OVERVIEW

Whet your appetite by browsing a fish market with the bounty of the sea on ice and then settle in at a restaurant for a traditional seafood lunch. As an introduction to the area, you will be treated to a panoramic drive through Izmir, a densely populated city that dates back more than 5,000 years. Even so, Izmir is decidedly modern, much more than the town of Güzelbahçe, which lies a bit farther down the Gulf of Izmir. While meandering through its main fish market, you will see an array of seafood such as octopus, squid, mackerel and mullet, all caught in the Aegean Sea. Sardines are also plentiful and perhaps even more iconic, especially when grilled. Although the menu at the waterfront restaurant changes with the season, you will likely dine on mezes such as crispy calamari and succulent mussels and sea bass or sea bream as the main course.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a spectacularly scenic and enlightening drive through downtown Izmir.
• Browse a fish market in seaside Güzelbahçe, where the day’s catch will be on display.
• Dine on fresh seafood caught in the Aegean at a waterfront restaurant in Güzelbahçe.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.