It’s difficult to imagine life in İzmir without its iconic seafront promenade. A triumph of urban renewal, the pedestrianised confines of the west-facing kordon are home to a great selection of bars and restaurants that attract droves of people at the end of the day to watch the picture-perfect sunsets. Inland to the east, the Alsancak district is now the focus of the city’s nightlife and fashion.
At the southern end of the kordon is the new Arkas Art Centre , housed in the former French consulate. As worthwhile as the rotating exhibits here are, the centre demands a visit just to see the interior of the sumptuous building built in 1906.
A 15-minute spin in a horse-driven coach along the kordon costs ₺20 for four people.
