Things to do in Aegean Coast Region, Turkey

Discover the stunning Santorini coastline on this catamaran tour from Vlychada Marina. Sail to sights like Red Beach, White Beach, and the volcanic hot springs. Enjoy a delicious meal paired with local wine and beer. Embark on a day trip around Santorini starting with convenient pickup (with extra charge) from your accommodation and a transfer to your catamaran. Discover unique parts of the island that are not reachable by car and uncover worlds under the waves with the included snorkeling gear. Depart from the Vlychada Marina in the morning or afternoon. Along the way, there will be many beautiful spots to relax, swim, and snorkel at Red Beach, White Beach, and Mésa Pigádia beach. Admire views of Indian Rock and the 18-century Venetian Lighthouse Keep your camera ready to capture the magical sunset onboard if you choose the sunset cruise. Enjoy lunch prepared onboard of fresh seafood, chicken fillet, and salads, or a vegetarian meal (upon request). Return to your accommodation at the end of your tour.

Enjoy a memorable day seeing the historic sights in the ancient city of Ephesus on this day trip. Select from options to leave from your hotel in Izmir, Kusadasi, or Selcuk. Stop at highlights like Hercules Gate, the Temple of Hadrian, and Domitian Square. Be picked up from the comfort of your accommodation. Sit back and relax on the drive to Ephesus. Follow your local guide to the House of Virgin Mary, where the religious figure is thought to have spent her last days. Head to upper Agora which was the seat of political power in the past. Continue to the 2nd century A.D. Odeon theater. Head to Domitian Square and view the engravings on the old columns at the Temple of Domitian. Pass by the Fountain of Pollio. Admire the relief of Hercules at Hercules Gate before going to the temple and fountain of Emperor Trajan.  Marvel at the elaborately carved arch at the Temple of Hadrian. Stroll by the Roman baths, public latrine, marketplace, and brothel. See the stunning remains of the third-largest library in the Roman world at the Library of Celsus. Go to The Great Theater, a massive Hellenistic structure. Gaze upon one of the wonders of the ancient world at the Temple of Artemis. Return to your accommodation. During the tour, you'll have the chance to have a look at the traditional Turkish handcrafts.

Start with a pickup from your hotel in Izmir. Then, the discovery of Ephesus begins with the House of the Virgin Mary and a 10-minute drive to the ancient city of Ephesus. Explore the city by walking on the marble streets, accompanied by a guide.  See the Odeon, State Agora, the Pretension, the Memmius Monument, the Domitian Temple, Hercules Gate, Curetes Street, Hadrian Temple, and the Latrines. Choose to take an optional visit to the terrace houses for an additional cost.  After the terrace houses, carry on with your exploration with the Celsus Library, Marble Road, Commercial Agora, Great Theater, and Arcadian (harbor road). Enjoy a nice lunch served in a quaint local restaurant. Visit the Temple of Artemisa and take pictures of the church of St. John and the Mosque of İsa Bey. Enjoy free time in the old village of Sirince to discover the traditional houses, the fruit-flavored wine production, and enjoy some wine tasting.  End the day with a transfer back to Izmir airport or to your hotel in Izmir.

Discover the stunning region of Pamukkale and its hot springs on a day trip from Selcuk, Kusadasi, or Izmir. Begin by meeting your driver/guide at the reception of your hotel in the morning and a transfer to Pamukkale. Explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, built on solid limestone layers formed by mineral-rich waters that flowed for millennia over a raised level plateau. See the most significant sites of the sacred city including the Theatre, the Temple of Apollo, and the Necropolis. Admire the Necropolis (Cemetery) of Hierapolis, one of the largest ancient burial sites in Anatolia. See a Roman bath, the Gate of Domitian, the main street of the ancient city, and the Byzantium Gate. Walk to the natural warm water terraces, formed by running warm water rich in calcium and temperatures of 35 Celsius all year-round. Get the chance to see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis.  Enjoy optional free time to swim in Cleopatra’s Pool before ending the tour with a transfer back to your hotel. And during the tour you'll have the chance to have a look at the Turkish traditional handcrafts.

If you like adventure, join this Jeep Safari Tour with Land Rover Jeeps. The national park is about 15 miles away from Kusadasi. After your pick-up from Kusadasi hotels/ port, you will directly drive to national park. Along the way, feast your eyes on the beautiful Agean Sea view with lush olive trees and Turkish villages. The first place you wıll visit will be Echo Canyon and the old monastery where you can enjoy the view from over 1000 meters above sea level. Take lunch (BBQ) near the fire pool. Then, climb to the waterfall where you can enjoy the naturally rough terrain. The view from this area will include the island of Samos (Greece). You will make an exciting decent of the mountain and stop at Zeus Cave, where you will be able to swim in crystal clear waters. At Long Beach, enjoy a final swim, sunbathe on beach and you will also be able to get some drink in the cafe shop at the beach. After your last swim break at Long Beach, all the jeeps will drive back to the departure point.

See the highlights of Ancient Ephesus including the popular pilgrimage sites such as the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary. Get picked up from your hotel in Istanbul and arrive at the airport for a 1.5-hour flight to Izmir. Meet your local driver and enjoy the ride to Selcuk, where you will join other group participants and begin your tour. Start off with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, a popular Catholic pilgrimage site known as the house where Mary spent her final days. Contınue on to explore Ancient Ephesus, one of the best preserved classical cities in the Eastern Mediterranean and once considered the most important trading center in the region. Marvel at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you walk along the streets of Ephesus and admire beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world and the largest Roman theater on the Asian continent. Drive back to Izmir for your return flight to Istanbul where your driver will greet you and take you back to your hotel.

Journey off the beaten tracks in a buggy safari adventure. Enjoy driving along dirt paths, rivers, and on the beach. Follow your guide along a meandering river and spot the bright birds that nest alongside the water, then enjoy sweeping views of the Aegean Sea. Be ready to see lizards and snakes, while burning up the sandy parkour and passing through the marshes and forest. Ride the buggies through clouds of dust on the dusty roads. Take some perfect shots for your Instagram. Take a break at Pamucak Beach for a refreshing swim, or test the limit of the buggies. Enjoy a stable, comfortable, and easy-to-steer vehicle.

Ephesus is the second biggest open-air museum in the world after Pompeii. Explore the public parts of its grounds accompanied by a licensed guide in a small group. Enjoy pick-up from your hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk or from the cruise ship port. Your driver will take you to several important sights of the area while your guide will help you immerse yourself in Greco-Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history. The tour includes lunch. Apart from the city of ancient Ephesus, also explore one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Artemis Temple, as well as the temples of Hadrian and Domitian, the Fountains of Trojan, Polio, the Library of Celsus, and the Great Theater, which was once the center point of entertainment for up to 24,000 people. You will also get to see the House where Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last years in life. The tour ends at approximately 4:00 PM, at which point you'll be taken back to your hotel or cruise ship.

Spend a full day among the famous ruins of Ephesus, flying from Istanbul to Izmir and back. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and transfer you to Istanbul's Ataturk Airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival at Izmir, you will meet with your tour guide and drive the 40 minutes to Ephesus. Visit the vast and rich archeological site of Ephesus, imagining life in Roman times as you pass through the ancient city gates. See the ruins of State Agora, a marketplace from Roman times. Admire Marble Road, dating back to 1 A.D. Then view the beautiful architecture of Celsus Library, the 3rd largest in the ancient world. Your guide will also show you Ephesus Theatre, which once held 15,000 spectators, and many other ancient landmarks of Ephesus' Greek and Roman pasts. After lunch visit the Virgin Mary’s House archeological site, where it is said Mary spent her last years with St. John. After visiting Virgin Mary’s House, head back to the Izmir Airport for your return flight to Istanbul. Be dropped off at your hotel at the end of the tour.

This full-day tour from Izmir, takes you to Ephesus in Selçuk to explore Turkey’s best preserved ruins from the ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations. Visit the most important ruins in Ephesus, including the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World before it was destroyed in 401 AD. You will also see the Library of Celsus, built to hold 12,000 scrolls and at its time one of the largest libraries in the world. The nearby Great Theater, which was the largest outdoor theater in the world, was designed to hold 24,000 people – even its ruins are huge. After discovering the impressive monuments, you will visit the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus. The museum houses many important statues and relics including a preserved segment of the original Temple of Artemis. After enjoying a lunch of traditional Turkish cuisine, you will travel to the House of the Virgin Mary on Bulbul Mountain, where archeologists and historians believe the mother of Jesus lived at the end of her life.