10 Ancient Ionian Cities in the Heart of the Aegean

On the Aegean shores it is not only the sea that shines beneath the sun… At the same time the traces of a civilisation thousands of years old live on in these lands.

Ionia, the centre of science, art and free thought in ancient times, was made up of 12 great cities, and a full 10 of them lie within the borders of today's Türkiye.

Here are those 10 matchless Ionian cities to be discovered by those wanting to combine the Aegean's magic with history:

1. Ephesos (Ephesus) – İzmir / Selçuk

One of the world's largest open-air museums. The star of the ancient world with the Temple of Artemis, the Library of Celsus and its theatre for 25 thousand people.

2. Miletos – Aydın / Didim

The cradle of philosophy, the homeland of Thales. In this city where science was born, the ancient harbour, agora and theatre stand out.

3. Priene – Aydın / Söke

One of the most advanced cities of its period with its symmetrical city plan. It enchants with views of Lake Bafa.

4. Smyrna – İzmir (Kadifekale – Agora)

An ancient world in the centre of İzmir. The Roman-period agora is still standing.

5. Teos – İzmir / Seferihisar (Sığacık)

The city of artists and poets. The Temple of Dionysos and its theatre are worth seeing.

6. Klazomenai – İzmir / Urla

The homeland of olive oil. The ancient press system is still on display. The excavation area overlooking the sea is striking.

7. Phokaia – İzmir / Foça

A pioneer in seafaring, one of the founders of colonisation. Today it keeps the same spirit with its fishing boats.

8. Kolophon – İzmir / Menderes

It should be seen together with the nearby Claros oracle centre. One of ancient Ionia's mysterious stops.

9. Erythrai – İzmir / Ildırı (Çeşme)

In one of the Aegean's most peaceful villages, the ancient theatre remains and stone walls take you on a journey through time.

10. Lebedos – İzmir / Seferihisar Coast

Today largely underwater. It is known as the refuge of artists and philosophers.

If you are planning a summer holiday surrounded by history, how about following the traces of these ancient cities?
Sitting in an ancient theatre at sunset, feeling the traces of thousands of years ago in the stone streets…

Ionia Through Our Eyes: Passing Through Time

Touring these cities step by step, we understood that Ionia is not only ancient stones. Every city has a spirit… And that spirit still lives on from the past to today.

When we stood in front of the Library of Celsus in Ephesus and looked at the sky, history made itself felt. In Miletos' silence we thought of those moments when philosophy was born. Walking the stone streets in Priene, it was as if time had stopped.
Looking out to sea in Klazomenai accompanied by the scent of olives, we saw better how nature and history are interwoven.

We followed the traces of seafaring in Foça, of craftspeople in Urla and of art in Seferihisar. While the sunset in Erythrai was lovely in a different way, in Teos it was as if we heard the traces of Dionysos on the wind.

At each stop we met not just a city but a way of life.
Touring the Ionian cities is like forming a bond with the past… When we closed our eyes we could imagine the crowd in the agora, the applause in the theatre, the boats coming alongside in the harbour.

We felt as if we had come to the Aegean shores not for a holiday but to add new meanings to ourselves. And we realised that, walking in these lands, it is not only us — the voice of thousands of years ago still echoes too.

All of it is possible on these routes.