The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Turkey:
Aegean Coast
Travelers come here in droves to enjoy the sun and swim in the clear blue Aegean, but many are shocked to find out how overdeveloped and sleazy the resorts are, especially south of Izmir, the region's main hub. Many get their first taste of Turkey here, especially in Kusadasi, an incredibly overtouristed port town where many ferries and cruise ships from Greece unload their droves. But despite the crowds, the ugly hotels, and the tacky restaurants that seem to go hand in hand with resort towns, the south offers great beaches within a short distance of the Greek islands of Sa;mos, Pátmos, and Ródos, as well as some of the country's most famous archaeological sites, including Ephesus and Aphrodisias. The northern Aegean, where the beaches are rocky and chillier than in the south, is less developed. After high season (JulyAug.), many towns here actually become pleasant, as the package tourists flee and the residents return to a life of fishing and agriculture.
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