Urla have been carpeted with vineyards since ancient times. A trip along the Urla Vineyard Road gives you the chance to sample Turkish varietals such as rich red Boğazkere, sweet Bornova Misketi or light, fruity Sultaniye, as well as excellent Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon. Swissôtel Büyük Efes Izmir partners with several local wineries and we host regular wine-tasting events – or you can sample their superb vintages in our bars and restaurants.

Find out more about Izmir and its surroundings – or just ask our concierge.