With the beach town of Kusadasi growing in popularity and Izmirs multi-million pound restoration, Turkeys Aegean Coast is making its mark on the tourist map. But arguably the biggest crowd-puller lies just beyond the coast. Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Roman cities on earth. All temples, theatres and gladiator graveyards, it rivalled Rome in its glory days. And it sits right on Kusadasis doorstep, which means world famous sights come with a side-order of sand. Now a bubbling holiday hub, Kusadasis barely recognisable from the miniscule fishing village of yesteryear. These days it’s well-stocked with souvenir shops, bars and restaurants. But it hasn’t lost touch with its traditional Side. Narrow streets lined with Turkey’s trademark sugar-cube houses lead you to the Grand Bazaar. A department store with a difference, this is where Saudi souk meets all-American mall. Crammed with over a thousand stores, all stacked high with jewellery and carpets, it’s like stepping into another world. Further along the coast, the port city of Izmir is well worth a visit. The past segues into the present here. Unlike ancient Ephesus, this place is more of a modern fairytale. Having been burnt to the ground at the end of the War of Independence almost a century ago, it’s reinvented itself as quite the cosmopolitan city. And with its sweeping harbour, waterside park and pier built by Gustave Eiffel – the man responsible for Paris’ iconic tower – it’s easy to see how it earned the title ‘Güzelyali’, Beautiful Waterfront. Whichever part of the Aegean Coast you’re heading for, prepare for a domino effect of contrasts. This is where East meets West, where old shakes hands with new, and where the laid-back mingle with the lively – all beneath a hot, hot sun.