BALÇOVA CABLE CAR, İZMİR
One of our favourite things is escaping somewhere on the spur of the moment. Sometimes that means a restaurant hidden down a side street; at other times, it is a pocket of paradise like this within the city itself. If you want to see İzmir spread out below you, as in the video, Balçova Cable Car offers one of the city's most memorable viewpoints.
People who are not from İzmir sometimes seem oddly irritated by it, mixing prejudice with jokes about the city being little more than a village. I have never understood why being village-like should be an insult. In recent years, some of the very people who once looked down on İzmir have quietly begun moving here—bringing with them the aggressive pace and expansionist habits that I call the law of the urban jungle. High-rises, office towers, condominiums and supposedly modern housing developments now appear everywhere. Yet one green oasis within the city has largely escaped that march of concrete: Balçova Cable Car and its forested recreation area.
HOW TO GET TO BALÇOVA CABLE CAR
When I was a child, Balçova—especially the area around the cable car— felt like the edge of the city. Today it is much more central, directly opposite İzmir University of Economics and close to several shopping centres. You can reach Üçkuyular Ferry Terminal by ferry and continue by bus or taxi. The bus numbers mentioned in the original article may change, so check the current ESHOT journey planner before travelling. For up-to-date bus routes and connections to ferries, Metro and İZBAN, download the free ESHOT Mobil app for iOS and Android.
|
|
OPENING HOURS, TICKETS AND AUGUST 2026 CLOSURE
Important current update: Balçova Cable Car has been temporarily closed for comprehensive maintenance and renewal work since 21 July 2026, with no reopening date announced as of 24 August 2026. Check the official website before setting out.
When operating under the currently published schedule, the facility is closed on Monday. Published hours are 12:00–20:00 from Tuesday to Thursday, with rides between 12:30 and 19:00, and 12:00–21:00 from Friday to Sunday, with rides between 12:30 and 20:00. Weekends can be extremely busy, while weekday afternoons are generally more comfortable. The summit is a few degrees cooler in winter and spring, and services may be suspended in severe weather. The published fare in August 2026 is TRY 200 per person; children aged five and under travel free. These details may change after the maintenance closure.
When operating under the currently published schedule, the facility is closed on Monday. Published hours are 12:00–20:00 from Tuesday to Thursday, with rides between 12:30 and 19:00, and 12:00–21:00 from Friday to Sunday, with rides between 12:30 and 20:00. Weekends can be extremely busy, while weekday afternoons are generally more comfortable. The summit is a few degrees cooler in winter and spring, and services may be suspended in severe weather. The published fare in August 2026 is TRY 200 per person; children aged five and under travel free. These details may change after the maintenance closure.
CAN YOU BRING FOOD OR BARBECUE EQUIPMENT?
The summit looks across the forests that serve as İzmir's green lungs. To reduce fire risk, visitors were not allowed to bring their own barbecue equipment. Food, drinks and even flasks were also restricted during our visit—although the broader ban felt more commercial than environmental to us. That did not mean barbecuing was impossible. At the summit, the Et Evi sold meat, salad, plates, cutlery and everything else required. Staff supplied a ready-lit barbecue for use in designated areas, allowing visitors to cook without creating the same fire risk. Visitors who did not want a barbecue could choose gözleme, toast, tea, coffee and other simple options. The entire cable-car complex has been temporarily closed since 21 July 2026. Although İzmir Metropolitan Municipality still lists Et Evi as one of the site's facilities, it is currently inaccessible and its post-renovation operating status has not yet been confirmed. Before making plans, verify both the visitor rules and whether Et Evi has resumed service.
|
|
|
|
WHAT DID WE DO?
There was hardly anyone around when we rode the cable car. We sat on the viewing terraces, drank coffee, took photographs and then stopped at one of the cafés for gözleme, a local flatbread filled and cooked on a griddle. Once the cable car reopens, this is a viewpoint worth considering whether you are visiting İzmir or have lived in the city for years.
What we liked about Balçova Cable Car:
What we liked about Balçova Cable Car:
- In just three minutes, the entire atmosphere changes.
- The cabins felt modern, and the municipality appeared to take passenger safety seriously.
- The summit area was spotless, without a single piece of litter.
- The ban on bringing food and drink felt commercially motivated,
- and, as with several other municipal venues, we did not find the on-site prices particularly economical.
If You Have Upcoming Travel Plans...
When you make a purchase by clicking our links, we get to earn a small commission but you still pay the same price. So, it's a win-win for everyone!
Book hotels via Booking.com
|
Find Cheap Flights via Skyscanner
|
Get a Travel Insurance via World Nomads
|
Make International Money Transfer via Wise
|
Book Tours & Attractions via Getyourguide
|
Book a Cruise
|
Book Bus/Ferry/Train/Transfer via 12goAsia
|
Find free accommodation in exchange for petsitting
|