Turkey's Aegean Coast

Turkey's Aegean Coast Travel Guide

This is the heart of what was once known by the ancient Greeks as Asia Minor, an area that's been drawing visitors since the time of, well, Homer. Izmir, a busy port town that is Turkey's third-largest city, is a good gateway for exploring the area, with regular flights to and from Istanbul and some European destinations. Near Izmir is the Çesme peninsula, home to some lovely sandy beaches and the cobblestoned town of Alaçati. The area's heavyweight attraction, though, is the Roman city of Ephesus, with its well-preserved amphitheater and library.

In this region are also the less-visited, though still impressive, ruins of the ancient cities of Didyma, Miletus, and Hierapolis. For a taste of up-to-date Turkey, head to Bodrum, which is getting the reputation of being the St. Tropez of Turkey; the beaches here are not the prettiest and overdevelopment threatens, but with its profusion of seaside restaurants and swank cafés and nightclubs, visitors can get strong doses of sun and (mostly sophisticated) fun.