Three days can introduce İzmir; five days begins to reveal the province; a week lets the journey breathe. The right answer depends less on the number of attractions than on whether you want archaeology, coast, food, neighbourhood life or all four.
Three days: a focused introduction
Use the first day for central İzmir: Konak, Kemeraltı, the Agora, waterfront and Alsancak. On the second day choose Ephesus and Selçuk, allowing enough time for the museum or Basilica of St John rather than racing through every nearby site. Keep the third day flexible: Urla for food and landscape, or a ferry-led exploration of Karşıyaka and the bay.
Five days: city plus two landscapes
With five days, retain the central day and Ephesus, then add the Çeşme Peninsula or Urla without forcing both into one hurried loop. A fourth day can focus on museums, neighbourhoods and food. Use the fifth for Bergama if archaeology is a priority, or for beaches and villages if the season and weather are suitable.
Seven days: a balanced İzmir province journey
A week allows two nights outside the centre. Consider staying in Selçuk for an early Ephesus visit, in Alaçatı or Çeşme for the coast, or around Urla for vineyard and dining experiences. Bergama also deserves more than a rushed return journey if the Acropolis, Asklepion and local town life all interest you.
Do not plan by map distance alone
Urban traffic, parking, archaeological terrain and summer heat all affect pace. A place that appears close may need a meaningful visit, not just transport time. Build days around one geographical direction and one major theme.
Leave one unscheduled half-day
Weather, museum closures and personal energy rarely follow a spreadsheet. An open half-day protects the trip from small disruptions and creates room to return to a neighbourhood, market or restaurant that you genuinely liked.