If one were to claim that the most scenic vistas in Anatolia can be found on the coasts of the Aegean, he could not be accused of exaggerating. In the words of Heredotus, the Aegean coasts "have the most beautiful sky and the best climate in the world." The bays and peninsulas, coves and golden beaches stretch the length of these beautiful shores. In this region where the countless events of mythology took place, you will encounter the theaters, temples and agoras of ancient cities at almost every turn. The city of Troy immortalized by Homer and Pergamum, the art and cultural center and capital city of one of the most powerful kingdoms of the day, are both located on Aegean soil.

The provinces located in the Aegean region are Afyon, Aydın, Denizli, İzmir, Kütahya, Manisa, Muğla and Uşak. Situated in Edremit Bay, at the meeting point of beautiful sea, the health-giving springs of Akçay and a pine forest, the scenic Ayvalık has been called the "Olive-grove Riviera." As you leave the shores of the bay and head south past a countless number of splendid holiday resort areas, you come to Foça, famous for the heroic Turkish sailors based here. If you want to see Sardis, the capital of the wealthy Lydian king, Croesus, you will have to detour inland a bit.

Located on the bay of the same name, Izmir is a modern city brimming with life. It is also a bustling commercial center and shopping in its busy markets is sure to be a pleasurable experience. The peninsula of Çeşme with its brilliant waters, superb beaches and thermal springs lies to the west of Izmir. Among the most famous cities of the ancient world, Ephesus was one of the biggest cities of the Roman era. A treasury of all the riches of Ionian culture, Ephesus had a reputation for philosophy and critical thinking. The Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as well as countless statues, theaters, libraries, markets and smaller temples were all architectural symbols of the city's fame.Further to the south you will see the ancient city of Priene, built according to a geometric plan designed by the great architect of Milet, Hippodamos.

On the Izmir-Antalya road, Aphrodisias (Geyre) was an important cultural and art center famous for its training in sculpture. On the same road is found the world-famous Pamakkale. Passing this way without stopping and taking a look is unthinkable. The plentiful calcium-rich thermal waters flowing out of the mountain have, over time, created an extraordinary masterpiece. Here one may bath in the health-giving waters while gazing at this natural phenomenon, which is unparalleled in world geography. The ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis lie behind this calcium terraced mountain. When it comes to holiday resorts the first places that come to mind in the southern part of the Aegean region are Bodrum, Marmaris, Datça, Köyceğiz and Fethiye.

İzmir, which is the third biggest city of Turkey, is a modern, developed, and busy commercial center. It is very tipsy to travel within its vivacious shopping center. The Çesme Peninsula, lapped by the waters of the Aegean Sea, lies west of Izmir. Ephesus, which was one of the most famous cities of ancient times, was one of the biggest cities of the world during Roman period. Ephesus, which contains riches of all Ion culture, was also increasing its reputation with dense artistic activities. Known in Turkish as "Beautiful Izmir" the city lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf furrowed by ships and yachts.

The climate is mild and in the summer the constant and refreshing sea breezes temper the sun's heat. Behind the palm-lined promenades and avenues, which follow the shoreline, the city, in horizontal terraces, gently ascends the slopes of the surrounding mountains. Izmir's port is second only to Istanbul. A cosmopolitan and lively city all year round, Izmir bursts with an added vibrancy during the international Arts Festival (June/July) and the International Fair (August/September).

It can be said that Ephesus is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the world. In ancient times it's favorable location at the mouth of the cayster river made it the foremost commercial city of a coastal region that also included the cities of miletus, smyrna and pergamum, but the silting up of it's harbor gradually resulted in the loss of this preeminence. The city has been excavated for more than one hundered years, the extensive remains are predominantly from the later Roman period. Ephesus formed a focal point in the ancient world because of it's protected harbor and as a starting point for the royal road VIA SARDIS TO SUSA. It was also a cult center attracting thousends of pilgrims for traditional worship of female, first cybele, then artemis and finally Virgin Mary. Ephesus was also home for the early philosopher Heraclitus.

Marmaris is a heavenly place where you can see all tones of green and blue for twelve months per a year. It is a heavenly province where all tourists can pass their holidays whatever they desire from five star hotels to the most modest boarding house with plenty of bays within the long coastal line, being natural harbor, being near to antic cities, natural beauties, blue tour possibilities, modern yacht harbors, supplying possibilities for all kinds of water sports of the bay. Marmaris, which is known with its fishing, sponge fishing and perfumed plants until to a short period of time.

While having Mediterranean climate is supplying possibility to enter sea even in the winter, frequent high mountains and pine forests surrounding, Günlük (Liquidamber Orientalis) trees, seen rarely within the world and plane trees with wide leaves are composing the green texture of the Marmaris

Kusadasi, literally "Bird Island", is a lovely port built around the shores of a magnificent bay.
Proximity to Ephesus and other ancient sites makes Kusadasi unusually attractive.

The province of Muğla is located at the south of the Aegean Region and is founded at the skirts of the Asar (Hisar) Mountain spreading towards the plain and is a beautiful and clean tourism paradise with its original architecture, whitewashed walls, red roof tiled roofs, authentic chimneys and narrow streets

Denizli famous with roosters, has rich history and culture. Denizli is a tourism center to be seen with its Hierapolis and Laodikeia, Tripolis, antic cities, hot springs and Pamukkale which is unique in the world with its travertines

Traditonally the city was founded by The King of Pergamon Eumenes II. in the second half of the 2nd century B.C. Hierapolis passed to the Romans as provided for in the testament of Attaluz III. the emperors took good care of the city, which was known for it's baths and miracle-working hot springs. In 17 A.D. a terrible earthquake razed it to the ground bu reconstruction soon began under tiberus.

Homer's description of Bodrum as "The land of eternal blue" and the words of another resident of Bodrum, Cevat Şakir, who said "The heavenly bliss of life in Bodrum is better than any eternal bliss that may await us" were not without foundation in reality. Throughout history Bodrum, known as Halikarnassos in ancient times, has always been fought over and people have been unwilling to share its beauty with others.

Built on a peninsula formed by the meeting of the eastern and western harbors, Bodrum, with its narrow streets winding down to the sea, is famous for its castle, its world-renowned yachts, its shipyards and the dazzling white houses and tombs lining the shores of its two harbors.

Today Bodrum has everything that one would expect to find in a vacation getaway. It is an important tourist center in both winter and summer. Bodrum has what it takes to make everyone feel at home, from the rich yacht owners who come from around the globe to the penny-counting tourists who just wants a reasonable room so that he can stretch his budget to make his vacation last all summer.