Izmir

Izmir is the third biggest city in Turkey and the biggest one at the Aegean Region. It has about 4 Million population. Izmir is an important touristic, industrial and cultural place. Izmir is known as Smyrna in the history. Probably it got its name from an Amazon Queen named Smyrna. The origin of this name is Anatolia. It is known that Ionians called Izmir, Smurna. Smyrna was an Aeolic city.

The city was established on the Bayrakli Peninsula. At the end of the 4th Century BC Kadifekale (Pagos) became the new center of Smyrna. The famous author Homer is from Izmir who is the most probably the writer of Iliad. Izmir was always an important harbor city in the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljukian and Ottoman Periods. There are three rivers near Izmir; Gediz, Meander and Bakircay.

The annual International Fair of Izmir is famous and attracting many people from different countries for 85 years. The ancient side in Bayrakli, the Castele of Kadifekale, The Agora in the old city, many museums in Izmir, the old bazaar of Kemeralti and modern malls are attracting many tourists. The cruise port of Izmir is visited by many cruise lines. The international Airport (Adnan Menderes) is just about 20 minutes’ drive from the city center. There are many flights every day from Istanbul to Izmir which takes only 45 minutes.

Izmir is also just 1 hour far from the ancient side of Ephesus. Ephesus is one the most important ancient sides in the world. Also the House of the Virgin Mary, Sirince Village, Ruins of Artemis Temple and the Basilica of St. John are near by the ancient side of Ephesus.

We as a local travel agency organize flights, airport transfers, hotel bookings and daily tours in Izmir. We organize tours from Istanbul to Izmir, also Private Ephesus Tours, Pamukkale Tours, Pergamon Tours and Seven Churches Tours from Izmir.