Izmir

Izmir combines the rhythm of a modern Aegean city with traces of ancient Smyrna. The Kordon promenade stretches along the sea, lined with cafés, palm trees, and long sunsets. Konak Square is instantly recognizable by its Clock Tower, while the Kemeralti Bazaar mixes spices, workshops, and historic inns in a lively mosaic. Up at Asansör, the view over red-tiled roofs and the blue bay best captures the city’s relaxed atmosphere; among its ancient layers, the Agora of Smyrna and Kadifekale bring the Greco-Roman story within steps of contemporary boulevards.
A short drive away, Ephesus reveals the Library of Celsus and its grand theater, Şirince welcomes you with cobblestone streets and fruit wines, and farther west, the Çeşme Peninsula with Alaçatı offers whitewashed houses, windmills, and crystal-clear beaches. Izmir is also a city of taste: warm boyoz for breakfast, crispy gevrek, the “kumru” sandwich, fresh fish and meze in seaside taverns, plus light Aegean wines. With mild winters, golden summers, and a laid-back lifestyle, the city is ideal for city breaks with day trips to ancient sites and turquoise coves — an elegant base for discovering the Aegean.