Things to see in Didim

Didim which has many visitors both in summer and in winter has many attractions. Didyma antique city and the temple of Apollo in the ancient city, Miletus Antique City, Miletus Museum, Priene Antique City, Akköy, Bafa Lake and Latmos (Heraklia) antique city are among these points.

Didyma Ancient City

Didyma, which means twin brothers, was founded in 300 BC by Miletians. Didyma is home to the famous temple of Apollo and Didyma, which was a prophecy and religious centre at the time it was founded, and it was understood that rituals and festivals were held at certain intervals of the year. Didyma, in which the military garrison was established in the Byzantine period, has been damaged by the fires and earthquakes that took place in time, but it has reached to today with its beautiful appearance.

Apollon Temple:
The temple, built for Apollo’s son Zeus in the 8th century BC, is the third-largest temple in the world after the temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the temple of Herion on the island of Samos. the temple was built by Ephesian architect Piaoinios. 

Talks of the Temple of Apollo are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The temple of Apollo, which was damaged in the great earthquake that occurred in 1493, was built on a 3.5-meter high base. At the first entrance, the 22-meter-long columns with a magnificent view of 2600 years welcome visitors. One of the most visited spots in Didim is the Temple of Apollo visit times:
April 15 to October 2, 08:30 to 19:00
3 October 14 April 08:30 to 17:00 hours open to visitors between the museum cardholders can visit for free. Didyma to those who want to go to the ancient city of Didim bus station can use the minibus departing as well as private vehicles can go.  

Medusa:
Medusa relief, which is located in the garden of Apollo temple and is cracked in the middle, is accepted as the symbol of Didim and Apollo temple. In the mythology of the ancient period, Medusa is known for turning people into stone.

Akköy

Akköy, which is one of the oldest settlements of Didim, is 17 km away from Didem and is one of the most frequently visited spots especially in summer months. At the beginning of the visit to Akköy, stone houses with different architecture and the Köypazarı established in Akköy every Thursday. The established market sells vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy products grown by local people. It is recommended that those who visit the market should taste the lop fig and strawberries grown in the region. Since Akköy is also a stopping point for migratory birds, it is visited and photographed by bird watchers. Visitors to Akköy in April can easily see the bird’s nests on the roofs of the houses. It is very easy to get to Akköy with private vehicles as well as with minibus departing from Didim.

Bafa Lake

Bafa Lake, the largest lake in the Aegean region with a size of 60 km square, is 16 km away from Didim city centre. More than 220 bird species, which houses the Lake Bafa is one of the birds of paradise in Turkey has been declared Natural Park in 1989, taken under protection. The lake, once a gulf connected to the sea, has taken its present appearance by staying within 14 km from the sea with the withdrawal of water over time. Lake Bafa, which has a magnificent view, is also frequently visited by lovers of hiking, fishing, fishing and camping. In the carbon tests, the olive trees found by the lake and understood to be 2400 years old were taken under protection as cultural heritage. It is very easy to reach Bafa Lake with private vehicles as well as with minibus departing from Didim.

Miletus Museum:

The museum, where the artefacts excavated in the ancient city of Miletus and the artefacts found around it exhibited and the museum opened in 1973, on a land of 600 meters. The museum, which was closed for a period of time, was reopened in 2011 after the maintenance and renovation work. The museum consists of two parts and exhibits historical artefacts both in open and closed areas.

The lion sculptures, tomb steles, column capitals, inscriptions and sarcophagi, which are the symbols of Miletus, are exhibited in the open area. kitchen utensils made of clay, coins printed in different periods and many other historical artefacts are exhibited. For those who want to go to the Miletus museum, they can use Balat minibuses departing from Didim district centre or those who want to go by private vehicles should follow Balat signs from Didim centre. Those who come to visit the ancient city of Miletus can reach the museum easily after a walk of about 500 meters. 

Visiting Milet Museum, where museum cardholders can enter free of charge: April 15 – October 2, 08:00 to 19:00 It is open from 3 October to 14 April between 08:00 and 17:00.

Priene Ancient City:
The ancient city near Güllübahçe is believed to have been founded by the Ionians on the slopes of Mount Mykale. The ancient city, which was known to be the port city in its first years, remained within 10 km from the sea. Part of the ancient city of Priene, built by the Miletian architect Hippodamus, has survived to a great extent in preservation Among the buildings that can be seen in the ancient city, which has three different gates such as the Temple of Athena, Temple of Zeus, Agora, Ancient Theater, Turkish Bath, Nekrapol, Gymnasium and Alexander the Great’s House. It is recommended that those who want to visit the ancient city during the summer months should make their trips in the early morning or evening hours, considering the summer heat.

The ancient city of Priene is very easy to reach with public buses number 273 from Aydın as well as buses from Didim. Entry times paid museum cardholders can visit the ancient city for free entry times:

April 15 – October 2, 08:00 to 19:00
Open from October 3 to April 14 between 08:00 and 17:00.