Peninsula Weekends
Urla: vineyards and the Art Street
A wine route, slow lunches and a lane of artists' studios, under an hour from the city.
Why do it?
Urla is the peninsula's slow-living capital: a string of boutique wineries along the local vineyard route reviving Aegean grapes, a celebrated farm-to-table food scene, and in the old town the Sanat SokaΔΔ± β the Art Street β a restored lane of painters' and ceramicists' studios that's lovely to drift down. It's the day trip that shows you Izmir's hinterland is as much of a reason to live here as the city itself.
The Smileys Take
Do it unhurried: Art Street and the old town in the morning, a long lunch, one or two winery tastings in the afternoon β booked ahead, since the good rooms fill on weekends. Sort out a designated driver or a driver for the day before anyone pours anything; the wineries are spread out and this is not a walkable route. One of our favorite small-group Smileys days.
Explore nearby
Do it with people
The Smileys community does things like this every week β organized events, spontaneous hangouts, and visitors looking for company.
Tips from Smileys
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There's always more Izmir.