İnciraltı Kent Ormanı

İnciraltı City Forest is a large green space in the Bahçelerarası neighbourhood of Balçova, on the southern shore of the Gulf of İzmir, where trees and sea stand side by side. Until 1999 the stretch of coast known as Yenikale Point, where the forest was planted, was used as a dumping ground for construction rubble. From rubble dump to forest The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality treated the coastal area of about 2 million square metres between Üçkuyular Pier and Yenikale Point as a single project and afforested 622 thousand square metres of it. Planting began at the end of 2004 and was completed in June 2006. Municipal sources stress that the area is about three and a half times the size of Kültürpark. The salty ground made afforestation difficult, so the choice of species and their care required long effort. In the first stage 20,659 trees were planted, mainly Canadian poplar, willow, mulberry, acacia, oleaster, maple, catalpa, palm, sweetgum, plane, Judas tree, pine, cypress, linden and magnolia. Alongside the trees, more than 16 thousand shrubs and ground cover plants such as oleander, abelia, sea buckthorn, lavender, bay laurel, jasmine, tamarisk and firethorn were planted. Walking today along the inner paths between rows of poplars and cypresses, it is hard to imagine that this place was once a heap of rubble. What is in the forest Çakalburnu Lagoon lies to the west of the forest, and many bird species, from flamingos to herons, feed in this wetland. Kültür Portalı notes that the wetland where birds shelter and lay their eggs has been protected with a wire fence. The area has resting corners built with natural stone, rock and timber, small bridges, and walking and cycling paths. The cycling and walking path that starts at Yenikale follows the shore into the forest, and the stone paved fishermen's shelter on the coast has been preserved. Since 2017 the İzmir Youth Festival has been held in the forest every year during the week of 19 May. Next to the forest there is a car park, a district bus terminal and a caravan park. The caravan and boat car park opened at the İnciraltı Terminal serves on a subscription basis as the first car park where the municipality allows people to stay in their caravans. Renovation and new rules In the summer of 2026 the municipality began a comprehensive renovation of the forest, aiming to make the area cleaner and safer while preserving its natural character. As part of this, barbecues were banned in the parts used for many years as picnic grounds, and inspections by municipal police were increased. Entry to the area is no longer allowed after midnight, so plan your evening walk accordingly. Worn earth picnic grounds are being paved with interlocking blocks, and gazebos, fountains and children's play equipment are being renewed. The programme also includes new benches, seating areas and toilets, along with new tree and plant species for the area. The municipality has also announced that the botanical EXPO planned for 2027 will be held in this city forest, so further changes may appear in the area in the coming period. How to explore The most comfortable way to explore the forest is by bicycle, because the coastal path reaches it without interruption from the direction of Konak. If you come on foot, wander first on the lawns facing the sea and then along the inner paths among the trees. When you move towards the lagoon, lower your voice and stay outside the protective fence, as the birds are sensitive to human movement. In spring the fruit trees blossom, and municipal news reports describe spring as the most popular season in the forest. In winter the crowds thin out and the season for watching migratory water birds in the lagoon begins. In summer the shaded areas fill up, so do not forget to bring water and a hat. Getting there and the surroundings To come by public transport you can use the Balçova stations of the M1 metro line between Fahrettin Altay and Narlıdere, or the Üçkuyular ferry pier. Walking or cycling along the shore from Fahrettin Altay to the forest adds a view of the gulf to the journey. Bus lines from Konak towards İnciraltı also stop near the forest; check current route information on the operator's website. Çakalburnu Lagoon and the İzmir Museum Ships lie to the west of the forest, and the slopes of Balçova and the cable car lie to the south. For this reason the forest can be a destination on its own as well as the start of a longer day on the coast. Since visiting rules may change during the renovation, check current information in the announcements of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality.