Turkish Aegean Coast

Türkiye's west coast, centered on Izmir, brings together ancient Greek and Roman sites such as Ephesus and Pergamon with resort towns like Alaçatı and Bodrum.

The Turkish Aegean Coast is the long, narrow stretch of western Türkiye facing the Aegean Sea. It runs from Troy and Assos near Çanakkale in the north, through Izmir, the Çeşme Peninsula and Selçuk, down to the Bodrum Peninsula in the south. Pamukkale and Hierapolis, inland, are often added along the way. This was the heartland of ancient Ionian civilization: the Library of Celsus and Great Theater at Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Acropolis of Pergamon, Priene, Miletus and the Temple of Apollo at Didyma are all within an hour or two's drive of one another. On the coast, you'll find Alaçatı's stone-built old streets and windmills, Çeşme's windsurfing bays, and Bodrum's Castle of St. Peter and nightlife. The classic itinerary uses Izmir as a base for 2 days (including Çeşme and Alaçatı), then spends 1–2 days in Selçuk for Ephesus and the wine village of Şirince, heads east for 1 day at Pamukkale, and finishes with 2 days in Bodrum. That makes 6–8 days in total, and it can be linked with the Turquoise Coast to the south. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport and Bodrum Airport are the main gateways. Selçuk has a suburban train to Izmir, though a rental car gives the most flexibility. In summer the sites are exposed and the sun is fierce, so aim to enter as soon as they open. For Ephesus and Pamukkale you can buy the Türkiye Museum Pass (Müze Kart).

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Itineraries