Summer Travel: Turkey’s Aegean Coast

There must be something in the human brain that draws our species to the coast, be it a primitive desire to hunt and fish, or a hedonistic drive to worship the sun and sea. Either way, life always seems better near the water.

One of our favorite coastlines may not be as fashionable as the French Riviera, nor as romantic as Italy's Cinque Terra. But what it lacks in glitz and glam, it more than makes up for in cultural and historical relevance.

On that note, let me draw your attention to Turkey's Aegean coast, a strip of land in the southwest corner of ancient Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor. It borders the Aegean Sea, and was part of both the Hellenistic and Roman Empires.

With a pedigree stretching back more than two millennia, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Turkey's Aegean coast is home to some serious heavyweight attractions. We're talking specifically about the foundation stones of the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), the ruined Roman city of Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John and the House of the Virgin Mary.



There are actually several ways that travelers access Turkey's Aegean coast. If you're a fan of cruising, then you'll be happy to know that the resort town of Kuşadası is home to a large ship berth. As such, it's easy to combine a cruise through the Greek islands with add-ons in Kuşadası and even Istanbul. Kuşadası itself makes for an interesting stopover, complete with Ottoman-built city walls, a portside promenade and powdery beaches.

Another option, albeit one that's mainly popular with British and European travelers, is to access the coast via charter flight to the city of İzmir. However, for North Americans traveling across the pond, it makes more sense to fly directly to Istanbul, and then travel south along the coast. Fortunately, Turkey boasts an excellent long-distance bus network. Night buses with on-board stewardesses, overhead movies and reclining seats are surprisingly comfortable, very safe and all-together affordable.

If you're interested in ticking off the list of sights that we previously mentioned, then it's best to base yourself in the tiny town of Selçuk. Here along the coast you will find a few generic resort complexes, but we're partial to the smaller B&Bs and guesthouses scattered amidst the historic center. Largely Ottoman in design, Selçuk is guarded by a grand fortress, and surrounded by rolling hillsides and sweet-smelling orchards.

When it comes to sightseeing, quite frankly you're spoiled for choice.

Although the Pyramids of Giza are the only ancient wonder of the world that remains intact, the foundation stones of the Temple of Artemis were discovered in 1869 at Selçuk. Subsequent archaeological excavations revealed numerous sculptural fragments and column segments, thus improving our knowledge of one of the most influential temples in the Greco-Roman world. Today a solitary reconstructed pillar of incongruous stones marks the site.

One of the most impressive ruins in Selçuk is the Basilica of St. John, which was constructed by the Roman Emperoro Justinian I in the 6th century. In addition to serving as a house of worship, the basilica also marks the final resting place of St. John, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. After his exile from Jerusalem, St. John took up residence in Ephesus (modern Selçuk) where it is believed that he received the final word of Jesus Christ and wrote the Book of Revelation.

The basilica's exterior was modeled after the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople (Istanbul), which stood for almost a thousand years before being demolished by the Ottomans in the 15th century. Inside, the Basilica of St. John is covered in marble and mosaics, and contains a crypt where the apostle's tomb lies. On any given day, the ruins are visited by thousands of devoted pilgrims.


On a nearby hilltop lies another famous pilgrimage site, namely the House of the Virgin Mary. This humble stone structure is where St. John is believed to have led Mary after their exodus from Jerusalem. In the Catholic doctrine, the house is also where Mary spent the remainder of her life prior to her Assumption into heaven.

Of course, the most impressive sight along Turkey's Aegean coast is Ephesus, one of the largest and best-preserved Greco-Roman cities. The centerpiece is the Library of Celsus, a monumental public depository that at one time held more than ten-thousand scrolls. Its main facade is comprised of two levels of Ionic and Corinthian columns, and gives way to the unrestored interior containing rows of storage niches.

Beyond the library, Ephesus holds several other noteworthy buildings including a 44,000-person theater, the largest in the ancient world, two agoras or open-air places of assembly, triumphal gates, ceremonial fountains, a gladiators' graveyard and consecrated temples to the various gods and emperors. Everything is connected via broad colonnaded streets lined with polished marble slabs.

Here is an interesting piece of information: Although the present coastline is a bit far from the core of Ephesus, in ancient times the city was adjacent to the harbor. However, heavy silting over the generations gradually pushed Ephesus inland. As impressive as the ruins are now, we can only imagine how much more striking a seaside Ephesus would have appeared.

So, have we convinced you to take a trip to Turkey's Aegean coast? Hope so, though if you still need more inspiration, check out the gallery below.

Antalya likely to lead Turkish tourism boom

Individuals with an interest in property in Turkey may be alerted by news that Antalya could become the epicentre for tourism in the country, it has been reported.

According to Turkish news provider Today’s Zaman, Huseyin Baraner, president of the Turkish Tourism Business Council, said the popularity of Turkey to tourists is fuelling the European market, with Antalya at the centre.

Furthermore, he claimed that Antalya was helping to keep lots of European tour operators on their feet in terms of vacation bookings.

“Antalya will become one of the most important tourism centres in the world. As Antalya’s touristic sales increase impressively, competitors to the city are seeing slowdowns at the same rate,” Mr Baraner told the media outlet.

However, he was fast to point out that it was important the council continued to be grounded in order to stay as successful in 2010.

Antalya is located on the south-western Mediterranean coast of Turkey and hosts numerous music and film festivals all year long.

Antalya Travel Guide

The state of Antalya symbolizes all the religious studies of the past. Antalya is known as the "Turkish Riviera" owing to its natural elegance and archaeology. Antalya is the perfect location where sun, sea, natural world and history including its perfect harmony make it one of the most beautiful beaches along the Mediterranean. Antalya is located in the west of the Mediterranean.

According to its history, Antalya protected all Pamphylia and the word Antalya means "the ground of all tribes". The Pergamum ruler Attalus, during the 1st century BC ordered his men to uncover the most beautiful place on earth. His objective was to find "heaven on earth". When the Romans took over the Pergamene Kingdom, Attelia was turned to into a splendid Roman City.
The great Roman Emperor Hadrina visited Attelia in 130 AD. An arch was built as a tribute, which is still standing at present and is worth seeing. Later in the year 1207, the Seljuk Turks took over the city and gave it an entirely different name. It was given the name Andalya and they built the Yivli Minaret during their time of domination in the region. After the Seljuk's, The Ottomans took over the city inside the Turkish Republic and they developed it into a Turkish city and an important harbor.

Antalya has developed rapidly since 1960 and its population has reached up to 1,719,751 according to the 2000 poll.

Antalya Map


See Full Map

Weather It's usually dry and hot in the summers and mild with rain in the winters. It has a distinctive Mediterranean weather: dry and hot in summer and temperate with rain in winter. Sunshine is guaranteed from April to October along with the winters that are agreeably meek. The dampness is slightly high, about 64% and the standard water temperature is 21.5 °C. Antalya is in fact a heavenly place where the summer season is about 8-9 months long. Touristic Attractions Antalya and its surroundings is an essential and remarkable tourist center in the Mediterranean Coast with its wonderful weather and superb harmony of history, archaeology, along with natural exquisiteness, all the way throughout the year. Everyday tours to the surrounding tourist pots like Alanya, Termessos, and Side are offered in addition to the longer sightseeing in Cappadocia or Pamukkale or wherever you may be interested going. Professional tourist guides are also offered.

Sightseeing City Walls: The Clock Tower as well as the monument Hadrian Arch are extraordinary and dates back to Hellenistic age. Hadrian's Gate: This decorative mineral arc was build during the 2nd century BC by the Romans as a tribute to the Emperor Hadrian. It is the most remarkable spot in the entire prehistoric Pamphylia province. Kesik Minaret (Broken Minaret): Previously it used to be a Byzantine Panaglia church later transformed into a mosque. Yivli Minaret: the Seljuks constructed this fluted minaret in the 13th century, ornamented with dark blue along with turquoise floor covering. The minarets ultimately turned into a pictogram of the city. Accommodation If planning to travel to Antalya, find a suitable accommodation for yourself at Antaya Hotels directory. Browse hotels and resorts, and book various type of hotels in luxury to cheap class.