Travel tips for the Aegean coast area of Turkey

I will catching the ferry from Rhodes to Marmaris in late August and spending a week and a half in Turkey (before getting the ferry back). I am hoping to get some personal travel anecdotes of what to do and also what NOT to do.

So far I have on my list as possible day trips- Ephesus, Pergamun, Izmir, taking a Gulet trip...

We will have a car and are looking for a beach holiday with a few side trips as above.

But I am not sure where to base ourselves and need to get to accommodation sorted asap. Looking for somewhere for 5 people to stay (2 children) in a self contained apartment if possible. I am at a bit of loss so far (have read through two travel books) as its hard to know unless you have actually been there, where would be the ideal place to try and stay. Looking for something child friendly, perhaps on a nice bay, as far as possible unlike something like Costa del Sol or Faliraki and with a nice beach.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Pamukkale,

Pamukkale

That looks very interesting, will add it to the list, thanks!

You can probably check the ruins of 'Troy' too, which was the center of 'Trojan War'. It is in Turkey, close to the western coastline (I guess, its near to Izmir). Also, Mount Ida (ancient name), near 'Edremit' and 'Illium'.

These are places you must visit.

Aphrodisias, Assos, Bodrum (Halicarnassus), Caunos, Cesme, Datca and Cnidos, Ephesus, Foca (Phokaia), Kusadasi, Labranda, Marmaris, Nyssa, Pamukkale (Hierapolis), Pergamum, Priene, Miletus and Didyma, Sardis, Teos (Sigacik)

Don't forget to check out the cave of the seven sleepers and the house of Virgin Mary. Both are located close to Ephesus.

Cave of the seven sleepers

House of Virgin Mary

All about Turkey-Tourist sites

Kids would love this but I guess it's a bit too far away from where you guys are going to be staying...

Santa Claus-Saint Nicholas-Myra

Myra

I spend last week in Turkey and recorded a video about Pamukkale. Sorry that youtube distorts the colors.

Pamukkale aerial view

Let me know if you need more info

I did a 3 night gulet tour a couple years back and it was a pretty good time. Though I am not sure if your kids would get bored with it. You basically sail (motor) for a couple hours stop for lunch, swim, and maybe a historic site, then sail again for a couple hours before stoping for dinner and repeating the eating, swimming and possible sightseeing. So there is a fair amount of down time and relaxing, but I enjoyed and would do it again.

Has anyone reading TT been to Gokova, Akyaka? I am hoping to book accommodation there- 30 kms from Marmaris, family friendly and a bit quieter than some of the other resorts.


From one of the websites...sounds interesting!

Another important question I have is, is it safe to drive in Turkey- Aegean Coast area specifically? We would like to hire a car so we can drive ourselves around. My mother-in-law tried to tell us to that it is too dangerous to drive in Turkey and we should do everything by excursion bus (as she did). I am not sure whether to believe her as she often has her own agenda when giving advice and it could be she just doesn´t want us to have the freedom of a car as she didn´t.

Opinions welcome!

Any reason why you want to go to Izmir? I had a kid aged about 10 pull a razor out on me whilst i was in the fucking shit hole there. Though this was about 94 and it may have been blown off the face of the planet changed since then.

You know what ? I just read its Turkey´s third largest city, so doubtful we´ll be venturing there (Izmir) with the kids in tow anyway!

Does anyone have any idea of whether it would be wise to hire a car in Rhodes (as we did last year, but stayed in Rhodes) AND then take it on the ferry over to Turkey...? And back again of course...