BRITS wanting a holiday in Turkey are likely to head to the popular beach resorts Antalya and Bodrum. But in Izmir is Urla, a coastal town overlooked despite it's amazing wine and beaches. Izmir, nicknamed the Pearl of the Aegean, was named one of the best places to travel to this year by Lonely Planet.
And British Airways launched new flights to the city this summer , running from from London Heathrow to the Turkish coastal city, as well as Jet2 . And Urla, around half an hour west of Izmir, should be one of the destinations to visit while travelling there. The town coastal town has been dubbed the Tuscany of Turkey due to its food and drink scene.
Read more on Turkey And one local travel writer said it was one of "the hidden gems of the Aegean," thanks to its "upscale cuisine, wine tours, handicrafts, and a tranquil environment near the sea". A number of restaurants are Michelin Guide, including OD Urla serving "creative French" food as well as Med food at Teruar Urla. And there are vineyard tours you can go on to, with the Urla Wine Trail letting you visit nine along the way.
Otherwise head to Sanat Sokagim the art street with cafes and shops selling local souvenirs. Most read in News Travel And of the most popular things to do in Urla is visit the beach, with a number of sandy stretches to choose from. One of the popular ones includes Kum Denizi Plaji, which overlooks the Karantina Island, also known as " quarantine island" .
Created in 1865, it is set to become a museum for tourists to visit. Otherwise head to the marina to go on a boat trip, exploring other nearby islands and wildlife. The region has some unique foodie festivals too.
This includes the Artichoke Festival in April, as well as well as the Traditional Grape Harvest Festival. Flights to Izmir from the UK take less than four hours, with easyJet as well as Jet2 and British Airways flying there. Costing as little as £22 each way, Urla is then around 35 minutes from the airport.
You won't find any chain hotels but there are lots of smaller, locally run B&Bs to choose from instead. READ MORE SUN STORIES In the mean time, here's a brand new hotel that's opened in the Turkish Riviera with it's own waterpark and Irish bar. Or here's a Turkey hotel with a private beach that people say you "never want to leave".
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