Alaşehir
Discover Alaşehir
Alaşehir is a city in the Central Aegean region of Turkey. It's agricultural, stands about 100 km east of Izmir and the coast, and in 2022 had a population of 104,717. The city was founded in 189 BC by Eumenes II of Pergamon. His successor was his brother Attalus II Philadelphos, and the town was called Philadelphia, which means "brotherly love". It's on higher ground above the Gediz River and has always been agricultural - sultanas are its best known product. Around 90 AD it hosted one of the "Seven Churches of Asia" addressed by St John of Patmos (Revelation 3:7–13), the only one spared his biliousness, but praised for its enduring faith. As part of the Byzantine Empire, the city held out against the Ottomans - they called it "the many-coloured city", hence ala şehir - until 1390. It had a large Greek population until the war of 1919-22, when much of it was destroyed by fire, so Alaşehir lacks old buildings and is humdrum 20th century architecture with few sights.
What to Experience in Alaşehir
Taste of Alaşehir...
As of Dec 2023, Alaşehir and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsBuses from Istanbul take 8 hr 30 min via Gebze, Bursa, Balıkesir, Akhisar and Salihli (for Sardis), for a fare in 2023 of 600 TL. From Izmir takes 3 hours via Turgutlu. Look for a dolmuş or local bus, the inter-city lines don't serve this route. 38.357528.53821 Alaşehir Şehirlerarası Otobüs Terminali the intercity bus terminal is new but bleak, just off D585 two km northeast of town. The dolmuş to get downtown may be included in your ticket, check when buying. 38.351928.52222 Otogar is the old bus station in city centre. A dolmuş will bring you here. Konya Mavi runs overnight, from Konya at 19:00 via Akşehir, Afyonkarahisar and Uşak to reach Alaşehir at 04:30. It continues via Manisa to reach Izmir Basmane by 08:00. The return train departs Izmir at 20:00 and Alaşehir at 23:30 to arrive in Konya at 09:00. Konya has YHT high speed trains from Ankara and Istanbul. A regional train leaves Alaşehir at 05:30 and runs via Sardis and Manisa to reach Izmir Basmane at 09:00....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The city sprawls, but the central area is small enough to navigate on foot. As of Dec 2023, Alaşehir and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.
Where to Stay
As of Dec 2023, Alaşehir and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.
Money & Budget
As of Dec 2023, Alaşehir and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.