On the shores of the Aegean — ancient Smyrna, blue-flag beaches and the ruins of Ephesus. An inspiring base for our Erasmus+ sustainability and inclusive-education courses in İzmir.
Courses at this center are open to participants travelling from a country other than Türkiye — a core requirement of Erasmus+ mobility.
ClimateAegean Mediterranean · mild and sunny most of the year
Arrivalİzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB)
CapacityMax 20 participants / group
Centerİzmir, Türkiye
FundingErasmus+ eligible
The city
Let's take a small tour of İzmir.
Known across Türkiye as “Beautiful İzmir,” the city — ancient Smyrna — sits where Anatolia reaches into the Aegean, with over 8,500 years of continuous settlement. It wraps around a wide bay alive with yachts and ferries, framed by a 629-kilometre coastline and dozens of blue-flag beaches.
From a walk along the Kordon and the historic Asansör to the ruins of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis, İzmir blends sea, history and a relaxed Aegean rhythm for teachers attending our Erasmus+ training course here — with resort towns like Çeşme, Alaçatı, Urla and Seferihisar all within reach.
No visit to the region is complete without a day at Ephesus, one of
the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean, its marble-columned Library of Celsus and Hadrian’s
Temple still standing along the old Curetes Way.
Nearby, the Basilica of St. John and the House
of the Virgin Mary draw pilgrims and historians alike, while the ancient site of Smyrna
itself — İzmir’s own predecessor — is still being uncovered in the city centre.
Temple of Hadrian
An intricately carved Roman temple front, one of the most photographed corners of Ephesus.
Basilica of St. John
Built over the apostle’s traditional burial site in Selçuk, once one of Christendom’s largest churches.
Ancient Smyrna Agora
The Roman marketplace of İzmir’s own predecessor city, tucked right into the modern downtown.
Teos Ancient City
A quiet seaside ruin near Sığacık, once a major Ionian port and the birthplace of the poet Anacreon.
Temple of Dionysos
One of the largest temples ever dedicated to Dionysos, standing among the ruins at Teos.
Highlight
House of the Virgin Mary
A small stone chapel tucked into the pine woods of Mount Koressos, above Ephesus, believed by many to be
Mary’s final home. A quiet pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims alike, and a peaceful stop after
the crowds of the ancient city below.
Kemeraltı and the old town
Down by the harbour in Karataş, the 1907 Asansör — a narrow
iron elevator tower — still lifts visitors up the cliffside for one of the best views over the bay,
cafés and all.
A little further into the old town stands the İzmir Clock Tower,
the city’s Ottoman-era symbol at the heart of Konak Square, right beside the winding lanes and
stalls of the historic Kemeraltı Bazaar.
İzmir Clock Tower
Asansör, Karataş
Coastal escapes — Alaçatı, Urla & Ilıca
An hour or so from the city centre, İzmir’s resort towns turn the weekend into a beach day — windsurfing
bays, vineyard villages and long stretches of golden sand.
Alaçatı
A windsurfing hotspot with a cobblestone old town of stone houses turned into boutique hotels and cafés.
Urla
Vineyards, seaside fish restaurants and quiet coves along one of the Aegean’s most laid-back coastlines.
Ilıca Beach
A long, shallow, family-friendly bay near Çeşme, often ranked among Türkiye’s best beaches.
Highlight
Sığacık
A small walled fishing village built around a 16th-century Ottoman castle, with a Saturday market, a working
marina and the ruins of ancient Teos just a short walk down the coast — one of the Aegean’s
quieter surprises.
İzmir has always cooked differently from the rest of Türkiye — a cuisine built on wild greens, olive oil
and whatever the Aegean coast happens to be growing that week.
A taste of İzmir
İzmir’s Aegean cuisine is built on olive oil, wild greens and whatever’s fresh — a world away
from the kebab-heavy food of central Türkiye, and one of the best reasons to linger after class.
İzmir köfte
Oval meatballs baked slowly in a tomato sauce with potatoes — the city’s namesake comfort dish.
Stuffed zucchini flowers
Delicate squash blossoms filled with rice, herbs and pine nuts — a spring speciality of Aegean tables.
Artichoke hearts in olive oil
Braised with carrots, potatoes and dill — the classic Aegean “zeytinyağlı” style of cooking.
Braised leeks
Slow-cooked leeks in olive oil with a squeeze of lemon — simple, seasonal and everywhere in İzmir.
Şevketi bostan with meat
A wild Aegean thistle, closely related to the artichoke, stewed with lamb — a true İzmir speciality.
Arapsaçı
A shredded, syrup-soaked pastry — its name means “Arab’s hair” for its thin, tangled strands.
Lokma
Small deep-fried dough balls soaked in syrup — a beloved street-side treat across the city.
Şambali
A semolina cake soaked in syrup, often served with a dollop of clotted cream — an Aegean classic.
Mastic (damla sakızı) dessert
Aegean mastic resin lends its unmistakable perfume to puddings and ice creams across the region.
Course center
EMA İzmir
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Address: Kazımdirik, Üniversite Cd., 35100 Bornova / İzmir, Türkiye
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Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) — about 30 min transfer
Coming soon in İzmirBeing planned for upcoming terms at this center. Register your interest and we'll confirm dates & pricing with you first — no commitment.
