{"id":23053,"date":"2025-06-04T20:32:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T18:32:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=23053"},"modified":"2025-06-04T20:32:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T18:32:37","slug":"biking-in-izmir-where-east-meets-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/turkije\/fietsen-in-izmir-where-east-meets-west","title":{"rendered":"Cycling in Izmir: Where east meets west"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u0130zmir region, on the west coast Turkey<\/a>, is not a classic on your bucket list. Not yet. But you could easily change that after reading this story. If you go cycling in Izmir, think of: Mediterranean views, deserted roads, a wealth of history and freshly baked bread at every stop. Add a stage of the Tour of T\u00fcrkiye and a route along the ancient Ephesus, and you know: this is no coincidence. Izmir is rightfully a cycling destination. One for both race cyclists, gravel riders and (as the Tour of Turkiye and L\u2019etape Turkey show: you can race there!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ephesus,
Ephesus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Biking<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By: Sander Kolsloot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From \u00c7e\u015fme to the mass sprint in Kar\u015f\u0131yaka<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In early May 2025, the Tour of T\u00fcrkiye arrived in Izmir. The final stage, a flat ride from \u00c7e\u015fme to Kar\u015f\u0131yaka (a neighborhood in the city itself), was one for the sprinters. Matteo Malucelli won it, Wout Poels crowned himself as the winner. But the race passed by places that you can also ride. Beautiful roads, wide boulevards, and stretches of coast where you can wipe the sweat from your forehead with a sea breeze. Cycling in Izmir is truly for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Center of Izmir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

EuroVelo with a twist: cycling between antiquity and the sea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The EuroVelo 8 route, also known as the Mediterranean Highway, winds its way through the province of Izmir. You travel along ancient cities like Pergamon and Ephesus. Not on busy four-lane roads, but on side roads and dykes. In Seferihisar, you can smell the sea; in Urla, you taste wine from the farmer; in Karaburun, you can walk into a fish restaurant right away. Route plan: start in \u00c7e\u015fme, along Ala\u00e7at\u0131, via the cliffs of Ild\u0131r to the historic Teos, end in the old city of Izmir. Take off on this route and you\u2019ll naturally connect between old and new asphalt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Aegean coast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Houses where the Turkish flag flies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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View over the coastline<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I have also cycled part of this route myself, and it\u2019s fantastic. Just make sure to bring the right bike and take into account the varying road conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cycling in Izmir: around Alacat\u00ec<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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