Kadifekale

Kadifekale, meaning 'the velvet castle' in Turkish, is a hilltop fortress in İzmir that offers sweeping views of the city and the Gulf of İzmir. Built in the 3rd century BC on Mount Pagos at 186 meters elevation, it stands about 2 km from the shoreline and provides a commanding panorama of the surrounding area.

Don't miss

• Panoramic views of İzmir and the Gulf of İzmir from the hilltop
• Medieval castle walls that replaced earlier Hellenic fortifications
• Ruins of Roman-era cisterns, later renovated by Byzantines and Ottomans, which once supplied the city's drinking water
• The nearby site of the ancient Stadium of Smyrna, now built over, where St. Polycarp was martyred
• Traces of the ancient theatre of Smyrna visible east of the castle gates

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Kadifekale

Cheapest way inBudget - Friendly Ephesus Tour from Izmir4.9★ · 88 travelers6-10 hoursFree cancellationFrom$41 per personSee dates →Best full dayEphesus Tour From Izmir4.9★ · 1,107 travelers6-10 hoursFree cancellationFrom$109 per personSee dates →Private & flexiblePrivate Izmir to Ephesus Full-Day Customizable Tour5★ · 37 travelers7-8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$298 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The castle is located on Mount Pagos, about 2 km from the shoreline, and involves an uphill walk.
• Look for fragments of Hellenic masonry under the medieval walls, though their authenticity is debated.

A bit of history

The castle was originally constructed by Lysimachos, a successor of Alexander the Great, as part of the re-foundation of Smyrna on Mount Pagos. According to a legend recorded by Pausanias, Alexander was instructed in a dream by the goddesses Nemeseis to move the city to this hill. The present walls date from the medieval period, and the site became a Tentative World Heritage Site in 2020 as part of 'The Historical Port City of Izmir.'