The process for exiting Izmir’s Adnan Menderes (ADB) airport and finding your way to the central Basmane railway station is fairly straightforward.
On exiting the airport building go straight across the road and follow the signs for the Izban railway station. A descending escalator will take you to the Izban platforms and ticket booth where you can buy your plastic Izmirim Kart – 6TL for the card (2017) plus however much credit you want. Buying it loaded with about 20 TL will get you going for your first few days of Izmir commuting.
According to its website, the Izmirim Kart seems to cover all forms of public transport including bus, train, metro, ferry, as well as facilities such as bike hire, car parking, and public toilet access.
So far it’s worked smoothly for me on local bus, metro and train.
Take the platform signposted in the northerly direction of Aliağa. The IZBAN train line runs from Aliağa in the north to Selcuk in the south. The carriages are in immaculate condition (2017).
From the airport (Havalimani) a nine-stop trip will bring you to the Hilal station where you need to disembark and switch to the Metro system (follow the signs), for a short single-stop trip to Basmane. It’s all really easy and well sign-posted, even for a first-timer in Izmir, like me.
Basmane is a popular, budget-priced hotel district, convenient as a central railway travel hub and also only a short walk to the seafront and entertainment districts of Konak, Alsancak and Kemeralti. Its laneways are full of reasonably-priced, clean, safe and comfortable business-style hotels. It’s not the loveliest part of Izmir but it’s convenient.
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