Highlights of Istanbul, Izmir & Antalya

About the destination: Istanbul's historical significance and its incredible cultural and architectural legacy can be attributed to its ideal strategic location, spanning the Bosphorus straits that divide Europe and Asia Minor. Throughout most of its 2,500-year history, the city (initially known as Byzantium, then Constantinople, and since 1930, Istanbul) has been a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of over 13 million is predominantly Turkish, with many of its residents being recent migrants from rural Turkey, drawn by the prospect of employment and career opportunities in this dynamic, rapidly expanding city. Although Istanbul is no longer the capital of the country, it remains Turkey's economic and cultural hub - a status emphasized by its designation as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the UNESCO World Heritage recognition of many of its key landmarks. These range from breathtaking Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs, to the pillars of Hellenistic temples and the remnants of enormous medieval city walls. However, Istanbul offers more than just Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A rapidly growing economy has led to a thriving arts and music scene, with an abundance of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants, and designer fashion stores.

About the destination: İzmir is a city located at the westernmost point of Anatolia and is the third most populous city in Turkey, following Istanbul and Ankara. The metropolitan area of İzmir stretches along the peripheral waters of the Gulf of İzmir and inland to the north across the delta of the Gediz River, to the east along an alluvial plain formed by several small streams, and to a slightly more rugged terrain in the south. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Beaches. Izmir boasts numerous beaches that are conveniently located not far from the city center. • Konak Square • Asansör • Beaches. • Alsancak. • Karsiyaka • Kadifekale • Teleferik