The Turkish Aegean is characterized by 2,808 kilometres of coastline and a variety of ancient sites. A history over 2000 years old awaits you here on the Turkish Aegean. Centrally located in this region is Izmir, Turkey's third largest city, which is also known as the "Pearl of the Aegean".
The ancient cities of Ephesus, Troy and Pergamum located here are world-famous. The cities of Marmaris and Bodrum are also located here with their beaches that invite you to relax.
The large city of Izmir, located directly on the coast, with the nearby seaside resorts of Cesme and Kusadasi is well known. The climate on the Turkish Aegean is significantly milder than on the Turkish Riviera. Popular travel months are May to October, and July is recommended for bathers.
Iztuzu Beach in Dalyan: Natural beauty. This jewel in Dalyan in the province of Mugla in the southern Aegean is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Turkey and one of the most beautiful natural beaches in the world: it has already been officially named the most beautiful beach in Turkey.
The Blue Lagoon in Ölüdeniz is considered the place with the most beautiful beaches in Turkey. That's exactly why the seaside resort on the Lycian coast is probably one of the best travel destinations for sun-hungry tourists.
Most of the region's olive oil is produced in Ayvalık and Edremit. There are several sugar factories in Afyon, Kütahya and Uşak, although there is also a sulfur factory in Kütahya.
The city of Denizli is the region's main textile centre and exports most of its products abroad. Carpet weaving is particularly present in Demirci, Gördes, Kula, Simav and Uşak. There are significant deposits of marble in Afyon, so production facilities have been set up on site. Cotton weaving is widespread in Aydın, Denizli, İzmir, Nazilli and Uşak.
Miletus is located (an hour away from Didim) in the city of Soke's Balat village. In ancient times it was on the western coast of Anatolia (currently the province of Aydın), near the Maeander River in ancient Caria.
Akbük is a place with a beautiful bay and surrounded by protected forests and olive groves. Located on the south west coast of the Aegean Region, approximately 19km from the lively resort of Altınkum, 65km from Kuşadası and about 70km from the Bodrum Airport.
Bafa Lake is situated in southwest Turkey, part of it within the boundaries of Milas district of Muğla Province and the northern part within Aydın Province's Soke district, approx. 30 km from Didim.
Euromos, one of the antique cities of Carian lands, located between Lake Bafa and Milas town, is about 12 km away from the town center of Milas.
The small Turkish town of Söke is located on the A 525 between Kuşadası and Milas. Located as both a city and a district in the province of Aydın on the Turkish Aegean coast, the district had a population of 115,490 in 2008.
During our visit at some friends in Didim we had the opportunity to see some places next to the touristic spots of Didim. We heard about an old Greek village with old stone houses, we would like to see.
Our journey takes us along the country road between Selcuk and Söke near Izmir, where the ruins of the old Hellenistic settlement town of Magnesia can be seen from afar.
Priene rises just behind the small town of Güllübahçe on the road from Söke to Milet and is one of the most magnificent and best-preserved cities of ancient Ionia and is one of the most beautiful archaeological sites and sights in the region.
The Apollo temple of Didyma (the Didymaion) is located within the boundaries of the Yenihisar (Didim) district which is in the province of Aydın.
Our tour into the valley of the Phrygians (Frig) in Afyon, the valley extending from Döğer (in İhsaniye district) over Alanyurt until after Seydiler, should also lead us to the famous monuments of the Phrygians, the Lion- and the Serpent stone.
Sirince is a small Aegean village visited by many people because it preserves its historical architecture. It became famous as being the location where the story of the novel called “Farewell Anatolia” takes place. The novel was written by Greek author Dido Satiriou.
The idyllic fishing town of Foca, just 70 kilometres from Izmir, is a popular holiday destination with beautiful and clean sandy beaches, well-kept restaurants, accommodation and several other attractions.
It is possible to find various sandy or rocky beaches all around the town of Kuşadası. Some of them are private beach clubs where you have to pay an entrance fee to use the facilities and some are free public beaches.
The centuries-old tradition of camel fighting in Western Anatolia has its origins in the time when nomadic peoples led their caravans thousands of kilometres across the country on their way from the Orient to the West.
Decades ago, a prehistoric settlement from the Bronze Age was found near the city of Limantepe, now Urla, on the west coast of Turkey, which also had an artificial, ancient harbour.
The ruins of the ancient cities of Klazomenai and Erythrai lie not far from the modern city of Urla, around 30 and 50 kilometers from the gates of Izmir.
We have just received another short interim report by email from Sylvia and Anselm, who set off from Pamucak towards Izmir in their motorhome early in the morning. They had asked for tips on parking and a city tour in Izmir, which we were of course happy to pass on.
We had passed the town of Dikili several times during our tours along the Turkish Aegean, but it was never a good place to stop. Now we were again coming from Ayvalik on the road 550 towards Izmir when we were overcome by a “little hunger”
It took many years and enormous costs until finally in Kadifekale, a district of Izmir, the excavation of one of the most important ancient theatres of Roman origin could begin.
On the way to Çanakkale, we had passed the previously unknown place Menemen several times before already, which seemed neither to be particularly inviting as a modern town along the main road nor showing any special features.