About Izmir
Located on the west coast of Turkey by the Aegean Sea, Izmir belongs to the broader region of Southeast Europe, and is one of the major port cities in the Mediterranean. Izmir province stretches over an area of 12.000 km2 and comprises 30 districts, 11 of which are situated in the metropolitan area.
Historically, the port has been at the core of Izmir’s identity and the city has long been a hub of dense networks of maritime connections. The port has long facilitated cultural exchanges and served as a nexus where people from different parts of the Mediterranean and Asia met, mixed and inspired each other. Thanks to its favourable geographical location, climate, water resources and fertile lands, the 8500-year-old city has been the home of many civilizations and cultures.
Homer, the author of the legendary Iliad and Odyssey, whose works have had an enormous effect on Western culture, was born and lived in Izmir. The city was one of the prominent cities of the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire. In the modern era, during the 17th century, Izmir became an important port attracting notable overseas trade owing to the Silk Road. Venetian, Dutch, English and French merchants settled in Izmir, opening export factories and consulates. In the course of the eighteenth century, Izmir became the leading Mediterranean port.
Alongside its cultural diversity, the city is notable for its biodiversity. Coupled with terrestrial biological diversity, Izmir embraces rich wetlands. 10% of the world’s flamingo population lives in Izmir’s largest wetland, the Gediz Delta. This precious cultural knowledge protects and helps manage lands, water and other natural resources. Traditional Izmir’s rural communities preserve crucial ecological knowledge. Izmir is the heir to ancient indigenous production landscapes where local agricultural practices protect rare biological diversity.
There are many ancient settlements within the boundaries of present day Izmir such as Smyrna, Klazomenai, Ephesus and Pergamon. Pergamon and its multi-layered cultural landscape, and Ephesus are catalogued in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2014 and 2015 respectively. The Historic Port City of Izmir, Historic Town of Birgi; Foça, Çandarlı and Çeşme Castles are currently on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
About the Meeting Venue
Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital
Ege University Faculty of Medicine was established in accordance with the Law No. 6595 on the establishment of a University in Izmir with the name “Ege University“ and is one of the first two faculties of Ege University.
Its vision is to be a leading health institution that can present scientific and technological developments to the patients and employees without wasting time, by adapting to national and international quality processes, accompanied by high-level scientific studies and medical education practices, as a human-oriented and patient-friendly hospital.
CONNECTIVITY
To and From the Airport
Passengers can get on a shuttle at the exit of the domestic/international terminals arrivals floor.
Fees at Havaş shuttle vary according to the destination. You can view the routes and timetables here https://www.havas.net/en/bus-services
Bus services (Route nos. 200, 202, 206 and 204) from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport are provided by General Directorate of ESHOT of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. Public transport is available for 24/7 in Izmir. IZMIRIM card can be bought and loaded from the following booths. The buses stop right in front of the airport office. You simply have to follow the signs for “Transport”, then step outside once you reach the main airport office. Havas buses are large, like coaches, whereas the Eshot public buses are much smaller and have no storage underneath.
In Izmir, taxi fees are calculated by adding a set amount per km onto the starting fee.
You can easily spot local taxis outside of Izmir Airport at both the Domestic and International Terminals. They will be in a long line to the side of the arrivals hall exit doors and clearly marked by signs.
Taking the Izban train from Izmir Airport to the city center is around the same duration and cost as taking the bus – around 50 minutes.
Trains from the airport run mostly in the afternoon for Basmane, which is the train station in the city center.
The train station is next to the International Terminal and is connected by a covered walkway. To get to the train station, you should follow the signs from the exit gate of the terminal to “Subway-Izban” and then take the elevator.
How to get to the Meeting Venue
From the city center, you can take Metro Line M1 from Basmane Gar and exit at the Bornova Metro Station. The venue is just a five-minute walk from there, with the total journey taking around 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can drive to the venue, which takes approximately 30 minutes.
If you’re coming from the airport, you have two options: take a bus to the city center and then transfer to Metro Line M1, or take Bus 204 directly and get off at Ege University.