Best Student Accommodation in Izmir, Turkey

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.

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.

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.

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.

Besides having facilities for student accommodation in Izmir, Casita offers student accommodation in other Turkish cities as well. One of these cities is Istanbul.