Izmir is a metropolitan city located alongside the Gulf of Izmir by the Aegean Sea. With a population of about 3m inhabitants, it’s the third largest city in Turkey after Istanbul and Ankara.
Izmir’s urban history goes back more than 3,000 years, and in classical antiquity the city was known as Smyrna – the original Greek name that remained in use in English and various other languages until the 1930s.
In addition to its beautiful beaches, the city has numerous historical sites, such as the well-preserved Agora of Smyrna, the 25-meter-high marble Clock Tower in the harbor, and one of İzmir’s true landmarks – the ancient castle located at the top of the hills of Kadifekale.
The cuisine in İzmir has to a large extent been affected by its multicultural history, resulting in you finding a large variety of food originating from the Aegean and Mediterranean regions.
Izmir’s climate is like many other destinations in the region – it has prolonged, hot, dry summers, and mild to cool, rainy winters.
When flying to Izmir, you will arrive at Izmir Adnan Menderes airport, located 18 km southwest of the city center.