Cheap flights to Izmir from

Izmir is famous for its rich history mixed with a cosmopolitanism that makes it a great city break. Built under the name Smyrna during the reign of Alexander the Great, it's rumoured to be the birthplace of the Greek poet Homer. Izmir then passed to the Ottoman Empire before it became an international port city in the 16th century.

Today, the Pearl of the Aegean is a thriving urban hub where antique and modern join to create a unique atmosphere worth exploring. Enjoy its sunny climate and sea breezes while touring historic landmarks like the Konak Clock Tower, the ancient ruins of Ephesus, and Kemeralti Bazaar.

The city of Izmir itself doesn't have beaches aside from a lovely promenade facing the waters of the Aegean. However, there are a few great spots you can visit in the surrounding Izmir province. Since this urban hub is the capital of this area, these beaches are all just a short ride away.

A couple of hours from the city, you'll find Altinkum Beach, the place to go if you want to lounge on deep golden sands and wade in turquoise-blue waters. If you're coming from the ruins of Ephesus, Pamucak Beach will be a mere 10 minutes away. Surrounded by lush gardens, this rugged beach is an especially attractive and accessible spot to try. For a more secluded retreat, try Yoncakoy Beach. It's located an hour away from the city of Izmir and is one of the region's untouched beaches, perfect for quiet afternoons where you can fully commune with nature.

Yes. It's considered the third-largest city in Turkey, housing more than three million people, the majority of the four million people who live in the province of Izmir.

Technically, it doesn't. Instead, you'll find that Izmir's most historic attractions are mixed in with the newer elements of the city. Just take a peek at Izmir's Konak district! At its core lies Konak Square, which has been the bustling centre of Izmir since the early 1800s. Here, you'll find the clock tower gifted by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1901, government buildings like the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which opened in 1868, and the Konak Mosque, which was first constructed in the late 1700s.

Yet modern Konak is also a major economic and educational district. More than 80% of the land here is used for commercial purposes, boasting office skyscrapers like Heris Tower as well as the administrative buildings and oldest campuses of many of the city's universities. These features thrive side-by-side with even more of Izmir's historical sites, like the open-air Greek ruins of Smyrna.