Great Itinerarie – The Aegean (Fodor’s, 1993)

The Aegean

The Aegean region contains many of Turkey’s most spectacular archaeological sites, from the sprawling, incredibly intact ancient city of Ephesus to the spectacular mountaintop ruins at Pergamum. In between, ther’s sun and swimming in the placid blue Aegean.

Length of Trip: 8-10 days

Getting Around: Çanakkale is 332 kilometers (205 miles) southwest of Istanbul.

By Car: A car is the best wat to do this trip, as it allows infinitely more freedom and access to smaller, less visited sites. You cans drive via Eceabat on the European side of the country (hot, bare, but historically interesting, as the site of ancient Thrace) or via Bursa on the Asian side(where you can see İznik and Bursa)

By Bus: This tour can be done by bus, as all the major cities and archaeological sites have frequent and inexpensive connectin service.

The Main Route

One night: Çanakkale. See the Gallipoli memorials.

One night: Assos, stopping en route at the ruins of Troy and Behramkale.

One night: Ayvalık: Tour the old Greek city and Greek island of Ali Bey. Taje a beach break.

One or two nights: İzmir or Foça, with a stop en route at Pergamum. Tour İzmir.

Two nights: Kuşadası via Selçuk and Ephesus. The next day, visit the ruins of Priene, Miletus and Didyma. Return to Kuşadası.

One night: Pamukkale. Visit Aphrodisias and Hieropolis.

One or two nights: Bodrum. See its crusader castle.