Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey, and a good place for your family vacation. The city is located on the western edge of Turkey, along the coast of the Aegean Sea, and is Turkey's second largest port. Izmir has lots of things to do, and its rich historical background make it a great place to bring kids if your goal is to provide some meaningful recreation. Nothing will bring history alive like seeing the places where something happened. Izmir is also full of great shopping, places to eat and some beautiful weather along the rich coastline of the Aegean Sea.

Educational

Izmir is built on the remains of the ancient Greek city of Smyrna, and as such its history goes back almost 5000 years. Ruins in the area include Roman aqueducts, the ancient city of Ephesus, and a number of historic marketplaces, temples, and other buildings. These remains are in varying states--some in reasonable shape and some with just a few pillars or pieces of wall standing. To fill in the blanks, Izmir has some great museums. Worth stopping by are the Archaeological Museum, the Ethnographical Museum, the Railroad Museum, the Museum of Arts and Sculpture, and the Museum of History and Art.

Fun in the Sun

No family vacation should be all ancient ruins and museums, and that's where the beautiful Mediterranean climate and scenery of Izmir come in to play. The waterfront of Izmir itself is a great place to wander around, exploring the various shops and eating at the cafes. If you want to get out of the city, the nearby town of Cesme offers some great beachfront, along with world-class windsurfing opportunities for the more adventurous.

Shopping

No vacation is complete unless you can come home with assorted trinkets, gifts and souvenirs--and Izmir definitely delivers here. The first place to stop is the Kemeralti Market. The Kemeralti Market is very old, and you will find modern stores and businesses next to small stands hawking traditional Turkish handicrafts. There are also a number of quality cafes in the Kemeralti, and it is a great place to sit and soak up the atmosphere of Turkey. If you want something more modern, head over to the Konak Pier Mall for some great shopping that features regional and European brands and stores.