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Plan your wonderful tour in Izmir

Izmir is a vibrant city on the Aegean coast of Turkey, known for its history as an ancient center of trade and culture. The city is also famous for having the third largest bay in the Mediterranean after Marseille and Piraeus. Izmir has been inhabited for thousands of years and was founded by Greek colonists from Phocaea as a major trading port on the Aegean Sea with its two harbors at Kadifekale (Chrysopolis) and Karsiyaka (Paralia). 

The city's historic center features many examples of Ottoman architecture with ornate fountains, mosques, hamams (bathhouses), bezestens (covered markets), medreses (Islamic schools) and palaces from the various ruling periods including Seljuk Turks in 1222 AD, Ottomans 1402-1923 AD, and modern day Turkey since 1923 AD. 

Izmir is home to three universities founded under Ottoman rule including Ege University which was founded in 1919 as a teacher training school at Izmir High School building during World War I then developed into Ege Teachers' College offering undergraduate programs during World War II before becoming a full university after 1950s when it opened new departments such as engineering science, natural sciences etc. 

Due to its coastal location near European countries such as France & Italy plus proximity to Greece & Bulgaria this city attracts lots of tourists especially Europeans who come here during summer months but if you're planning your trip don't forget about other seasons too because weather can be cold/rainy during winter months but not freezing like northern European countries.

It has a rich cultural heritage with its roots in antiquity. The city was once known as Smyrna by the Greeks and Romans, who had colonies there for many centuries before it became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1423.

The third largest city in Turkey and one of its most important ports since ancient times has also been called "Beautiful City" (Izmir) in Persian by Persians who settled here during their invasion under Darius I during 522-486 BC; this appellation was later adopted by Europeans who visited Izmir after its conquest by Ottoman Turks in 1426 CE.

Getting to Izmir

Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey, located on the western coast of Anatolia. The city was founded around 2,500 years ago and became an important port during ancient times. Today, it is a popular tourist destination that offers many attractions for visitors to explore. Izmir is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Turkey. It's a port city on the Aegean coast and a major transportation hub, so getting there shouldn't be difficult at all. You can fly into Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport from many cities around the world, including Istanbul (Istanbul Ataturk International Airport), Ankara (Esenboga International Airport) and London (Heathrow).

There are also several bus routes that go directly from Istanbul or Ankara to Izmir via Denizli and Afyonkarahisar; these buses depart every day at various times throughout the day. If you'd like to travel by train instead of flying or taking a bus, there are direct trains from Istanbul Sirkeci Station as well as other cities like Ankara Esenboge Station that run once per day between them.

Getting around Izmir

Once you arrive at your destination point within Izmir city limits--which may be either Adnan Menderes Airport or one of its bus terminals--you'll want some way get yourself around town!

Luckily there are multiple ways available: 

  • taxis are ubiquitous but expensive; 
  • buses run regularly between different parts of town but sometimes take longer than expected due to traffic jams; 
  • trains run frequently but cost more money than buses do (though still less than taxis).

Museums in Izmir

Izmir is one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey, and it's also a great place to visit if you're interested in history or art. When planning your trip, be sure to check out these museums:

  • Museum of Izmir - This museum is located inside an old Ottoman palace on the shoreline of the city. It holds artifacts from all over Turkey, including pottery and coins from ancient times. You can also see clothes that people wore back then!

Culture and history in Izmir

Izmir is one of the oldest cities in Turkey and has a long and rich history that dates back to the Bronze Age. It was once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, which was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Anatolia.

  • Izmir's history can be traced back to 3000 BC when it was first settled by people from Crete and Greece; 
  • it became part of Ancient Greek city states like Miletus, Ephesus and Smyrna before being conquered by Alexander The Great around 334 BC. After Alexander passed away his generals fought over control over what we now know as Turkey; 
  • Izmir became part of Ptolemaic Egypt until 190 BC when Antiochus III took control over Anatolia during his campaign against Rome (including Greece). He then built up trade routes between Asia Minor ports including Ephesus.

Sightseeing in Izmir

There are many places to visit in Izmir, such as:

  • Izmir Archaeological Museum
  • Izmir Ethnography Museum
  • Izmir Naval Museum
  • Izmir City Museum, which is located in a former Greek school building and houses artifacts from the city's history from ancient times to today. It also has exhibits relating to science, technology, trade and industry as well as fine arts. The museum library contains over 7,000 volumes on local history.
  • The State Theater and Opera House hosts performances by both Turkish and international artists throughout the year.

Boat tours in Izmir

Boat tours are a great way to see the city, especially if you want to visit the islands or other nearby cities. There are many different companies that offer boat tours; some leave from the port, while others can be booked through travel agencies. If you're staying in Izmir, it's easy enough to walk down there and find one that suits your needs. If not--and if your budget allows for it--you might want to consider booking a private tour with one of these companies:

There are also boat tours available from other ports in Turkey such as Bodrum or Marmaris (which both have ferry connections).

Nature and adventure in Izmir

Izmir is surrounded by mountains and the sea, so you can enjoy nature while exploring the city. There are many hiking trails in Izmir. You can also swim in the sea at places like Gulpinar Beach or Karaburun Peninsula.

Enjoy your trip to Izmir! It's a beautiful city with lots of history, culture, nature and adventure. We hope you have a great time exploring all these things and more!