The Aegean coast of Türkiye is the coast of happiness for travellers in the know with its 2,800km-long (1,740-mile-long) stretch of turquoise coves, pine-crested hills, olive and citrus groves, sleepy mountain villages with secluded hotels and villas, and sun-kissed coastal towns attracting a hip crowd with pulsating beach clubs and sumptuous resorts. Here, one can experience a very distinctive way of life replete with the provincial style encapsulated by some of Türkiye’s most representative country houses, al fresco spaces, garden settings and seaside restaurants as well as the more active aquatic culture well represented by the local surfing and yachting communities galore.
Some of the most enigmatic stories about glorious civilisations have taken place in the region. For centuries, the arts, philosophy and medicine have flourished here in these pioneering cities of antiquity, dating back as far as 8,000 BC. The region is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Ephesus, Pergamum, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale and Hierapolis, Troy and Sardes).
Some of the most wondrous monuments of human history were erected on this soil, including two of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum and the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. With a good balance of luxury and serene natural landscapes, and its charm, the coast of happiness will surely tick all the boxes with the myriad of unmatched experiences it can provide, whatever your travel personality may be.
ÇEŞME PENINSULA: WHERE FUN MEETS LEISURE
İzmir is the third largest city in Türkiye, also a favourite holiday destination for local travellers with its proximity to the pristine beach towns and resorts scattered about the Çeşme Peninsula. After reserving one or two nights in İzmir’s centre to explore the historic bazaar and the vibrant street culture, head to the destination of your choice in Çeşme’s environs.
If you are a fan of lovely country living and fine wines, the Urla Wine Route is a feast for your senses with its stunning sights and sounds. Here, you will find an enticing selection of boutique vineyards and chef-owned farm-to-table restaurants where you could sit in citrus and olive groves and enjoy local flavours. Alaçatı will satisfy windsurfing enthusiasts and night owls alike with its steady winds and beauty and accompanying bars and restaurants. In and around the fashionable Alaçatı, you can stay in bougainvillea-clad stone houses with colourful shutters and jasmine-scented courtyards and head to the beach to surf the waves and feel the fresh sea breeze in your salty hair.
The Çeşme Peninsula is also famous for its funky beach clubs catering to all tastes where you can chill on a private stretch of sand and dance the day away to steady beats, all with a refreshing summer cocktail in hand.
Not to miss: The UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Pergamon (Bergama) and Ephesus (Selçuk) are both an hour’s drive from İzmir’s centre for those wishing to see all the beauty and opulence once bestowed by the past civilisations of the region. While you are in Selçuk, you might consider going inland for a day trip to the picturesque towns of Birgi and Şirince, which United Nations Tourism has selected as one of the Best Tourism Villages due to its unspoiled traditional architecture, silk production and weaving.
A mere 20km (12 miles) southwest of Selçuk lies the port of Kuşadası, an old city with a well-preserved 14th- to 16th-century castle that is also a main hub of luxury cruise lines. Kuşadası can be your base to explore the cities of Miletus and Priene, both of which flourished in the delta of the Büyük Menderes (Meander) River and became the birthplace of philosophy based on natural observation. Miletus is known as the city of Anatolian philosophers like Thales, while Priene is notable as the city that applied the first example of a “grid system” in city planning.
BODRUM: THE ART OF COASTAL LIVING
Thanks to its whitewashed villas with sun-bleached terraces, posh resorts and marinas, MICHELIN-starred restaurants, balmy Aegean climate and thriving cultural calendar, Bodrum is the ideal year-round vacation destination. The Bodrum Peninsula has cast an enchanting smile across the faces of visitors since it staked its claim as Türkiye’s own slice of heaven on Earth more than half a century ago. The Blue Voyage, an experience uniquely intertwined with Bodrum, offers an unparalleled journey to secluded bays and hidden islands aboard a gulet. This wooden, double-masted sailing yacht, known for its distinctive design, has become emblematic of the Bodrum region.
Apart from a magnificent seascape, the peninsula features several coastal towns and villages, each with its own distinct charms. Göltürkbükü and Yalıkavak attract a cosmopolitan clientele with their luxury beach clubs and fine dining restaurants, glitzy luxury hotels at the forefront of contemporary design and gleaming marinas berthing the mega-yachts of billionaires.
Gümüşlük emits bohemian vibes from its jazz bars and fish restaurants located right on the beach. Bodrum’s centre, on the other hand, is ideal for shopping therapy at its historic bazaar swarming with artisanal boutiques selling high-quality linen beachwear as well as authentic handmade leather sandals and jewellery. The long coastal promenade in the centre also allows you to wave the day goodbye with a sundowner at a seaside bar while enjoying the luminous waters of the bay and Bodrum Castle’s iconic silhouette as the backdrop.
Not to miss: Visit Bodrum Castle to see one of the oldest shipwrecks ever found and a rich collection of ancient finds at the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Catch a live performance at the Bodrum Ballet Festival or the ancient theater or see Türkiye’s most elegant sailing yachts and gulets compete at the annual Bodrum Cup each October.