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Izmir


Cruises to Izmir Turkey

Sail with Louis Cruises on a journey in ancient history on board to one of our cruises to Izmir Turkey. To complement our cruises to Izmir, we offer shore excursions in Izmir as well.

Choose one of our cruises to Izmir Turkey, the metropolis of Anatolia, a 5,000 year-old city and one of the oldest cities of the Mediterranean basin. Today, Izmir is Turkey's third largest city and is known as "the pearl of Aegean". It is widely regarded as the most Westernized city of Turkey in terms of values, ideology, gender roles, and lifestyle.

Our cruises to Izmir Turkey give you the opportunity to take shore excursions in Izmir and visit Ephesus, an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor. Ephesus was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era.

More about Izmir

IZMIR - Ephesus
Cruises to Izmir Turkey | Shore excursions in Izmir | Louis Cruises
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You in Ephesus

Welcome to Turkey

Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selcuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era.Visit Ephesus with our special shorex packages

IZMIR - House of Virgin Mary
Cruises to Izmir Turkey | Shore excursions in Izmir | Louis Cruises
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The House of the Virgin Mary is a Christian and Muslim shrine located on Mt. Koressos in the vicinity of Ephesus, 7 kilometres from Selcuk in Turkey. Visit The House of the Virgin Mary with our special shorex packages

IZMIR - Pergamum
Cruises to Izmir Turkey | Shore excursions in Izmir | Louis Cruises
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Pergamon, or Pergamum, was an ancient Greek city in modern-day Turkey, in Mysia, today located 16 miles (26 km) from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus, that became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period, under the Attalid dynasty, 281–133 BC. Visit Pergamon with our special shorex packages

IZMIR - Gulf of Izmir
Cruises to Izmir Turkey | Shore excursions in Izmir | Louis Cruises
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The Gulf of Izmir, formerly known as the Gulf of Smyrna, is a gulf on the Aegean Sea, with its inlet between the peninsula of Karaburun and the mainland area of Foca. It is 32 km in length by 16 km in breadth, with an excellent anchorage. The city of Izmir, an important Turkish seaport, surrounds the end of this gulf. Levent Marina is the only marina inside the city of Izmir.

Cruise Ships to Izmir

Cruises to Izmir Turkey | Shore excursions in Izmir | Louis Cruises
Louis Majesty

Louis Majesty is a smart, stylish and contemporary ship. Her tastefully appointed decor with soothing colors, well appointed staterooms and suites and the warm hospitality.

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Cruises to Izmir Turkey | Shore excursions in Izmir | Louis Cruises
Louis Cristal

Louis Cristal is a luxurious cruise ship, with a unique yaught –like modern design and a cruising speed of 18 knots.


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Cruises to Izmir, Turkey

IZMIR - City Tour
Cultural tour: focused on art, architecture, history, religion and culture.Cultural tour: focused on art, architecture, history, religion and culture.Easy walking: some walking over even surface included.Easy walking: some walking over even surface included.The order of the sites may change to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches and tourists, closing times of certain sites, or any last minute unforeseen circumstances.The order of the sites may change to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches and tourists, closing times of certain sites, or any last minute unforeseen circumstances.Guided shopping included.Guided shopping included.
Izmir is Turkey's third largest city, with an inhabited area of more than 12,000 km2 and a population of over 3 million. It has always been famous for its port, which is one of the most important in the country for trade and exports of dried figs, sultanas and hazelnuts, and at first glance looks like an extremely modern city. But traces of Izmir's ancient past will appear before your eyes in all their magnificence amidst the skyscrapers and concrete apartment blocks. Indeed, right in the heart of the city you can admire the remains of the ancient agora, built during the Roman period by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 178 B.C.. It was used for political gatherings and elections by the representatives of the Roman government, but was also the main commercial area of the city. Your local guide will show you the only two-storey agora known to scholars: the first floor was reserved for wholesale trade, with workshops, cooling cisterns and warehouses for goods, whilst the second floor was designed for political meetings and retail trade. Many of the exhibits on display at Izmir's New Archaeological Museum, another remarkable stop on your itinerary, were discovered in the agora. The Museum's three large galleries (dedicated to statues, objects and ceramics respectively) are equipped with a modern lighting system that will guide you through the numerous precious exhibits on an evocative journey through history.
IZMIR - Pergamum
Panoramic, Nature, Landscapes and/or easy walkingPanoramic, Nature, Landscapes and/or easy walkingCultural tour: focused on art, architecture, history, religion and culture.Cultural tour: focused on art, architecture, history, religion and culture.Moderate walking: moderate amount of physical activity such as walking over uneven surface and climbing stairs. Might not be recommended for passengers with walking difficulties.Moderate walking: moderate amount of physical activity such as walking over uneven surface and climbing stairs. Might not be recommended for passengers with walking difficulties.The order of the sites may change to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches and tourists, closing times of certain sites, or any last minute unforeseen circumstances.The order of the sites may change to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches and tourists, closing times of certain sites, or any last minute unforeseen circumstances.Guided shopping included.Guided shopping included.Due to hot weather conditions and/or long motor coach journey, we recommend that you take a bottle of water or refreshment with you.Due to hot weather conditions and/or long motor coach journey, we recommend that you take a bottle of water or refreshment with you.
Depart from the port of Izmir for an itinerary of great historical interest which will take you, in more or less 1 ½ hours, to Pergamum. The main centre, together with Alexandria, of the Hellenistic civilisation in the East and capital of the Roman province of Asia, Pergamum enjoyed over three centuries of economical prosperity which resulted in exceptional cultural and artistic development. It is possible to appreciate the ability of Greek and Roman architects in developing this challenging location to the urbanistic requirements of a great capital city. You will visit the ASKELEPION complex built to honour ASCLEPIO, god of medicine (ESCULAPIO for the Romans), former place of worship and therapeutical centre among the most celebrated in the ancient world. After a short drive you will board the cable car and where en-route you will enjoy an awesome scenery. You will then reach the ACROPOLIS which dominates the surrounding plain from a height of 275 m. Originally fenced by three walls, of which few traces remain, on this rocky spur many temples, palaces, public and private buildings were erected. After this wonderful visit you will re-board the cable car and reach the parking lot. Return to Izmir and the ship.
IZMIR - Ancient Ephesus
Cultural tour: focused on art, architecture, history, religion and culture.Cultural tour: focused on art, architecture, history, religion and culture.Moderate walking: moderate amount of physical activity such as walking over uneven surface and climbing stairs. Might not be recommended for passengers with walking difficulties.Moderate walking: moderate amount of physical activity such as walking over uneven surface and climbing stairs. Might not be recommended for passengers with walking difficulties.The order of the sites may change to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches and tourists, closing times of certain sites, or any last minute unforeseen circumstances.The order of the sites may change to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches and tourists, closing times of certain sites, or any last minute unforeseen circumstances.Guided shopping included.Guided shopping included.Due to hot weather conditions and/or long motor coach journey, we recommend that you take a bottle of water or refreshment with you.Due to hot weather conditions and/or long motor coach journey, we recommend that you take a bottle of water or refreshment with you.
Board your coach and set out for the ancient city located approximately 1 hour drive from Izmir. Reach the ancient Ephesus. Famous in antiquity for its temple of Diana, during the years of the Roman Empire, the Greek port of Ephesus became the greatest city in Asia Minor. Upon arrival at Ephesus follow your guide to enter the ancient site through the Magnesia Gate. Discover innumerable monuments including the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika and the Great Theatre built in the Greek era and reconstructed in the Roman period, which is still noted for its remarkable acoustics. View the symbols all around and marvel at the fact that one is still able to read the inscriptions in the ancient Greek language. Walk back to your coach along the Arcadian Way, where once Mark Anthony and Cleopatra rode in procession. Before returning to the ship, get a cultural taste of Turkey by enjoying an exhibition of oriental carpets or leather goods.
REMARKS
Tour not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties.
IZMIR - Ephesus & the House of Virgin Mary
Cultural tour: focused on art, architecture, history, religion and culture.Cultural tour: focused on art, architecture, history, religion and culture.Moderate walking: moderate amount of physical activity such as walking over uneven surface and climbing stairs. Might not be recommended for passengers with walking difficulties.Moderate walking: moderate amount of physical activity such as walking over uneven surface and climbing stairs. Might not be recommended for passengers with walking difficulties.Includes visit to religious sites, knees and shoulders must be covered.Includes visit to religious sites, knees and shoulders must be covered.The order of the sites may change to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches and tourists, closing times of certain sites, or any last minute unforeseen circumstances.The order of the sites may change to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches and tourists, closing times of certain sites, or any last minute unforeseen circumstances.Guided shopping included.Guided shopping included.Due to hot weather conditions and/or long motor coach journey, we recommend that you take a bottle of water or refreshment with you.Due to hot weather conditions and/or long motor coach journey, we recommend that you take a bottle of water or refreshment with you.
Board you coach and drive to the House of Virgin Mary. Situated in a small valley 75 minutes drive from Izmir, the humble chapel lies on the site of the little house where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. Despite the many controversies, the Christian World still favours this belief and the site has been officially sanctioned by the Vatican for pilgrimage. Continue on to Ancient Ephesus, accompanied by your guide walk through the Magnesian Gate which is the entrance to the ancient city of Ephesus. Your guided walking tour will take you through one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. See the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the Library of Celsus and The Great Theatre, the largest one in antiquity with a capacity of 24,000 seats where St. Paul preached. Walk back to the coach along the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. Before returning to the ship, get a cultural taste of Turkey by enjoying an exhibition of oriental carpets or leather goods.
REMARKS
Tour not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties.
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