|
Turkey's Aegean
coast (maps)
is beautiful, historic and
agriculturally rich. Here are the
highlights of both the coast and the
interior, in alphabetical order:
Afyon
The
center of Turkey's legal opium
trade, a dramatic hilltop fortress
stands at the center of Afyon. At
its feet are some historic buildings and
lots of pastry shops serving
the region's renowned clotted
cream. More...
Alaçati
This charming small town west of Izmir near
Çesme is yet
unspoiled, visited by local vacationers in the know,
but nearly unknown to foreign visitors except for passionate windsurfers. More...
Aphrodisias
The city
of Aphrodite, Roman
goddess
of Love,
is among Turkey's most interesting ancient
ruins. Detour to it on your way between
Pamukkale and Ephesus.
More...
Assos (Behramkale)
Charming seaside hamlet facing lesvos
in the shadow of a hilltop Temple
to Athena—perfect for a getaway. More...
Aydin
Ancient Tralleis,
chief city of the Meander River valley,
it has little to see today, but you
may have to change buses here. More...
Ayvalik
This North
Aegean seacoast resort town
is popular with Turkish vacationers. More...
Bergama
(Pergamum)
Famous
for its ancient library and
medical center, an attractive
farming town with lots to see. More...
Bodrum
Picturesque
resort on two small bays divided
by a crusader castle, a favorite yachting port
noted for its exuberant nightlife (map). More...
Çanakkale
On
the Dardanelles,
your base for visits to Troy and
the Gallipoli battlefields. More...
Çesme
The peninsula extending westward from Izmir into
the Aegean is a traditional summer vacation land for
Izmirlis, but in recent years it has begun to attract
visitors from around the world. More...
Denizli
This modern city near Pamukkale has
all the transport
connections (air,
bus, rail) for the warm mineral springs
resort. More...
Ephesus (Selçuk)
The best-preserved classical city on
the Mediterranean, a must-see (map).
The town of Selçuk makes
a good base for exploring lots of other
ancient cities, as well as hill towns
and beaches. More...
Eskisehir
Though
mainly a center of transport and
industry, this is where most of the
world's meerschaum—and pipes—comes
from. More...
Euromos
A
Greek temple perfect as a Hollywood
set, right on the road between Ephesus, Milas and Bodrum. More...
Foça
Ancient Phocaea is
now a nice resort town—actually,
two resort towns, with swimming, windsurfing,
restauranting and other pleasures.
More...
Gallipoli
Momentous
battles during World War I, and poignant
monument-strewn battlefields today. More...
Izmir
Turkey's third
largest city is mostly modern,
with good hotels, great seaside restaurants,
an interesting bazaar,
a few museums and archeological
remains (map). More...
Kusadasi
Bustling seaside
resort and cruise ship port near
Ephesus (map). More...
Kütahya
Known
for its beautiful colored
glazed tiles and pottery,
this city also has several fine old
buildings and, on its outskirts,
a well-preserved
Roman temple at Aizanoi. More...
Milas
A
carpet-weaving center with a scale
model (in marble) of the grandest
tomb of ancient times: the Mausoleum (map). More...
Pamukkale
Hot
calcium-laden mineral waters ripple
over a cliff to form cascades of gleaming
white stone at this spa inland
near Denizli.
You can even swim in the water! Stop
at Roman Aphrodisias, City
of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love,
on the way to Pamukkale from Ephesus. More...
Phrygia
North
of Afyon among
the low hills at Aslankaya and Midas
Sehri are remains of King
Midas's ancient kingdom,
2700 years old. More...
Sardis
An
easy ride east of Izmir are
these impressive ruins, with a fine
Roman gymnasium and synagogue,
and Byzantine churches. More...
Troy
(Truva)
Once
thought to exist only in legend,
the walls of Troy have
been excavated and restored—and
made into a movie. More...
|
