Izmir Travel Forum

Iam planning to travel to Turkey and cannot decide between Izmir and Antalya.
I am looking for a nice beach vacation, where I can enjoy the beach, food, drinks, and local attractions. In Izmir, and would be staying at hotel Erythrai. Pictures look nice, but I am not sure about the beaches. Are the nice anc clean given that it is a bif port and a big city? Is it possible to swim? What kind of weather should I expect during the last week of may?
All feedback would be highly appreciated :-)

Hi there,

I am not very familiar with Izmir but I have been to Antalya a lot of times. It is really beautiful and the weather is hot. Izmir is the 3rd biggest city in Turkey, it is not a beach resort. Although there are resorts and nice beaches around, for example you can go to Efes, it is beautiful and historical. If you stay in the city you can go on trips to the beaches around. (Why not Bodrum? or the little beach towns around Bodrum?)
Antalya is a little bit smaller and there are a lot of nice beaches near, you need to take a bus or a minibus to go to those places. Fethiye, Kemer, Alanya, Kas are some of the places I would definitely recommend. They are around 1 to 2 hours drive from Antalya.
Both in Izmir and Antalya the weather is beautiful and warm in May, then it gets really hot. They are both close to some of the most beautiful and clean beaches in the Mediterranean. I would recommend finding a beach town near those cities instead of staying in the city. Some of my favorite places: Kas, Fethiye, Kalkan, Bodrum, Alanya.

Enjoy your stay!
irma

If you are planning your holiday in May better go to Antalya. June, July better in Izmir -Antalya will be crouded then. Erythrai is a small rapidly developing village, beaches are good for wind surfing, usually southwinds blow I would sggest Cesme for staying, its only 15 minutes driving from Erythrai.

goldenlight
PS: hope you enjoy your holiday.

Izmir and around is pretty windy,lots of windsurfing around.Antalya less wind and warmer especially in May.Check VT pages for stuff to do in Antalya,lots of good places.

Your hotel is not in Izmir. It is 90 Km away from Izmir.The place is called Cesme. The hotle is in a old village called ildir. I, personly dont like Çesme. It is very windy.The sea is cold. There are no good beaches. But millions of Turks like Cesme because it is windy and not so hot. The best beaches are in Antalya and Alanya. The warm sea and hot summer days.Since you are from a cold country I advice you to go to Alanya and Antalya. Vist my cesme page.

Sorry ı missed you are also from a warm hot place.

There are many big hotels in antalya. But if you choose a beach resort you cant enjoy local attractions because its far away from the beaches. I live in İzmir. Çeşme beaches are the most beautiful beaches in Turkey but the local attractions does not start until 15 th of june. eritrai is a historical place in çeşme which we love to visit also in winter. look at the map. Çeşme is an island with 9 beaches. Visit also ilica, sifne, altınkum, aya yorgi, alaçatı beaches and the village alacati you will enjoy it.