Turkey is so much more than just beach resorts. If you head along the western coast and turn inland, you will discover a world where history literally crumbles beneath your feet and the scenery takes your breath away. Here is a summary of my journey, which led from the Aegean Sea all the way to the modern bridges that connect continents.
Our adventure began in Izmir, a vibrant metropolis that serves as the perfect gateway. Just a short drive away lies a true gem – Ephesus. Standing in front of the Library of Celsus, you truly feel like time has stood still. It is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, and even after thousands of years, you can still feel the ancient luxury in the air.
Tip: To escape the crowds and the heat, we headed up to the nearby mountain village of Şirince. It is a place frozen in time – filled with old Greek houses, fruit wine markets, and the omnipresent scent of olive wood.
From Izmir, we headed to Pergamon, and this place literally took our breath away. While Ephesus is all about walking on flat city streets, Pergamon is all about heights. We took a cable car to the top of the Acropolis, where kings and scholars once ruled. The absolute highlight here is the Hellenistic theater. It is said to be the steepest ancient theater in the world. Sitting on the top tiers and looking down into the deep valley below gives you a real rush of adrenaline. On top of that, this is where the famous Altar of Zeus once stood, along with one of the largest libraries of antiquity, which rivaled even the one in Alexandria. The entire city feels majestic, giving you the feeling that you have all of Turkey in the palm of your hand.
Our journey north took us to the legendary city of Troy. Seeing the place Homer wrote about is an incredible experience, even if it requires a little bit of imagination. However, the replica of the Trojan Horse leaves no doubt about where you are standing.
From history, we then jumped straight into modern reality as we crossed the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge. It is an engineering marvel – the longest suspension bridge in the world, spanning the Dardanelles Strait. The view from up there, looking down at the blue water toward Istanbul, is indescribable. A pretty expensive piece of architecture, though! :)
From Istanbul, we turned toward Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Nestled beneath Mount Uludağ, we admired "Green Bursa" and, of course, tasted the legendary Iskender kebab. Pamukkale—those white and unfortunately dried-up travertine terraces—weren't quite as turquoise as the ones I had seen on postcards. Right above them, we explored the ruins of the ancient spa city of Hierapolis and wrapped up the day with a swim in Cleopatra’s Pool, where you swim right among ancient columns. It was a lovely, refreshing experience. On our final day, we enjoyed a well-deserved swim in the sea in the beautiful blue city of Bodrum.
Turkey completely won us over with its incredible diversity. One day you are standing in an ancient theater, the next you are pushing through the crowds in Istanbul, and the third you are soaking in thermal springs. We are definitely planning to explore more of Turkey in the future—both the central region and deep into the east. It is a truly unbelievable country.
