Rent a car at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) with Yolzz. 24/7 desk, transparent pricing, wide fleet. Perfect for Ephesus, Çeşme, Alaçatı, Bergama and the Aegean coast.
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (IATA: ADB) is the gateway to Turkey's Aegean coast — a region of extraordinary historical depth, brilliant Aegean light, thermal springs, award-winning wines and some of the Mediterranean world's most accessible ancient ruins. İzmir itself is Turkey's third-largest city with a population of approximately 4.3 million, combining the commercial importance of a major Aegean port with a distinctly cosmopolitan and modern cultural identity that sets it apart from every other large Turkish city. Within an hour's drive of the airport: Ephesus, one of the largest and best-preserved Roman cities in the world; Çeşme, Turkey's leading windsurfing and thermal springs destination; and the old town of İzmir itself, with its famous covered bazaar (Kemeraltı), its harbour promenade (Kordon) and its distinctive café culture.
Renting a car at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is not merely convenient — for many of the best experiences the region offers, it is the only practical option. The village of Şirince (8 km of steep narrow road from the main highway, with no regular public transport), the site of Bergama/Pergamon (100 km north, with infrequent bus services that leave insufficient time for a proper visit), Foça (a beautiful fishing town with monk seal reserves), the remote Aegean coves south of Çeşme — none of these can be properly explored by any means other than a private vehicle. A Yolzz rental car from ADB is the key that opens the Aegean.
Adnan Menderes Airport is situated in the Gaziemir district of İzmir's southern suburbs, approximately 18 km south of Konak (the city centre) and directly adjacent to the O-30 İzmir Ring Motorway. The airport's location is particularly convenient for drivers: within 5 minutes of leaving the car park, you can be on the O-31 motorway heading south towards Ephesus and Bodrum, or on the O-33 heading west to Çeşme, or on the O-30 ring road heading north into the city. There is no need to navigate urban streets to leave the airport zone — a significant advantage over more centrally located airports.
Airlines serving ADB include Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, SunExpress, easyJet, Ryanair and several charter carriers. Domestic routes link İzmir to Istanbul (both SAW and IST), Ankara, Antalya, Trabzon, Diyarbakır and other major Turkish cities. International routes concentrate on Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Austria, Russia and Scandinavia, with seasonal connections to many other European points.
Booking note: June–August sees peak demand at ADB, particularly for the Çeşme and Alaçatı routes where Aegean-coast wind-sports enthusiasts book months ahead. Reserve as early as possible for summer travel. Call +90 850 500 0 777 for current availability.
The Yolzz counter is in the arrivals hall, within the car rental zone close to the baggage-reclaim exits. After clearing passport control or customs, follow the car rental signs — clearly displayed throughout the arrivals area. Our team will have your contract and keys ready.
İzmir is Turkey's most distinctly Aegean city — and by that, residents and frequent visitors mean something quite specific. Unlike Istanbul's imperial grandeur or Ankara's political weight, İzmir's identity has been shaped by millennia of maritime trade, Ionian Greek intellectual tradition, Ottoman cosmopolitanism and a modern Turkish republican ethos that makes the city feel, in many ways, more European than any other in the country. The promenade cafés along Kordon (İzmir's seaside promenade), the wine bars of Alsancak (the trendy nightlife and dining district), the students spilling out of the city's many universities, the fashion boutiques of the Pasaport district — all create an atmosphere that surprises visitors expecting a more traditionally Turkish city.
The ancient city on this site was Smyrna — one of the great ports of the classical Mediterranean world, claiming (along with several other cities) to be the birthplace of Homer. The modern city was substantially rebuilt after the catastrophic fire of 1922, which destroyed much of the historic urban fabric; what remains of the pre-20th century city is largely concentrated in Kemeraltı (İzmir's historic bazaar district) and in the Agora (a partially excavated Roman marketplace in the Namazgah quarter). But the lack of Ottoman-era monuments in the city centre is compensated by the extraordinary ancient sites within driving distance: Ephesus alone would make İzmir worth visiting even without the rest of the region.
Ephesus (Efes — eh-fes) was the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor and at its peak in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire, with a population of approximately 250,000. The archaeological site covers a vast area and the excavations — now over 150 years old and still ongoing — have revealed structures of extraordinary quality and preservation: the Celsus Library (a three-storey façade of columns and statues that is the defining image of the site), the 24,000-seat Great Theatre, the Marble Road (a broad colonnaded street once lined with shops, brothels, public baths and religious buildings), the Temple of Domitian and many other monuments. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through Ephesus is one of the great archaeological experiences available to any traveller — and from ADB, it is just 75 km and 1 hour by car.
İzmir's contemporary food scene has become one of Turkey's most interesting in recent years. The boyoz (a flaky pastry of Sephardic Jewish origin, eaten plain with a glass of tea for breakfast), the kumru (İzmir-style stuffed sandwich with sausage, cheese, tomato), the Kordon fish restaurants and the meyhanes of Alsancak all contribute to a distinctive local food culture. The wines of Şirince (produced from fruit fermentation in the village above Ephesus) and the increasing quality of Aegean-region wines from producers in the İzmir and Çeşme areas have added a viticultural dimension to the local food experience that continues to develop.
Beyond the city and Ephesus, the Aegean coastline north and south of İzmir offers a succession of extraordinary destinations. Bergama (ancient Pergamon) — 100 km north — was the capital of the Attalid Kingdom and one of the great centres of Hellenistic culture, with a library said to rival Alexandria's. The acropolis (at 330 metres above the modern town, reached by a road that winds through pine forest) commands one of the most dramatic views of any ancient site in the world. South of İzmir, Çeşme and its satellite village of Alaçatı have become Turkey's most chic coastal destinations: the peninsula's reliable north-east wind makes it the country's premier windsurfing location, while Alaçatı's (ah-lah-chah-tuh) restored stone buildings, boutique hotels and open-air restaurants attract an affluent domestic and international crowd throughout the summer. A rental car from Yolzz at ADB turns all of this into a coherent, explorable itinerary rather than a series of expensive and inflexible day-tour packages.
Drive from ADB to İzmir city centre (18 km, 25 min). Park near Konak Square in an İSPARK car park or on the perimeter of Kemeraltı. Begin at Kemeraltı (keh-mehr-al-tuh — İzmir's historic bazaar district): a labyrinth of covered streets, hans (merchants' warehouses dating from the 17th century) and caravanserais that rivals Istanbul's Grand Bazaar in historical interest if not in tourist numbers. The Kızlarağası Han (a beautifully restored 18th-century inn around a central courtyard) and the covered Bedesten (the textile merchants' hall) are highlights. The Saat Kulesi (the iconic Clock Tower, İzmir's symbol, built 1901 as a gift to Sultan Abdulhamid II) stands at the edge of Konak Square — the city's main public space.
Walk or drive to the Kordon (kore-don — İzmir's seaside promenade): a 4-km strip of palm trees, pavement cafés, fish restaurants and pedestrianised waterfront running along the eastern shore of İzmir Bay. Every local neighbourhood in the city appears to have its favourite section; the stretch in front of the Pasaport ferry terminal is the most atmospheric. For lunch, choose from the many fish restaurants along the Kordon — the fresh Aegean fish (levrek, çupra, barbunya) is excellent.
After lunch, drive south to Asansör (ah-sahn-seur — a historic Jewish-era elevator in the Karataş neighbourhood): an external lift, built in 1907 by Jewish merchant Nesim Levi Bayraklıoğlu to allow residents of the hillside above Karataş to reach the market district below. It has been lovingly restored and now operates as a small restaurant at the top; the terrace view over İzmir Bay and the Aegean is one of the city's finest. Evening: dinner in Alsancak (ahl-sahn-jahk — the trendy nightlife and dining district) — the 1453 Sokak area particularly has a concentration of restaurants, bars and meyhanes (traditional taverns) that represents İzmir's contemporary food culture at its best.
Day 1: İzmir city exploration (above).
Day 2 — Ephesus and Şirince: From ADB (or city centre), take O-31 İzmir–Aydın Motorway south (HGS required) to the Selçuk exit — 75 km, approximately 1 hour. Follow signs to Ephesus (Efes). The site has two entrances: the upper Kuşadası Gate (where tour coaches typically arrive) and the lower Meryem Ana Gate (less crowded, allows you to walk uphill through the site). Enter at the upper gate to walk downhill on the Marble Road — the most dramatic direction. Allow 3 hours minimum; 4 hours for a thorough visit. The Library of Celsus is the undisputed visual highlight — a three-storey façade of columns, pediments and statues (the originals are in Vienna; these are excellent replicas) that served as both a library and a monumental tomb. The Great Theatre seated 24,000 spectators and is still used for occasional concerts. The Marble Road connecting the two was lined with covered arcades, shops and public buildings on both sides. Entry: approximately 400 TL (2026). Photography permitted throughout.
After Ephesus, drive 8 km east to Şirince (shee-reen-jeh): a village of whitewashed and terracotta-roofed houses built on a steep hillside in the Küçük Menderes valley, occupied by Greek Orthodox Christians until the population exchange of 1923 and then resettled by Turkish Muslim families from northern Greece. The village's Greek heritage is visible in the stone construction of the houses, the Byzantine church (now a mosque) and the terraced orchards. Şirince wines (wines produced in Şirince from peach, apple, cherry and blackberry fermentation — not grape) are sold in every shop along the main street. The wine is not fine (it lacks acidity and structure) but drinking a glass on a terrace overlooking the valley is pleasantly symbolic. Note: the 3 km approach road to Şirince is steep and narrow. Park at the village entrance — do not attempt to drive into the village itself.
Days 1–2: İzmir city and Ephesus (above).
Day 3 — Çeşme Peninsula: From ADB (or city centre), take O-33 İzmir–Çeşme Motorway west (HGS required) — 90 km, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Çeşme (chesh-meh) is a resort town famous for its clear Aegean water, thermal springs (the town's name means "fountain" or "spring" in Turkish) and the imposing Genoese castle overlooking the harbour. The Alaçatı (ah-lah-chah-tuh) district, 7 km inland, is the cultural heart of the Çeşme peninsula: a village of restored grey-stone Ottoman houses now housing boutique hotels, farm-to-table restaurants, wine bars and concept stores. The surrounding fields and seafront are Turkey's premier windsurfing location — the Alaçatı Pro World Cup is held here annually. Beyond Alaçatı, the road continues to a series of Aegean coves: Ege Plajı, Altınkum and Boyalık — all with clear water, good beach restaurants and views west towards the Greek island of Chios (only 8 km offshore). Return to ADB or İzmir in the evening.
İzmir's cuisine is one of Turkey's most distinctive regional traditions, shaped by millennia of Aegean trade, the culinary traditions of Sephardic Jewish communities who settled here after the 1492 expulsion from Spain, and the influence of Greek Orthodox communities whose presence in the city extended into the 20th century. The result is a food culture that is lighter, more vegetable-forward and more internationalist in its influences than Istanbul's Ottoman-derived cuisine — closer to the Mediterranean in spirit, more comfortable with olive oil, fresh herbs and the produce of the surrounding agricultural plains.
Your Yolzz vehicle carries an HGS transponder (Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi — Fast Passage System). All O-30, O-31 and O-33 toll plazas are charged automatically. Tolls are invoiced to the renter at return based on recorded journeys. Keep the HGS balance positive — zero balance results in fines. Top up via PTT branches, banks or the government online portal. Ask our desk team for the current balance at collection.
İzmir's Kordon and Kemeraltı areas have paid parking (İSPARK system, 15–25 TL/hour). The İSPARK app (free, iOS/Android) shows live availability of every car park in the city — download it before your arrival. Alsancak (2–3 km from Kemeraltı) has better street parking availability. Ephesus site car parks are free and large. Şirince: park at the village entrance; do not attempt to drive into the village lanes.
İzmir spring is characterised by the extraordinary flowering of olive trees across the surrounding countryside — a delicate white blossom that covers the landscape in April. Temperatures of 16–24°C make spring ideal for both Ephesus (cool enough to walk for hours) and seaside exploration (the sea is still too cold for most visitors to swim, but the coastal walks and harbours are perfectly comfortable). Şirince is particularly beautiful in April when the cherry trees — used to make the village's cherry wine — are in flower. Tourist numbers are well below summer levels; hotel prices are moderate and popular sites have minimal queuing.
İzmir's summer (30–38°C) is hot but notably less humid than Antalya or Istanbul — the Aegean wind (called the imbat in İzmir) provides consistent relief, making the heat bearable. Çeşme and Alaçatı's windsurfing season runs June–October; July and August are the busiest months at both destinations. Ephesus in July and August should be visited at opening time (08:00) before the coach tours arrive; by 11:00 the site is extremely crowded. Book rental cars 4–6 weeks in advance for the peak summer period at ADB.
September and October in İzmir are exceptional. Sea temperature stays around 24–26°C until late October; air temperature drops to a deeply comfortable 22–30°C. Crowds thin dramatically after the first week of September; Ephesus becomes manageable again; Çeşme and Alaçatı retain their beauty without the summer crush. October's light over the Aegean is extraordinary: a clear, golden quality that photographers specifically travel for. The grape harvest takes place in September; the Şirince area's fruit harvest in October provides fresh produce throughout the village's restaurants.
İzmir's winter is mild by northern European standards (5–12°C) and frequently sunny between rain spells. Ephesus in January or February is a profoundly different experience from summer: the site is nearly empty, the winter light is low and dramatic, and the scale of the ruins is far easier to appreciate without the visual noise of tour groups. Bergama's acropolis in winter mist is spectacular. Hotel prices are at their lowest of the year. The only practical caution: Şirince and the Bergama acropolis road can become slippery after rain — drive carefully.
From ADB, take the O-30 ring motorway westbound and connect to O-33 İzmir–Çeşme Motorway. Total distance: approximately 90 km; typical journey time 1 hour 15 minutes. The O-33 is an HGS-required motorway — tolls are charged automatically via your vehicle's transponder and invoiced at return. The approximate round-trip toll is 80–120 TL for a standard passenger car. From the Çeşme exit, Alaçatı is a further 7 km inland.
From ADB, Ephesus (Selçuk exit) is approximately 75 km via O-31 and takes around 1 hour. At the site itself, there are two car parks: one at the upper (Kuşadası) Gate and one at the lower (Meryem Ana) Gate. Both are large, free and well-organised. In peak summer (July–August), the upper gate car park fills by 10:00 on busy days — arrive at opening time (08:00–08:30) or use the lower gate. Driving from ADB to Ephesus, then to Şirince for lunch, then back to ADB is a very comfortable day trip within 200 km of driving.
Yes, during peak summer (July–August weekends). Alaçatı's narrow stone streets are unsuitable for traffic, and the paid car parks on the village periphery fill by 10:00 on busy Saturdays. The practical solutions: arrive before 09:00, use the car parks immediately outside the village centre and walk in, or visit on a weekday when demand is significantly lower. The İSPARK app does not cover Alaçatı (a private municipality), but Google Maps shows the main parking areas accurately.
From ADB, take O-31 south past Selçuk (Ephesus exit) and continue to the Aydın junction. From Aydın, follow D-525 to Milas, then south to Bodrum — total approximately 250 km, 3–3.5 hours. Weekday traffic is generally smooth; Friday afternoon and Saturday morning departures from İzmir towards Bodrum can add 30–45 minutes. If your itinerary ends in Bodrum, Yolzz offers one-way drop-off at Bodrum Milas Airport — call +90 850 500 0 777 to confirm availability.
From Ephesus, drive 3 km north on the main road to Selçuk town, then follow the signs for Şirince (8 km east of Selçuk centre). The road climbs steeply through terraced orchards on a paved but narrow single-track road for the final 3 km. A standard car handles it without difficulty, but an SUV is more comfortable. The village entrance has paid parking (approximately 30–50 TL); absolutely do not attempt to drive into the village lanes — they are designed for mules and pedestrians, not cars. Walk the village from the parking area.
İzmir's İSPARK-operated car parks along and near the Kordon typically charge 15–20 TL per hour. There are several multistorey car parks within a 5-minute walk of the waterfront; the İSPARK app (download before arrival) shows real-time availability. On summer evenings when restaurants are busy, arrive before 19:00 to secure parking easily. The Alsancak district (2 km north along the waterfront) has better street parking availability and is worth the 10-minute walk.
Yes, comfortably. Bergama (ancient Pergamon) is approximately 100 km north of ADB via the D-300 road and takes about 1.5 hours. A day trip allows ample time for the Pergamon acropolis (2–3 hours), the Asclepion medical sanctuary below (1 hour) and a lunch break in Bergama town centre. Leave by 09:00; you can return to İzmir or ADB by 19:00 with time to spare. The acropolis road is steep and has hairpin bends — an SUV is recommended. A cable car also links the town to the acropolis for those who prefer not to drive the steep approach.
Pamukkale is approximately 260 km from ADB via O-31 south and then D-320 east; the journey takes 3–3.5 hours under normal conditions. For a day trip: depart ADB by 07:00, arrive Pamukkale by 10:30, spend 4–5 hours at the travertines and Hierapolis, depart 15:30, return to ADB by 19:00–19:30. A long day but entirely feasible. If you prefer more time at the site, a night in Pamukkale and return the following morning is well worth considering. Alternatively, one-way car return at Denizli Çardak Airport (15 km from Pamukkale) is available — call +90 850 500 0 777.
21 years for standard vehicles; 25 years for executive and premium classes. The licence must have been held for at least 1 year.
Yes — for payment and the security deposit block. Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.
Standard CDW is included in every Yolzz rental. Super Cover (full excess waiver) is available as an optional extra at booking — recommended for visitors driving rural roads to Şirince, Bergama or Pamukkale.
After clearing passport control or customs, follow the car rental signs in the arrivals hall. Yolzz is clearly marked within the rental car zone. If you cannot locate us, call +90 850 500 0 777 and a team member will guide you.
İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport is the ideal starting point for an Aegean itinerary that could occupy a week, a fortnight or a month without exhausting its possibilities. Ephesus alone would justify the journey; Çeşme alone would justify it again. Add Bergama, Foça, Şirince, Alaçatı, İzmir city itself, the Aegean coast towards Bodrum, and the improbable beauty of Pamukkale — and the region becomes one of the world's great drives.
Yolzz at ADB gives you the vehicle, the flexibility and the local knowledge to make the most of every day. Our 24/7 desk, transparent pricing, wide fleet and one-way return options across Turkey are designed specifically for travellers who want to explore — not just arrive and stay.
Use the booking form above to check live availability. Safe travels — the Aegean awaits.
