Two days in Urla with a campervan or a tent
A two-day plan for seeing Urla by campervan or tent: the old bazaar, İskele and Klazomenai, the beaches at Zeytineli and Çeşmealtı, where to camp and how to get there from the airport.
Teknovan Editorial Team ·
For years Urla has been the first stop for anyone trying to get out of İzmir, and with good reason. The town, the vineyards, the olive groves and the coast all fit into one small area about 40 minutes west of the city. Come by campervan and your daily drives stay short. Come with a tent and everything you need is within half an hour.
In this post we split Urla into two days: day one for the town and its history, day two for the sea. The vineyard route gets a post of its own, because it deserves a full day.
How do you get to Urla?
If you're flying in: Havaş runs an airport bus from İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Urla. It takes the İzmir-Çeşme motorway and stops at Urla's district bus station (Urla İlçe Otogarı). Times and fares change, so check Havaş's own channels before you travel. If you're picking up a campervan at the airport, the route is the same: get on the motorway and head west towards Çeşme.
If you're driving: from central İzmir the easiest road is again the İzmir-Çeşme motorway. Even long towed caravans have no trouble on it. The parts that need care are the town itself and the roads down to the coves (more on that below).
Day one: the bazaar, Sanat Sokağı and İskele
Morning: Malgaca Pazarı and Sanat Sokağı
A good place to start the day in central Urla is Malgaca Pazarı. Despite the name, it isn't the weekly street market but a historic bazaar: katmer pastry shops, old coffee houses and stalls selling local produce, all in one place. Right next to it is Sanat Sokağı (Art Street), lined with craft workshops, some of which run short sessions for visitors.
Don't try to drive a campervan into the bazaar. The streets in the centre are narrow and parking is scarce at weekends. Leave the vehicle outside the centre and walk. It's quicker and far less stressful.
If you're in Urla on a Friday, you're in luck: that's when the town's street market sets up. It's the cheapest way to stock the camp kitchen with vegetables, olives and cheese.
Afternoon: İskele and Klazomenai
It takes a few minutes to get from the centre down to İskele. The İskele neighbourhood holds the remains of the ancient city of Klazomenai. The most talked-about part is an olive oil workshop dating from the 6th century BC. According to archaeologists, it is the earliest known olive oil workshop in Anatolia producing on a large scale. It has been restored on site and can be visited.
We couldn't find an up-to-date official source for opening hours and entry conditions. Check with the İzmir pages of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism or with Urla Municipality before you go.
Towards evening the İskele waterfront fills up with fish restaurants. If money is tight, a walk along the shore to watch the sunset costs nothing, and you can buy fish from a fisherman to cook at camp the next day.
A short detour for the evening: Özbek
If you have time, call in at Özbek, one of Urla's villages. It's an old Greek village known for stone houses left behind after the population exchange of the 1920s, cobbled lanes and stone bridges over the stream. The lanes are narrow, so don't take a campervan into the village. Park at the entrance and walk.
Day two: Zeytineli, Çeşmealtı and the coves
Urla's sea has two personalities. The north side faces the bay and is more sheltered. Heading south and west the coves open up and the wind picks up.
| Place | What to expect | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zeytineli Beach | A free public beach | Easy for families, full at weekends |
| Çeşmealtı | Urla's most touristy stretch of coast, fish restaurants | Mavi Plaj has paid and free sections |
| İçmeler | An area known for its thermal springs | Close to Çeşmealtı |
| Demircili Koyu | One of the most praised coves around İzmir | Narrow road, take care with a large campervan |
| Kokar Koyu | A quieter, less built-up cove | Little shade, bring an umbrella |
Some of the roads down to the coves are narrow and twisty. If your vehicle is longer than 7 metres, think about leaving it at the campsite and going down in a small car or by bike. On the climb back up, keep an eye on the coolant and the brakes.
Wind is a fact of daily life in Urla. If you've put the awning out, roll it in for the evening, and drive your tent pegs in firmly.
Where to stay in Urla
Camping without permission on the coast or in the woods around Urla will get you into trouble. The easiest option is a campsite or a campervan park.
- NovaUrla Karavan Park ve Çadır Kamp: in Kuşçular, on Altınköy Caddesi. Takes campervans and tents. Kuşçular is also where the vineyard route is, so it's easy to combine the two.
- Yanako Karavan Çiftliği: also in Kuşçular, a smaller campervan park with a farm feel.
Teknoköy, which is being built in a pine forest in Urla, also plans to offer campervan and tiny house pitches in future.
For other options in the area, see our guide to campsites around İzmir or the teknovan.com.tr campsite list.
When to go
- April-May: artichoke season. The Urla Artichoke Festival is usually held at the end of April (in 2025 it ran from 25 to 27 April). The sea is still cold but the town is lively.
- June: the sea warms up and the crowds haven't peaked yet. A well-balanced month for camping.
- July-August: hot, busy and windy. Don't turn up at a campsite without a booking.
- September-October: grape harvest. The sea is still mild and the evenings are cool. This is our favourite time.
- Winter: quiet and rainy. Pick a campervan park with electric hook-up.
Quick notes for campervan drivers
- Don't drive the campervan around the town centre. A small car, a bike or a taxi is more practical there.
- Do your supermarket shopping on the main road on the way back to camp. Shops in the villages are limited.
- Ask the campsite in advance where the fresh water and waste water points are.
- Pitches with electricity fill up fast in summer. Book your dates early.
Small ways to protect your budget
- Time your shopping for the Friday market and buy the week's camp kitchen supplies there.
- Instead of sitting down at a restaurant in İskele, buy fish from a fisherman and cook it at camp. It often comes to half the price.
- There are free beaches. Zeytineli and the free part of Mavi Plaj are good places to start.
- We go into what to eat and buy in Urla in detail in Eating well on a camping budget in the Aegean.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go campervan camping in Urla? Yes. There are campervan parks and tent campsites around Kuşçular. Electricity, water and waste water facilities vary by site, so ask when you book.
Can you get from İzmir Airport to Urla by public transport? Havaş runs a service to Urla that stops at Urla bus station. Check the times before you set off.
Are there free beaches in Urla? Zeytineli Beach is public and free. Mavi Plaj in Çeşmealtı also has a free section.
How many days do you need in Urla? Two days is a good start for the town and the coves. If you want to add the vineyard route, set aside a third day. Details are in Five vineyard stops on the Urla Vineyard Route.
Sources
- Yeni Asır: autumn in İzmir, the vineyard route and a sea-scented itinerary (2026)
- Ege University open access: the 6th century BC olive oil workshop at Klazomenai
- Küre Ansiklopedi: Klazomenai archaeological site
- Karar: Özbek, Urla's century-old Greek village
- enuygun: Urla beaches
- Pegasus blog: İzmir's street markets
- NTV: Urla Artichoke Festival dates
- e-yaşam rehberi: getting to and from İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport
Image credits
Photos illustrate the region; they are not photos of the campsites themselves.
- Urla: Yağmur Aydın, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Urla: Yağmur Aydın, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
