Aegean Coast

İzmir — the third-largest city in Turkey (approx. 4.5 million) — is the gateway to the Aegean and one of the most liberal, vibrant cities in the country. The locals proudly call it "Güzel İzmir" (Beautiful İzmir). Located directly on the Gulf of İzmir, the city combines Ottoman heritage with modern metropolitan flair.

Highlights

• Kordon (Waterfront Promenade): The kilometer-long promenade along the gulf is İzmir's soul — joggers, cyclists, anglers, families, and live music in the evenings. Stroll at sunset with a Çay in hand.
• Kemeraltı Bazaar: One of the oldest and liveliest bazaars in Turkey. Over 3,000 shops in a labyrinth of Ottoman alleys. Less touristy than Istanbul's bazaars — locals shop here. Be sure to try Boyoz (İzmir's typical pastry).
• Agora of Smyrna: In the middle of the city lie the remains of the ancient Agora — an impressive archaeological park with Corinthian columns and Roman arches.
• Kadifekale: The ancient fortress on the hill above the city offers panoramic views over the gulf. Particularly atmospheric at sunset.
• Alsancak District: İzmir's nightlife district with bars, restaurants, and live music in renovated old townhouses. The "Beyoğlu of İzmir".

Ephesus is the best-preserved ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean and one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world. Once the capital of the Roman province of Asia with over 250,000 inhabitants, Ephesus was one of the richest and most important cities of antiquity.

The walk through the marble streets is a journey through 3,000 years of history: You walk on the same stones as Cleopatra, Mark Antony, and the Apostle Paul once did. The dimensions are overwhelming.

Highlights

• Celsus Library: The two-story facade (117 AD) is the landmark of Ephesus and one of the most photographed motifs in Turkey. It once housed 12,000 scrolls — the third-largest library of antiquity.
• Great Theater: 25,000 seats, carved directly into the hillside. Here, the Apostle Paul preached, and the sound of a hand clap on stage can still be heard in the top row. The acoustics are perfect.
• Terrace House 2 (Houses on the Slopes): The "Villas of the Rich" with preserved mosaics, wall paintings, and underfloor heating show how the upper class lived 2,000 years ago. Separate admission, but absolutely worthwhile!
• Curetes Street: The marble-paved grand street from the library to the theater — lined with columns, statues, and mosaics.
• Temple of Hadrian: Finely crafted temple with Medusa relief on the pediment (138 AD).
• Latriens: The public toilets of the Romans — 48 marble seats side by side, without partitions. Business and business were conducted simultaneously here.

The nearby Temple of Artemis — once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — is unfortunately only a single column in the middle of a swamp. Disappointing as a standalone visit, but remarkable in context.

Bodrum — the ancient Halicarnassus — is the most glamorous coastal town on the Turkish Aegean. Once the site of the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Bodrum is now a magnet for the Turkish upper class, international jet-set vacationers, and sailors from around the world.

The Bodrum Peninsula offers something for everyone: The old town with white cube houses, bougainvillea, and the imposing Crusader castle; chic beach clubs on the south coast (Türkbükü, Gölköy); quiet fishing villages like Gümüşlük and Güvercinlik; and the party scene in Bodrum city itself.

Highlights

• Bodrum Castle (Castle of St. Peter): The impressive Crusader castle (1402–1522) houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology with one of the best-preserved shipwrecks of antiquity. Panoramic view over the harbor.
• Mausoleum of Halicarnassus: Only the foundation of the wonder of the world remains — but the tomb of King Mausolus (353 BC) at least gave the word "mausoleum" its name.
• Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi): Bodrum's legendary nightlife mile — clubs, bars, live music until the early hours. In summer, the nightlife pulses here until 4–5 am.
• Gümüşlük: Picturesque fishing village 25 km west of Bodrum. Fish restaurants with tables in the water, sunken ruins of the ancient city of Myndos, and sunsets to die for.
• Türkbükü: The "Saint-Tropez of Turkey" on the north coast of the peninsula — luxury hotels, beach clubs, mega-yachts. Expensive, but unmatched for seeing and being seen.
• Windmills: Between Bodrum city and Gümbet stand the iconic white windmills on the hill — perfect photo opportunity, especially at sunset.

The peninsula of Çeşme — 80 km west of İzmir — is the summer retreat spot of the Istanbul elite and one of the most exciting travel destinations on the Turkish Aegean. Unlike the international Bodrum, Çeşme is more Turkish — here you meet the creative, cosmopolitan middle class of the country.

Çeşme Town

Pretty port town with a Genoese fortress (14th century), lively marina, and good restaurants at the harbor. Ferries to Chios (Greece, 30 min) depart from here.

Alaçatı

Alaçatı is the star of the region — a former Greek village with stone houses, bougainvillea-draped alleys, and an exploding gastro scene. The village has become Turkey's windsurfing mecca and a gourmet hotspot without losing its charm. The main street is lined with boutique hotels, designer shops, wine bars, and restaurants at star level.

• Windsurf & Kitesurf: The bay of Alaçatı is one of the best windsurfing spots in Europe — constant Meltemi wind from May to October. Surf schools and board rentals directly on the beach.
• Ilıca Beach: The most popular beach in the region — fine sand, shallow water, natural thermal springs on the beach(!). Warm underwater springs bubble directly into the sea.
• Delikli Koy: Rocky bay with crystal-clear water — insider tip for snorkelers.
• Wineries: The Urla/Çeşme peninsula has developed into an emerging wine region. Urlice Vineyard and Usca Winery offer tastings with sea views.
• Saturday Market Alaçatı: The weekly market is a feast for the senses — local cheeses, herbs, olives, handmade pasta, and street food.

The ancient city of Pergamon — perched on a 335 m high acropolis above the modern city of Bergama — was one of the most important cultural centers of the Hellenistic world. Its library rivaled Alexandria, and the Pergamon Altar (now in Berlin) is considered one of the masterpieces of ancient art.

Acropolis (Upper City)

• Theater: The steepest theater of the ancient world — 10,000 seats, carved into the hillside, with breathtaking views over the plain to the sea.
• Trajaneum: The reconstructed temple on the mountain top — the photo motif of Pergamon. Corinthian columns against a blue sky.
• Library: Once 200,000 scrolls — the second largest of antiquity. Allegedly, parchment was invented here (when Egypt stopped the export of papyrus).
• Altar Foundation: The base of the famous Pergamon Altar — the original is in the Pergamon Museum Berlin.

A cable car (Teleferik) conveniently takes you to the acropolis (round trip approx. 100 ₺).

Asklepieion (Healing Center)

2 km below the Acropolis lies the ancient Asklepieion — one of the most famous healing centers of antiquity. The legendary physician Galen practiced here. Therapies included mud baths, dream interpretation, theater visits, and cures at the sacred spring. An ancient healing tunnel (80 m) and a small theater (3,500 seats) are well preserved.

The travertine terraces of Pamukkale (Turkish: "Cotton Castle") are one of Turkey's most spectacular natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. Over millennia, the calcium-rich thermal springs have formed snow-white terraces, in whose turquoise pools you can bathe — against the backdrop of the Anatolian plain.

Directly on the terraces lies the ancient city of Hierapolis — founded in 190 BC, a flourishing spa town of the Romans with a theater (12,000 seats), monumental necropolis (over 1,200 graves — the largest burial site of antiquity), and temples. The combination of nature and archaeology is unique worldwide.

Highlights

• Travertine Terraces: Walk barefoot over the warm, white basins and splash in the mineral-rich water (35°C). Shoes must be removed at the entrance to protect the travertine.
• Cleopatra Pool (Ancient Pool): In this thermal pool, you swim between sunken ancient marble columns at 36°C water temperature. Legend says Cleopatra bathed here. Separate admission (130 ₺), but unique.
• Theater of Hierapolis: Well-preserved, 12,000 seats, richly decorated stage wall with mythological reliefs. One of the best-preserved theaters in Turkey.
• Necropolis: The "City of the Dead" stretches over 2 km on the mountainside — sarcophagi, tomb houses, and tumuli in impressive density.

Kuşadası (Bird Island) is the main cruise port of the Turkish Aegean and the starting point for visits to Ephesus. The city itself is touristy and lively — leather jacket shops and carpet sellers dominate the pedestrian zone.

Nevertheless, Kuşadası has its charm: The old town around the Kale district is more authentic, the Ladies Beach south of the center offers fine sand and turquoise water, and the offshore Pigeon Island (Güvercinada) with its Genoese castle is a pretty walk.

Dilek Peninsula National Park: 30 km south lies one of the most beautiful nature reserves of the Aegean — crystal-clear bays (İcmeler Plajı is the most beautiful beach), dense pine forests, and wild horses. Be sure to plan half a day.

Troy — the setting of Homer's Iliad, the Trojan War, and the legendary Trojan Horse — is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Expectations are often greater than reality: What you see are the superimposed layers of nine settlements over 4,000 years — without dramatic buildings like in Ephesus.

The most fascinating aspect of Troy is the story of its discovery itself: Heinrich Schliemann, the German merchant, who began excavating the hill of Hisarlık in 1870 and proved Homer's Troy. His "Treasure of Priam" (now in Moscow) made him world-famous. The new Troy Museum (opened in 2018) at the foot of the hill is excellent and provides the context that the ruins themselves do not offer.

The wooden Trojan Horse at the entrance is a replica for tourists — kitschy but a must-photo.