Izmir

About Izmir

A metropolitan city in the western part of Anatolia, on the Aegean coast, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the most popular tourists’ destinations in the country.
The İzmir metropolitan area extends along the Gulf of İzmir further to the north and south and it include 30 districts, several ancient cities such as Ephesus and Pergamon, and numerous tourists’ resorts such as Kuşadası, Çeşme, Dikili, Pamucak and more. The city origins are dated to 2,000 years BC with Neolithic settlements as early as 6,500 BC.

There are numerous archeological sites to explored all over the city, such as the Agora, the Greek-Roman market place in the city’s centre, the Ottoman Kemeralti Carsisi, Izmir’s vibrant bazaar district, the Kadifekale, the velvet castle, and the 3^rd century BC hilltop castle offering great scenery of the city and the Gulf.

Visit the large Izmir Archaeology Museum, home to many artifacts and remains from the Bronze Age and the Greek and Roman periods, and some of the numerous 16^th-18^th centuries interesting mosques, churches and synagogues scattered throughout the city districts.

Start your visit in the city in the Konak Square home to Izmir clock tower, the beautifully decorated Yalı Mosque, and the entrance to Kemeralti Carsisi, Izmir’s vibrant bazaar district and Turkey’s largest open-air market. In the market district you would enjoy great oriental atmosphere, smells and sounds, historical inns, marble fountains, historical mosques, a covered market and numerous shops and restaurants.

Stroll by the seaside, from Cumhuriyet Square and the Gazi Statue north to Kordon, or south on the coast promenade, to the Pasaport Pier and the Konak Pier, and window shop in the modern and chic shopping centers.
Once on the beach, exploit the water sports activities opportunities, sailing, fishing, scuba diving, and surfing, and take a leisure boat tour of the surrounding Aegean coastline and islands.

Families with children will enjoy many attractions the city has to offer including Aquaparks, a Bird Sancuary, an open air zoo, amusement parks, the Karşıyaka Universal Children’s Museum, and more.

While having a vacation in one of the beaches or resorts in the Gulf of Izmir Thetjoy.com recommends enjoyable one day tours to the nearby ancient cities including;