Priene, Miletus and Didyma

Three ancient sites, about sixty kilometres of driving and roughly €16 in entry fees make up the classic day out south of Kusadasi. Priene stands on a terrace beneath a cliff, its streets set out on a grid. Miletus ranked among the leading harbour cities of the Greek world and keeps a theatre that seated thousands. Didyma was a sanctuary rather than a city, and it held one of the biggest temples of the ancient world. Seen together, they show far more of ancient Ionia than Ephesus can on its own, and with much smaller crowds.

At a glance

Each of the three opens daily (October 2026). Priene lies around 40 km south of Kusadasi, Miletus some 25 km past it, and Didyma about 20 km further on.

Priene

Priene was founded again in the 4th century BC on a slope of Mount Mykale, and its streets keep to a strict grid, a classic case of Greek town planning. Alexander the Great dedicated the Temple of Athena, where five columns have been re-erected; the inscription that records his gift is now kept in the British Museum. Make time for the small, well-preserved council house, or bouleuterion, with tiers of stone seats around an altar. With pine shade and a calm setting, Priene is the nicest of the three for walking.

Miletus

Early philosophers such as Thales and Anaximander came from Miletus, which was a major port until its harbours filled with silt. Over time the river Meander pushed the shoreline back, so the ruins now sit among farmland a long way from the sea. The main attraction is the great theatre, rebuilt under the Romans, with views across the plain. Close by stand the Baths of Faustina and the Ilyas Bey Mosque, which a local Turkish ruler built in 1404. Your ticket also covers the small Miletus Museum. In winter, sections of the site may be under water.

Didyma

Didyma was Apollo's sanctuary, joined to Miletus by a sacred road. Its oracle had one of the highest reputations in the Greek world. Work on the temple you see today started around 300 BC and, despite going on for centuries, was never completed. The design called for over a hundred columns, and a few still rise to their full height. You can walk around the vast platform, look down into the inner court where the oracle gave its answers, and find the carved Medusa head from the frieze that appears in so many photos.

How to plan the day

Follow this order: Priene in the morning, Miletus about midday, a lunch stop, and Didyma in the afternoon. A car or private tour is the simplest way to do it, since public transport between the sites is poor. Pack water and a hat: Priene is shaded, but Miletus and Didyma offer hardly any shade. Plenty of people finish on the Altinkum beaches close to Didyma.

When to go

The best months are April, May, September and October. Afternoons in summer are extremely hot. In winter Miletus may be partly under water, but all the sites stay open and you will have them almost to yourself.

The From Bodrum Port: Private Didyma, Priene & Miletus Tour visits all three with a private guide in eight to nine hours, from US$750. They also feature on longer trips: the 14 Days Best of Turkey Private Tour includes Priene, Miletus and Didyma within two weeks running from Istanbul to Pamukkale. For the region's headline site, look at the Private Ephesus Highlights Tour, from US$300.

Practical advice

• Add the Temple of Artemis to see the other great sanctuary of Ionia.
• Expect some uphill walking at Priene, so wear good shoes.
• At Didyma, the Medusa head is at the front of the temple.
• Keep cash for parking and drinks, as card readers at the sites do not always work.

Frequently Asked Questions