Aegean

Olive groves run down to the sea, island ferries leave from small harbors, and almost every hill carries a Greek or Roman city. Turkey’s Aegean region has the longest coastline of all its coastal regions. Along it lie Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus. Inland stand the white terraces of Pamukkale, while offshore, islanders still make wine. So the Aegean is the classic region for a first trip to Turkey.

The Aegean Region at a Glance

İzmir is the largest city of the Aegean region. Manisa, Aydın, Denizli, Muğla, Afyonkarahisar and Kütahya are the other main cities. The region borders the Aegean Sea to the west, the Marmara region to the north, Central Anatolia to the east and the Mediterranean region to the south. East of İzmir, see the Kula volcanoes. Inland, see the Carian city of Alinda. With a guide, join our Kula Geopark tour.

Ancient Cities of the Aegean Region

Troy and Pergamon

In the north, the mound of Troy holds nine cities, one on top of another. Further south, Pergamon rises above Bergama, where a theater drops so steeply down the hill that the top rows feel like a cliff. Our Pergamon tour adds the Asklepion below it. On the coast opposite Lesbos, Assos keeps the only Doric temple in Asia Minor. Above the Gulf of Edremit, our Kaz Mountains tour visits Mount Ida and spends the afternoon at an olive oil museum.

Ephesus and Didyma

Near Selçuk, Ephesus is the best-preserved ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean. Walk past the Library of Celsus to the Great Theater. From İzmir, our Ephesus Şirince tour adds the old village of Şirince. Then, further south, two columns of the Temple of Apollo at Didyma still stand almost 20 meters (65 feet) tall.

Between them, Priene and Miletus show how the Maeander River pushed the sea away from two great Ionian ports. Our Priene, Miletus and Didyma tour joins all three.

Aphrodisias and Pamukkale

Inland, Aphrodisias was famous for its school of sculpture, while the travertines of Pamukkale spill down a hillside below Roman Hierapolis. East of İzmir, Sardis, the capital of Croesus, joined the UNESCO list in 2025. Our Sardis Philadelphia tour goes there from İzmir. To join Ephesus and Pamukkale to the Turquoise Coast, see our Ephesus, Pamukkale and Turquoise Coast tour in 8 days.

Islands and Villages of the Aegean Region

Off the coast near Troy, Bozcaada has a castle at its harbor and vineyards that roll across the island. North of it, off the Gallipoli peninsula, Gökçeada keeps stone hill villages and a salt lake. Further south, Cunda, off Ayvalık, is known for stone houses and fish restaurants. Our Ayvalık Cunda tour covers the town and the island in a day. Above Ephesus, the hill village of Şirince serves fruit wines in its cobbled lanes, while Kuşadası welcomes cruise ships to the coast. Back in the north, our Gökçeada day trip crosses by ferry for a day in the island’s hill villages.

Olive Oil and Wine

The Aegean also feeds Turkey. On Cunda, islanders press most of their olives for oil, and Bozcaada and Şirince are known for their wines. Near İzmir, our Urla wine tour visits the wineries of the Urla Vineyard Route. So order the olive oil dishes wherever you stop, because they are the heart of the local table.

To explore the region, base yourself in İzmir, in Selçuk near Ephesus, or on the coast at Bodrum.

Planning Your Visit to the Aegean Region

• Route: drive south from Troy to Pergamon, Ephesus and Didyma, then inland to Pamukkale.
• Bases: stay in Selçuk or Şirince for Ephesus, and on Bozcaada or Cunda for island life.
• Season: visit the ruins in spring or autumn, and save summer for the islands.

For the Lycian coast further south, see the Turquoise Coast.