One of the most beautiful cities in Turkey was named the best in the world

Izmir, one of Turkey's most beautiful cities in the Aegean region, has been named one of the "Best Cities in 2024" by Lonely Planet, a renowned travel guide series.

Providing invaluable insights into destinations around the world since 1973, Lonely Planet has announced its "Best Travels 2024" rankings, the nineteenth edition of the guide's most recommended travel destinations. The list, compiled by a team of travel experts, is divided into five categories: country, region, city, sustainability, and value. As one of the "best cities" in the guide, Izmir received the award for its ancient cities, stunning beaches, magnificent landscapes, and distinctive cuisine, Mid-east.info reports.

According to Lonely Planet, Izmir's coastal location is a strong advantage. The city also offers a great mix of historical and modern culture, delicious and healthy Aegean cuisine, and a high quality of life.

According to the publication, Izmir's historic bazaar, cultural and artistic sites, vineyard routes, beautiful beaches and ancient ruins are good reasons to visit the region. Lonely Planet also highlights the annual Izmir International Festival, held from June to July, which includes a variety of concerts and dance performances in famous venues such as Smyrna Agora. The guide also recommends tasting local wines in Urla, one of the vineyard routes in Izmir.

There are many more things to do in Izmir. Despite being the third largest city in Turkey, the city has a relaxed atmosphere that contributes to a high quality of life. It is visited by millions of tourists every year because of the ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, according to Lonely Planet, Izmir is "not yet fully discovered". This city is built for life and has almost two kilometers of beautiful coastline stretching to the lively Kemeralti Bazaar.