diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e1656cea0..d9149839d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
-
 ### Added
 
 - Top-level `item_assets` dict on `Collection`s ([#1476](https://github.com/stac-utils/pystac/pull/1476))
@@ -14,6 +13,10 @@
 - Correctly detect absolute file path ref on windows, reflecting change in python 3.13 ([#1475](https://github.com/stac-utils/pystac/pull/14750)) (only effects python 3.13)
 - Deprecated `ItemAssetExtension` ([#1476](https://github.com/stac-utils/pystac/pull/1476))
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Use `application/geo+json` for `item` links ([#1495](https://github.com/stac-utils/pystac/pull/1495))
+
 ## [v1.11.0] - 2024-09-26
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/pystac/link.py b/pystac/link.py
index f88061090..2459c7452 100644
--- a/pystac/link.py
+++ b/pystac/link.py
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ def child(cls: type[L], c: Catalog, title: str | None = None) -> L:
     def item(cls: type[L], item: Item, title: str | None = None) -> L:
         """Creates a link to an Item."""
         return cls(
-            pystac.RelType.ITEM, item, title=title, media_type=pystac.MediaType.JSON
+            pystac.RelType.ITEM, item, title=title, media_type=pystac.MediaType.GEOJSON
         )
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/tests/test_link.py b/tests/test_link.py
index c7ecdb6cc..0461a2598 100644
--- a/tests/test_link.py
+++ b/tests/test_link.py
@@ -346,3 +346,9 @@ def test_is_hierarchical(rel: str) -> None:
 )
 def test_is_not_hierarchical(rel: str) -> None:
     assert not Link(rel, "a-target").is_hierarchical()
+
+
+def test_item_link_type(item: Item) -> None:
+    # https://github.com/stac-utils/pystac/issues/1494
+    link = Link.item(item)
+    assert link.media_type == "application/geo+json"