IZMIR

“The beautiful İzmir” immerses you in a world of picturesque modernity and traditions, with touches that will refresh your soul. İzmir hypnotizes visitors in an aura of history and modernity.

İzmir, the ancient Smyrna, is located at a point where the Anatolian peninsula extends towards the Aegean Sea.

İzmir is one of the oldest cities with continuous settlement for 8500 years. Yeşilova and the nearby mounds of Yassı Tepe are the oldest Neolithic settlements where idols and symbols of the Mother Goddess have been found. One of the founding legends of İzmir claims that the city was founded by the legendary Amazon queen Smyrna. The city dates back to the third millennium BC (in Tepekule, now Bayraklı) and was one of the most advanced civilizations of its time, along with ancient Troy in western Anatolia.

The ancient historian Herodotus wrote: “They built their city under the highest dome of heaven and in the best climate in the world.” Aristotle told his student Alexander the Great: “You are not complete unless you have seen it,” and Victor Hugo describes the city as: “İzmir is a princess adorning a necklace.”

Known throughout Turkey as “Beautiful İzmir,” the city is surrounded by a large bay adorned with yachts, boats, and ferries. As the terminus of the ancient “King’s Road” that runs through Anatolia to the Persian Gulf, İzmir remains a focal point for tourism and entertainment. Its streets are shaded by palm trees, the sidewalks are beautiful, and the houses are very elegant. The city’s coastline is known for its seafood restaurants along the shore, as well as its cafes, restaurants serving Aegean cuisine, and other leisure facilities. Meanwhile, the interior is rich in ruins and monuments that tell the stories of countless ancient civilizations.

İzmir is the sound of the sea and the wind. Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, İzmir is mostly sunny throughout the year. Summers are hot and winters are mild. With its cities and historical sites such as Bergama, Çeşme, Foça, Kemalpaşa, Selçuk, Seferihisar, Karaburun, Tire, and Urla, İzmir plays a very important role in the history not only of western Turkey but also of the entire Aegean region. With a total coastline of 629 kilometers, İzmir also offers a life in touch with the sea. In İzmir, you can enjoy the sea by walking on Kordon or taking a ferry from Alsancak to Karşıyaka, or you can also explore the bluest waters on the 49 blue flag beaches. This makes the city a very popular destination for beaches, where you can find all shades of blue and enjoy all kinds of water sports.

TAKE A WALK ON THE KARŞIYAKA COAST

This is the best place in İzmir to watch the sunset. There’s almost always a nice cool breeze, so in the summer it’s really pleasant, and the whole district feels like a resort. There are many palaces and mansions around Karşıyaka, and an evening here is the most relaxing and enjoyable way to end the day in İzmir.