Explore Turkey: Izmir

"Located in the west of Turkey and on the Aegean shores, İzmir, the pearl of the Aegean, is the third largest city in Turkey. With its 8.500 year history, fertile land, favorable climate, 629 km coastline, 300 sunny days a year, a sea that offers every shade of blue and the heritage left behind by the 32 civilizations it has been a home to, İzmir is ready for you to discover.

İzmir owes its position as an economically and socially dynamic city to its location, climate and the fact that it has been a home to many different cultures and religions. Persians, Ancient Greeks, Assyrians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans are just a few of the dozens of different civilizations that the city has hosted throughout its long history."

A handy travel guide for Izmir.