Places to Visit in Didim and its Surroundings

Turkey's natural and cultural beauties are endless. That is why, at every opportunity, weekend trips I am trying to discover these ores in our country. One of the popular spots of the Aegean Places to visit in and around Didim You will find my notes on historical places in Didim and Didim in this article.

Where Is Didim, How To Go?

Didim, which hosts domestic and foreign tourists every year with its ancient cities, which have become the symbol of Turkey, and its blue flag beaches, is one of the important discovery points of the Aegean and one of the districts of our Aydın province. For the location of Didim Click.

• Didim - Kusadasi 70 kilometers,
• The distance between Didim and Bodrum is 110 kilometers,
• The distance between Didim and Izmir is 120 kilometers, and Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is 142 kilometers away,
• The distance between Didim and Istanbul is 620 kilometers, if you come with your own vehicle using the Osmangazi Bridge, it takes around 7 hours with breaks.

You can use Milas Bodrum or Izmir Adnan Menderes Airports to reach Didim by air. There are companies that provide transfer services from these airports, especially during the peak season.

Places to Visit in Didim and its Surroundings

One of the important advantages of Didim is that it is very close to many ancient cities that can be visited daily. I listed the places to visit in Didim and the historical places you can visit around Didim for a day.

1. Didim Center – Blue Flag Altinkum Beach

When you go to Didim, the city center is where the blue flag Altinkum beach is. A typical seaside city welcomes you with cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops, the walking path on the beach. You can swim in Altinkum beach or you can visit the beautiful bays around with boat tours. Altinkum With its beach, shallow and sparkling sea, it is a center of attraction for many local and foreign visitors. I guess I don't need to tell you that Altinkum beach is very crowded in summer and peak season.

Many of the hotels and hostels in Didim are located in this region. Didim is also a summer residence area, so many people who live in Didim for a long time and are not locals live in this region.

2. Didim Center – Aytepe Peace Park

If you walk towards the north from Altınkum beach, you will see a tiny hill. The name of this hill is Aytepe. On the top of the hill, you will see the peace statue that gives the park its name. The statue consists of men and women wearing Greek clothes on one side and Turkish clothes on the other, and they extend each other an olive branch that represents peace.

When you go a little further from the statue, you will see Barış Cafe. You can have a cold beer or a tea-coffee break in the cafe, which has a nice breeze even on hot summer days.

3. Didim Center – Çamlık

After you pass Barış Cafe, you will see Çamlık on your right. This is a large park made up of pine trees. There is a walking track and a playground in the area. There is no camping permit in this region as far as I know, but I see people pitching their tents in the pine grove in the summer months.

4. Didyma Ancient City and Temple of Apollo

Famous for the Medusa statue, which has become Turkey's tourism symbol, just a few kilometers from the center of Didim. Apollon templehosted by Didyma Ancient City It is at the top of the list of must-see places in Didim. This is a settlement known as the oracle center of ancient times and still preserves its beauty with its solid columns.

Entrance fee is 10TL, Müzekart is valid.

5. Miletus Ancient City and Museum

When you continue in the direction of Söke from Didim, you can see Miletos or as it is known. Miletus Ancient City will appear in front of you. Miletus MuseumYou can also visit and spend time in the ancient city. Miletus, one of the important port cities of the Ionians, is now in the middle of the Söke plain with the Menderes river filling the sea. While visiting the city, it is also a pleasure to imagine that these places were on the seaside 3 years ago. 

Milet Antique City Entrance fee is 10TL, museum card is valid. 

6. Priene Ancient City

If the next stop after Miletus Priene Ancient City should be. Out of these three cities, this is my favourite. The columns of the temple in this city, which was built on the shores of steep rocks, spread like dominoes with earthquakes and created a very beautiful image. It also has a beautiful view overlooking the Söke plain. Also, the famous Turkish painter and archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey took part in the Priene excavations, let me tell you as a general culture 🙂 

Priene Ancient City Entrance fee is 5TL, Müzekart is valid.

7. Lake Bafa and the Ancient City of Heraklia

If you turn your direction to Bodrum instead of Söke, Lake Bafa and the ancient city of Heraklia on its shore It should be one of the places you will visit. You will see many other brown signs on the Bodrum road, if you have time, it would be nice to deviate from all of them.

The entrance to the Ancient City of Heraklia is free.

8. Magnesia Ancient City

When you continue towards Izmir from Didim, you will see the signs for the Ancient City of Magnesia after passing Söke. The ancient city is located only 4 kilometers from Ortaklar, and about 1 hour from Didim. With its 30.000-seat stadium, the Temple of Artemis, one of the most important Ionian temples of its time, and the lathe, or public toilet, where 32 people can meet their needs side by side, it is one of our must-see ancient cities.

Entrance fee to the Ancient City of Magnesia is 10 TL, Müzekart is valid.

For more information about the Ancient City of Magnesia, check out my article about the ancient city: Everything About the Ancient City of Magnesia

9. Old Doğanbey Village

If you have time after visiting the historical places in Didim; It is located at the entrance of Dilek Peninsula National Park, which is only 10-15 km away from Priene Ancient City. Old Doğanbey VillageYou can visit and get lost among the stone houses and stone streets of the old Greek village. You can see the fish in the Menderes basin from here.

10. Euromos Ancient City

Euromos Ancient City is one of our lesser known ancient cities. Located on the Didim – Bodrum road, the ancient city also hosts one of the best preserved Zeus Temples in Asia. This place is 10 kilometers from the center of Milas. It was one of the important cities of the region with its temple, city walls, theatre, agora and bath structures.

There is no entrance fee for Euromos Ancient City.

If you say we have a little more time, Ephesus and Selcuk, Sirince It is also among the places to see, but I suggest you make it a subject of another trip.

List of the Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Didim and its Surroundings

I made a summary for the list of the most beautiful places to visit in and around Didim, which I mentioned above. You can see the summary list below:

1. Didim Center – Blue Flag Altinkum
2. Didim Center – Aytepe Peace Park
3. Didim Center – Camlik
4. Didyma Ancient City and Temple of Apollo
5. Miletus Ancient City and Museum
6. Priene Ancient City
7. Lake Bafa and the Ancient City of Heraklia
8. Magnesia Ancient City
9. Old Doğanbey Village
10. Euromos Ancient City

Beautiful Didim Beaches

When we talk about Didim, it is impossible not to mention its beaches and bays. Apart from the Altınkum beach in the center of Didim, there are many beaches in and around the center of Didim. I listed the most popular beaches of Didim below:

• Akbuk Beach
• Mavisehir Beaches
• Onurkent Basaran Beach Beach
• Tasburun Beach
• Vettur Beach
• Sulubatak Beach
• Teachers' Site Beach
• Sarikum Bay
• Akkum Sagtur Beach
• Dede Bay
• D-Marin Blue Point Beach Club
• Yesilkent Beach
• Koca Reis Beach
• Uslu Sitesi Beach
• Akbuk Sapli Island Beach
• Paradise Cove
• Monastery Bay
• First Bay
• Second Village
• Third Bay
• Aquarium Cove

It is possible to add more bays and beaches to the list. There are many sites around Didim and because each site is built on the edge of a bay or beach, there are beaches named after the sites.

Now that we spent a weekend to the fullest, we can go back to our home 🙂

Don't forget to follow my social media accounts to be informed about my new posts and for more photos and videos! 

• Instagram: cokokuyancoktraveler
• Youtube: cokokuyancoktraveler

Stay on the Road!