While finding a good and affordable place to call home when studying abroad is hard, and sometimes it even appears to be an endless process, it is the opposite with us. Casita helps students find their perfect home away from home in almost all parts of the world, including Izmir. So, if you’re studying there and looking for your student accommodation in Izmir, we got you covered with a 100% free-of-charge service, a multilingual support team, and a simple yet powerful website.
Why Book Student Accommodation in Izmir?
Izmir is Turkey's third-largest city and is also its second-largest industrial one. It is a contemporary, developed province, as well as a busy commercial centre at the same time. Located in western Anatolia, Izmir is an immensely important city, famous for being the most important export seaport in Turkey. Historically, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Izmir was an educational centre of the Greek world, with a total of 67 male and four female schools. The most important Greek educational institution was the Evangelical School which operated from 1733 to 1922.
Today, Izmir has a total of nine active universities in and near it. The city is also home to well-rooted higher-education establishments that are renowned across Turkey. These include the İzmir Anatolian Vocational High School of Commerce (İzmir Anadolu Ticaret Lisesi) which was established in 1854 and the American Collegiate Institute (ACI) which was established in 1878. It is also home to the 3rd U.S. Space Camp in the world, Space Camp Turkey. The city has plenty of culture, history, events and institutions to attract a wide range of students from around the world. The student lifestyle is all about learning, growing and experiencing Turkish life in equal measure.
Universities in Izmir
Dokuz Eylül University
Casita has accommodation options within walking distance of the university.
More than two bus stops surround the campus; Halit Ziya is just an eight-minute walk away.
History & Arts Museum is just a five-minute car ride away from the university.
Ege University
Our accommodation options are all within walking distance of the university.
Agora Open Air Museum is just a 20-minute car ride away.
İzmir Institute of Technology
Casita’s five accommodation options are within walking distance of the university.
Şenlik Alanı bus stop is just a ten-minute walk away from campus.
Mordoğan is a 30-minute car ride away from the university.
Student Life
Is Izmir good for students?
Like “Herodotus” described Izmir shortly, “They found their city (Izmir) under the most beautiful sky and in the most beautiful climates known on earth”. Many people call Izmir an open museum or the Pearl of the Aegean. The city was inhabited by Indigenous people between the 7th and 3rd millenniums BC, it witnessed many empires like Alexander the Great, Lydian rule, Roman Empire, the Medieval period, and the Othman empire. All that made the city very rich in a mixture of all those empires and having this magical diverse culture. All that will make your stay in Izmir the best time of your life. Also, Izmir is the 3rd city in the number of universities, with 2% of international students in Turkey studying there.
Is Izmir safe for students?
Izmir is a safe destination with many historical and cultural things to explore, as well as beaches to enjoy. Millions of people come to Izmir every year, and these people leave the town safe and with good memories. The crime rate in the city is low, and its people are known for their cultural openness and relaxed style of living. Izmir can be even safer than Istanbul and most of the Western Metropolitan cities. The city is less crowded and more orderly than Istanbul. Additionally, while Istanbul is full of immigrants from other Turkish cities, Izmir has a more homogenous culture.
Must-Visit Places in Izmir
We can’t talk about things to do and see in Izmir without starting with the ancient monument right in the city centre. Surrounded by hillside residential neighbourhoods, bustling market streets, and tall commercial buildings, Izmir Agora is just a part of the everyday landscape for most residents. Inside the Agora grounds, the ruins of a Roman-Greek marketplace transport you back to the days when Izmir was an important stop on the Silk Road. The archways on the lower floor of the 2,000-year-old marketplace are still intact and the same freshwater that supplied the ancient market still bubbles out of fountains and runs through a channel along the floor today. It is a place that was built to last.
Another amazing ancient place is the Roman city of Ephesus. It was once a hugely popular stop on the Silk Road and it is now one of the most popular things to do in Izmir, welcoming almost 2 million visitors a year. In ancient times, people from all over the world sailed to the port to stock up on exotic spices and fruits, visit the talented Turkish cloth-makers, or just soak up the flavour of the multicultural city. The restored Celsus Library, constructed with a double-wall technique to preserve the 12,000 scrolls that were housed there, is a great reminder of the value humans have always placed on knowledge and learning.
If you love the bustle and chatter of a busy market, don’t miss out on Kemaraltı Market. In the welcoming central bazaar in Izmir, marketeers smile and shout, inviting visitors and locals alike to inspect their wares. Unlike in many marketplaces around the world, Izmir’s marketeers are happy to chat, even if it’s obvious you won’t be buying anything from them. There’s plenty on offer here for the curious foodie, too. You can invest a few liras for the chance to watch the happy candy vendor expertly twirl his vats of liquid sugar onto a stick for you. Also, sweet, sticky Turkish delight is on offer in every colour of the rainbow while salty-sour olives range from deep black-purple to bright green. A visit to Kemaraltı Market is definitely one of the tastiest things to do in Izmir.
Transportation in Izmir
Izmir has an extensive public bus system that covers all of the city, and you can use the Izban train line since it covers most parts of the city centre. There is also a metro line connecting the city centre/Konak Square with the northeastern suburb of Bornova.
The city’s public ferries are easy, fast inside the coast and give a nice shot of Izmir. They are preferable to every other transportation in nice weather. Some of the ferries' popular routes include; Konak-Karsiyaka, Alsancak-Karsiyaka, Konak-Bostanli and Karsiyaka-Goztepe.
Izmir also has a public bicycle sharing system; it allows you to pick up a bike at several different points. Many taxis with reasonable prices are available throughout the city as well.
Nearby Student Accommodation In Turkey
Besides having facilities for student accommodation in Izmir, Casita offers student accommodation in other Turkish cities as well. One of these cities is Istanbul.