But for people who call Izmir home, the greatest part of living in the city is not its historical and contemporary importance – it is rather the city’s seductive combination of livability and urban dynamism. The sun in Izmir shines for 300 days a year, allowing for countless activities. The local Aegean-inflected cuisine is a particular delight. Unlike other cities on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, Izmir is a vibrant economic hub. It is one of Turkey’s major ports and has a highly developed sea, air, land and rail transport system. It is also, possible to reach a global population of 1.5 billion within a three-hour flight from Izmir. From Istanbul, which is just an hour’s flight from Izmir, hundreds more destinations can be reached.