-Total Population 4.3 Million -Less Traffic than Istanbul
“ Izmir h as the s ame f ac ilitie s as Istanbul , i t i s also m uc h m or e c omfor table ”
Why is Izmir Better than Istanbul ?
We can say that Izmir offers almost everything Istanbul does but it is much more relaxed , liveable , affordable and pleasant . Istanbul is a hard city to live in . It is a great place to visit but an exhausting rat race to try to survive on a daily basis . Izmir , in contrast , is much more humane . It is a smaller city with a much smaller population and the spirit is quite liberal and tolerant by Turkish standards . People are friendly and many of the social and political schisms that plague Istanbul are largely absent here .
On weekends , it is easy to go to beautiful beaches or other beautiful outdoor places without dreading the return trip the way you would in Istanbul . Everything just feels much more accessible . In Istanbul , it can be difficult to go anywhere because of the hassles involved with traffic and crowds . You will not feel that burden in Izmir at all . Istanbul is not a great place to live if you have kids . Izmir is way , way better for families and anyone who values peace of mind . We would strongly recommend it over the insanity of Istanbul .