Aegean Coast, Turkey Family Holidays

History and Culture in Aegean Turkey

• Head for 3,000-year-old Troy, its impressive stone walls testament to the military significance of the citadel. Kids love playing on the huge reconstruction of the wooden horse at the entrance.  

• Venture to Bergama not far from Troy, one of the most dramatic archaeological sites in all Turkey. Perched on a hilltop above the modern city, the huge acropolis boasts many remains belonging to the 3rd-century BC Pergamene dynasty, including the reconstructed Temple of Trajan.

• Take an excursion from lively Kusadasi (the main resort on the northern Aegean coast, packed with shops, restaurants and clubs) to Ephesus, one of the greatest ruined cities in the Western world. Famous in ancient times for its worship of the mother goddess, it is also believed by Christians to be the last resting place of the Virgin Mary. There are extensive standing remains on this huge site, notably the 2nd-century AD Library of Celsus and Temple of Hadrian.

• Travel down the coast – via countless classical sites (Aphrodisias, Priene, Miletus and Didyma to name but four) and the sandy beach at Altinkum – to Bodrum. This bustling town is divided into distinct halves: the vehicle-free eastern side with its sandy beaches, and the western side with the yachting harbour at its centre. The most famous landmark is the Castle of St Peter, built by crusaders in the 15th century. 

Best Beaches in Aegean Turkey

• Retreat to the Bodrum peninsula, a wooded, rocky outcrop and tourist paradise with secluded bays, rocky coasts, secret hideaways and well-developed resorts, catering for every taste.  

• Get away from the crowds on the Datça peninsula, a pine-clad finger extending into the Aegean, cloaked with olive groves and almond orchards, famed for its tranquil, clear water.