Historic elevator in Izmir, Turkey

A ride up and down the historic elevator

Where? When? How much does it cost?

The address of the elevator is Turgut Reis, Șht. Nihatbey Cd. 76/A, 35000 Konak/İzmir. It operates daily from 6 - 24. As a public elevator, it is free of charge. It can be reached by the T2 tram, which runs along the Aegean Sea to Karataș station. From the station follow the signs. The distance to the elevator is 500 meters. As you approach it, you will recognize the vertical brick silhouette of the elevator tower.

About the historic elevator

The object I am talking about is an elevator tower with two elevators. It is meant to ease the connection between Mithatpașa (Caddesi) Street and Nihat Bey (Caddesi) Street. There is a 50-meter difference in level between them, and for those who want to walk, there are 155 steps to go up or down. The elevator was built in 1907 by Jewish businessman Nesim Levi. The elevator tower has three floors. The elevator has had different owners over the years. Between 1942 and 1960 it belonged to the businessman Sherif Remzi Reyent, who introduced the fig tree to the world. In 1960 the elevator was closed. After the businessman's death, his granddaughter Ayla Ökmen donated it to the municipality. Today it is one of Izmir's main attractions.

1. To the elevator

From the Karataș tram station, we carefully cross Mustafa Kemal Sahil Avenue at the traffic lights, very wide and busy, parallel to the Aegean shore. Continue perpendicular on 133rd Street, as directed by a signpost, and then turn left onto Mihat Pasha Street. We pass at the bottom The Stairs of Peace, colorful, and on the Dario Moreno entrance we turn left again. The entrance is marked by a statue of the French guitarist Enrico Macias. The road winds through a few cafes to the base of the elevator tower.

Steps of Peace

The historic elevator

Bust of Enrico Macias

among the cafes

2. Taking the elevator

There are many tourists curious to see the historic elevator. In the waiting area we read the first information about the elevator. The elevator car door opens. We get in. And in the elevator car there is information and a map. On an intermediate floor where the elevator has not stopped there are windows through which you can see the sea. Here we are! Down we go.

elevator bottom station

elevator door

map of ancient Smyrna

3. Balcony and panorama

Around the top station is a narrow balcony where tourists crowd to take pictures. Two binoculars are mounted here. The panorama is superb. You can see the Bay of Izmir, the lower part of Izmir from the base of the tower, as well as a wide panorama to the left and right. It's wow!

elevator tower balcony

view from the balcony

Aegean Sea

Gulf of Izmir

binoculars

4. Higher and higher

Nearby I saw other colorful stairs. They are the steps of 308th street, which we climbed up, to get even higher. I admired down the gangway that we climbed up and then descended back to the elevator.

elevator station as seen from the stairs

308 street stairs

above the stairs

5. Going down and coming back

Before going down we enjoyed the view from the balcony one more time, especially as it was still free of tourists. In the elevator we read the history of the elevator, and on the way back we turned our heads several times after the fascinating century-old building.