Priene · Miletus · Didyma (Three Ancient Cities)

Ancient City

Three great Ionian cities in a day: perfectly grid-planned Priene, Miletus the birthplace of philosophy, and the oracle at Didyma — the classic ancient-world route.

North of Bodrum, spread around the delta of the Büyük Menderes river, these three ancient cities form a classic route that can be toured in a single day — and in antiquity they were linked by the "Sacred Way".

Priene, built on the slopes of Mount Mycale, is an Ionian city celebrated for its perfect grid plan; its most magnificent building is the Temple of Athena, to whose construction Alexander the Great contributed. Miletus was one of the ancient world's foremost ports and centres of science: Thales and Anaximander, regarded as the "fathers of philosophy", came from this land, and the city's grand theatre, seating 15,000, still stands today. Didyma, meanwhile, was — after Delphi — the most famous oracle of the ancient world; the unfinished grandeur of its colossal Temple of Apollo enchants visitors.

About two hours from our hotel, this trio is one of the Aegean's richest cultural routes for travellers who wish to trace architecture, science and faith in a single day.