IZBAN suburban rail + 1 metro line + ferries across the bay. Izmirim Kart for everything.
Related: Izmir guide
Izmir’s public transport is a three-part system: IZBAN suburban rail, a single metro line, and bay ferries. Together they cover the city from Aliağa in the north to Cumaovası in the south, with the metro handling the central east-west corridor and ferries crossing the gulf. For a traveler, this means you can reach the airport (ADB) by train, zip across the bay in 20 minutes by ferry, and connect to Ephesus via Selçuk station without a tour bus. The glue is the Izmirim Kart — one card works on all three modes plus buses. The system is reliable, cheap by European standards, and surprisingly easy to navigate once you understand the transfer points. Skip the rental car; traffic on the coastal road is brutal, and parking near Konak is a nightmare.
Buy an Izmirim Kart from any kiosk at metro stations, ferry terminals, or major bus stops. The card costs 35 TL (refundable) and you load credit onto it. Each ride costs about 17 TL on IZBAN and metro, 20 TL on the ferry. Tap the reader at turnstiles or ferry gates — you get a free transfer within 90 minutes between modes. Hours: IZBAN runs 06:00–00:30 every 10–15 minutes peak, 20–30 off-peak. Metro runs 06:00–00:15 every 5–10 minutes. Ferries: Konak–Karşıyaka every 15–30 minutes 07:00–22:00. You can also use contactless credit cards on some turnstiles, but the Izmirim Kart is cheaper and faster. For the airport, take IZBAN from any station; the ride from Alsancak to ADB takes 25 minutes.
As of early 2026, a single ride on IZBAN or metro costs 17 TL (~$0.50 USD) with Izmirim Kart. The ferry is 20 TL (~$0.60). A typical day of 4–5 rides will cost 70–90 TL (~$2–2.70). The card itself is 35 TL (~$1) refundable. There's no day pass, but the 90-minute free transfer makes multi-leg trips cheap. A round trip from Alsancak to Selçuk (Ephesus) costs 70 TL (~$2). Compare that to a taxi from Alsancak to ADB: 400 TL (~$12). The system is a bargain.
Download the 'İzmirim Kart' app or 'MOOV' for real-time schedules. Google Maps works for transit directions but sometimes misses ferry departures. Avoid buying a single-use token at the metro — the Izmirim Kart is cheaper and reusable. If you're flying out, don't take a taxi from central Izmir to ADB; IZBAN from Alsancak station costs 17 TL vs. 400+ TL for a taxi. The same applies from Karşıyaka: take the ferry to Konak, then IZBAN to the airport — it's a scenic 50-minute journey for 37 TL total. For Ephesus, take IZBAN from any station to Selçuk; the train is more comfortable than the bus and drops you closer to the ruins. Beware of the 'tourist shuttle' touts at Selçuk station — they charge 50 TL for a 5-minute dolmuş ride. Just walk to the main road and flag down a white dolmuş heading toward the upper gate. Rush hour on IZBAN (08:00–09:30 and 17:30–19:00) is brutal; avoid it with luggage. The metro's Hilal transfer tunnel is a 5-minute walk, not an escalator — factor that in if you're connecting with a tight IZBAN schedule. Ferries run less frequently after 20:00 (every 30 minutes) and stop at 22:00. If you miss the last ferry from Karşıyaka, you'll need a 45-minute taxi ride around the bay. Finally, the Izmirim Kart works on buses too, but bus routes are confusing for tourists. Stick to IZBAN, metro, and ferries unless you're adventurous.
1. Buying single-use QR tickets instead of an Izmirim Kart — you lose the free transfer and pay more per ride. 2. Taking a taxi from the airport when IZBAN is right there. 3. Trying to use the metro to reach the airport — it doesn't go there; you must transfer to IZBAN at Hilal. 4. Not checking the last ferry time and getting stranded in Karşıyaka after 22:00. 5. Paying touts at Selçuk station for a shuttle to Ephesus when a dolmuş costs one-third the price.
Take IZBAN from the station under the terminal. Buy an Izmirim Kart at the kiosk near the turnstiles. Board southbound trains to Alsancak (25 minutes, 17 TL). Don't take a taxi unless you have mobility issues — it's 400+ TL and often stuck in traffic.
17 TL (~$0.50) on IZBAN and metro, 20 TL (~$0.60) on the ferry, all with Izmirim Kart. Single-use QR tickets cost 20 TL and don't include free transfers. The card itself is 35 TL refundable.
Yes, within 90 minutes of your first tap. The transfer point is Hilal station — exit IZBAN, walk through the tunnel (5 minutes) to the metro platform, tap again, and you won't be charged. The same applies to ferry-to-IZBAN at Konak.
IZBAN: 06:00–00:30, every 10–15 minutes peak, 20–30 off-peak. Metro: 06:00–00:15, every 5–10 minutes. Ferries: 07:00–22:00, every 15–30 minutes. Last trains from Selçuk to Izmir depart around 23:30.
Yes — take IZBAN from any station to Selçuk. It's 1 hour 10 minutes from Alsancak, costs 35 TL, and drops you a 15-minute walk from the upper gate. No tour bus markup, no forced stops. Just check the last return train.
Some turnstiles accept contactless credit/debit cards, but the fare is higher (20 TL vs 17 TL) and you don't get free transfers. The Izmirim Kart is cheaper and works everywhere. Get one — it takes 2 minutes.
The exact plan we'd give a friend visiting Istanbul. Where to eat, what to skip, how to avoid tourist traps.
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