Three cities of antiquity – Priene, Miletus and Didyma

South of Kuşadası lie three places where the Greek world made history: Priene, the hillside city with its grid of streets; Miletus, home of the first philosophers and one of the greatest ports of antiquity; and Didyma, where the immense Temple of Apollo still stands as if the builders had only just put down their tools.

Highlights

• Priene: Temple of Athena, theatre and bouleuterion on the slopes of Mount Mycale
• The oldest preserved street grid of the Greek world
• Miletus: the great theatre for 15,000 and the Baths of Faustina
• Home of Thales, Anaximander and Hippodamus – cradle of philosophy
• Didyma: the Temple of Apollo with columns over 19 metres high and the Medusa head
• Pick-up from Kuşadası port, Izmir port or Izmir Airport optional

Full description

The day starts in Priene, high above the Maeander plain. The small city was laid out on the drawing board in the 4th century BC: right-angled streets, houses, agora, the council house with its rows of seats and the Temple of Athena dedicated by Alexander the Great. Hardly anywhere shows so clearly how a Greek city worked.

Then we cross the plain the Maeander built up over centuries to Miletus. Where fields lie today, there was once sea; Miletus had four harbours and founded dozens of colonies as far as the Black Sea. The theatre, the Baths of Faustina and the İlyas Bey Mosque tell of Greeks, Romans and Turks. Finally we reach Didyma: the Temple of Apollo, linked to Miletus by a Sacred Way, was one of the largest sanctuaries of antiquity and was never finished – which is exactly what makes it so impressive. On request a detour to Altınkum beach.

What we see

We adapt order and selection to weekday, opening hours, weather and your wishes.

• 1 · Priene
  Temple of Athena, theatre, bouleuterion, agora and residential quarter on the slope of Mycale; approx. 40 minutes from Kuşadası.
• 2 · Drive across the Maeander plain
  How the river moved coast and harbours – view of the old Gulf of Latmos.
• 3 · Miletus
  Great theatre, Baths of Faustina, harbour monument and 15th-century İlyas Bey Mosque.
• 4 · Didyma
  Temple of Apollo with oracle court, Medusa head and unfinished columns; end of the Sacred Way.
• 5 · Altınkum (optional)
  Coffee or swim stop on the beach, depending on season and schedule.

Included

• 8 hours private, state-licensed guide in your language (Mehmet Humayunoğlu or an experienced colleague from his team)
• Planning, coordination and time management of the day
• Headsets for groups of 16 or more
• Guided walks in Priene, Miletus and Didyma
• Transfer with vehicle and driver from Kuşadası port, Izmir port or Izmir Airport (ADB), if booked

Not included

• Entrance fees at the three sites
• Lunch and drinks
• Transfer, optional: €120 + €10 per person
• Personal expenses, tips

Meeting point

With a booked transfer we pick you up at Kuşadası cruise port, Izmir cruise port or Izmir Airport (ADB) and bring you back there. Without transfer we meet at the entrance of the Priene excavation near Güllübahçe.

You will recognise me by the sign “MeinReiseleiter.de” and the visibly worn guide licence. We confirm meeting point and time with your booking.

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Important information

German, English, Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish – 25 more languages on request.

• Comfortable shoes and sun protection – Steep paths in Priene, little shade in Miletus and Didyma; bring water in summer.
• Museum Pass Aegean – Can be added in the booking form; paid in full with the deposit and non-refundable. Children under 8 need no pass.
• Without transfer – The three sites lie up to 50 km apart; you need your own vehicle, we recommend the optional transfer.
• Cruise guests – Please state ship and time in port; we plan the return to the ship with ample buffer.