The First Kordon — Birinci Kordon — is the waterfront boulevard running through Alsancak, lined with palm trees, café terraces, and the continuous spectacle of the gulf. It is the northern extension of the Kordon promenade and has a somewhat more upmarket character than the southern section, with more formal restaurants and wine bars alongside the usual tea houses.
The stretch between the Pasaport pier and the Alsancak ferry terminal is particularly lively. At weekends the entire length is closed to traffic and given over to cyclists, rollerbladers, and pedestrians — making it one of the better urban cycling routes in Turkey.