If you’re looking for a laid-back coastal Turkish city, you can’t beat Izmir. Known as Istanbul’s liberal Aegean cousin, Izmir has a rich history and a distinct cultural identity. As the country’s third largest center, Izmir has all the draw of a major urban center while offering an easy escape to the sea. The traces of its former populations, including Greeks and Jews, are still visible, while its 20th-century identity as a secular bastion stays strong. Izmir is a city where you can spend the day wandering the shaded streets and swimming in the nearby sea, and spend the nights enjoying meyhane culture, with tables full of meze accompanied with raki, the local anise liquor.