Central Aegean is the central section of the Aegean coast of Turkey, including Izmir, the third biggest Turkish city, and its vicinity.

38°24′36″N 27°52′12″E

Map of Central Aegean

• 38.4127327.138381 Izmir — Turkey's 3rd largest city, undeniably capital of Aegean Region, with beautiful neighbourhoods and promenades on its waterfront
• 38.3528.5166672 Alaşehir — a bleak agricultural town, although the ruins of the St John's Church attest that this was a major centre of early Christianity when it was known as Philadelphia
• 38.92405327.840193 Akhisar — a lovely atmospheric city that contains the ruins of Thyatira.
• 38.25459428.0654484 Birgi — medieval Turkey at its best, overlooking the Küçükmenderes Valley
• 38.32526.775 Urla, itself agricultural, is the hub for small resorts on the peninsula west of Izmir.
• 38.28138926.3741676 Alaçatı on the peninsula is a village with well preserved stone architecture, ancient windmills, and a cove for windsurfing.
• 38.322326.29797 Çeşme at the tip of that peninsula is a resort with an impressive citadel.
• 38.66878926.7529198 Foça — town north of Izmir noted for its preserved architecture and the nearby islands that are one of the last refugees of endangered monk seals
• 38.54583328.6494449 Kula — an inland town with much traditional architecture and a volcanic area, the only UNESCO Global Geopark in the country
• 37.8632427.26687310 Kuşadası — resort town south of Izmir, with a harbour that almost any cruise ship on a Mediterranean tour calls
• 38.61194427.42638911 Manisa — inland city east of Izmir, a possible for visiting Sardis, the Lydian capital, as well as the beautiful Mt. Sipylus nearby
• 37.9469927.3734912 Selçuk — town serving as a gateway to Ephesus, which is also a historic center in its own right.
• 38.0895727.731913 Tire — inland town with a well-known street market
• 38.68333329.414 Uşak — a city with a museum exhibiting what is purpoted to be the treasure of Croesus and several ancient sites in the surrounding countryside

• 37.66892827.1617561 Dilek Peninsula is a rare stretch of undeveloped coastline.
• Ephesus just west of Selçuk is a must-see, the extensive and well-preserved ruins of a Roman city.
• 37.94138927.4330562 Şirince is a charming village in the hills above Selçuk, a Turkish Tuscany.
• 38.48833328.0402783 Sardis is a ruined city, the capital of Roman Lydia.

Central Aegean encompasses what were historically called Ionia on the coast, and Lydia inland.

• Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport ADB ^IATA is located south of Izmir and serves flights from around Turkey and western Europe.
• Buses are available to Izmir from most, if not all, cities in Turkey.
• Ferries connect Çeşme and Kusadasi with the Greek islands of Chios and Samos, respectively. Also, Izmir has a weekly ferry service from Istanbul during summer.
• Trains leave Bandırma (on the coast of Marmara), Denizli (in the Southern Aegean), and Ankara (in Central Anatolia) for Izmir.
• See Istanbul to Izmir for various approaches into the region from the north.

• Efeler Yolu is a 500-km hiking trail developed from Izmir to Selçuk, leading over the inland mountain ridges and commemorating the efes, the local noble outlaws of the centuries past.
• Skydive at Efes airfield next to Ephesus. The usual jump for a beginner is a tandem freefall coupled to an instructor, so minimum training, fitness and skill are needed.

• Northern Aegean to the north
• Southern Aegean to the south
• East Aegean Islands to the west
• Central Anatolia to the east