1B/ Izmir surroundings. The smart move.
My personal preference: live near the major city, not in it. Cascais to Lisbon. Here's the Izmir version.
Urla, ~40 min west. Vineyards (the Urla Wine Route is real), strong food scene, growing creative and expat community. Coastal villages within reach. The closest Cascais-equivalent on this list.
Foça, ~1h north. Ancient Phocaea, historic harbor town, fishing-village rhythm. More traditional than Urla.
Seferihisar, ~45 min south. Turkey's first Cittaslow (slow city) member. Includes the cobblestone harbor village of Sığacık.
(Çeşme and Alaçatı handled separately at pick 4.)
All within an hour of Izmir's airport, schools, and healthcare. Small-town life with big-city access.
