izmir Archives - Europe Up Close

Relaxing in Selcuk, Turkey

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By Caitlin Dwyer This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

The Western coast of Turkey provides a mix of history and luxury popular with many travelers. Shimmering waters, beaches, and brash cities like Kusadasi and Izmir draw crowds looking for a resort experience; the ruins of Ephesus and other sites interest archeology fiends. We sought to escape these two extremes, and found ourselves happily wandering the narrow streets of ... Read Full Article

Turkey Tourist Information

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By Jen Westmoreland Bouchard This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Introduction to Turkey The European country of Turkey is located to the northeast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by the Black Sea to the north and the Aegean Sea to the west. Turkey’s surface area is slightly bigger than that of Texas. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community. Over the past decade, it has taken action to strengthen its democracy and ... Read Full Article

Izmir: a Welcome Stop on Turkey’s West Coast

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By Sascha Matuszak This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Coastal paradise on the azure Aegean, or great crossroads of the ancient world? Or both? Modern day Izmir on Turkey's west coast is one of the most popular destinations for northern European vacationers and is also the birthplace of Homer, one of the greatest poets and storytellers of all time. The city was founded by the almost mythical Trojans thousands of years ago and was fought over by ... Read Full Article