5 days · Aegean
Ancient cities of the Aegean
The great ancient cities of the Aegean, from Pergamon to Ephesus, Priene and Miletus to Aphrodisias and Pamukkale.
- Day 1
Pergamon
🍽️ What to eat: Boyoz, Kumru, İzmir köfte
🛏️ Where to stay: Bergama or İzmir: city hotels and guesthouses
- Day 2
Ephesus and Şirince
🚗 187,4 km · 137 min
11.17–13.17 · Selçuk, İzmirEphesusA UNESCO World Heritage ancient city with the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre.🚗 13,9 km · 34 min
13.51–14.36 · Selçuk, İzmirHouse of the Virgin MaryThe house on Mount Koressos where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last years.🚗 16,6 km · 23 min
14.59–16.29 · Selçuk, İzmirŞirinceA hilltop Aegean village of stone houses, fruit wines and olive groves.
Go to Ephesus early in the morning.
🍽️ What to eat: Boyoz, Kumru, İzmir köfte
📍 Where to eat:- Village breakfast in Şirince: A long breakfast of local produce.
🛏️ Where to stay: Selçuk or Şirince: guesthouses and boutique hotels
- Day 3
Priene, Miletus and Didyma
🚗 65,7 km · 69 min
10.09–12.09 · Söke, AydınPrieneA grid-planned ancient city with a Temple of Athena on the slopes of Mount Mykale.🚗 23,8 km · 36 min
12.45–14.45 · Didim, AydınMiletusThe city of Thales, an Ionian port city with a huge theatre.🚗 20,8 km · 28 min
15.13–17.13 · Didim, AydınTemple of Apollo at DidymaA famous oracle of the ancient world with giant columns.
🛏️ Where to stay: Didim or Kuşadası: seaside hotels
- Day 4
Aphrodisias
🚗 197,8 km · 145 min
11.25–13.25 · Karacasu, AydınAphrodisiasA UNESCO-listed city with a sculpture school, the Tetrapylon gate and a stadium.
🛏️ Where to stay: Karacasu or Denizli: simple hotels
- Day 5
Pamukkale
🚗 108 km · 77 min
10.17–12.17 · Pamukkale, DenizliPamukkale TravertinesSnow-white terraces formed by thermal water, with turquoise pools.🚗 5 km · 9 min
12.26–14.26 · Pamukkale, DenizliHierapolisAn ancient city above the travertines with a theatre and a vast necropolis.🚗 17,9 km · 23 min
14.49–16.49 · Merkezefendi, DenizliLaodiceaAn ancient city that was home to one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.
You walk the travertines barefoot; sunset hours are beautiful.
🍽️ What to eat: Denizli kebab