Population: 50,000 Beaches: Yilanciburnu, Ladies Beach, Pamucak Historical Places: Pygela, Yilanciburnu, Magnesia, Priene, Miletos

This is one of Turkey's most popular tourist destinations, much loved for its many beaches, its sun, its cool breezes in the afternoon, its restaurants, its top quality hotels, its marina and its proximity to Ephesus. The town itself has a beach stretching along its main avenue - no long bus rides to the beach which means you can take a dip at any time of the day or top up your tan. The best beach is called "Kadinlar Plaji" (Women's Beach), from the days of segregated beaches. Now of course it is open to both sexes.