Sardis is the ruined capital of ancient Lydia, beside the modern village of Sart in western Turkey. It sits inland from Izmir, backed by the slopes of Mount Tmolus and tied to the old stories of Croesus, Persian roads, early coinage, Roman rebuilding, and the Seven Churches of Asia.
This is a site for travellers who like ruins with layers. The Bath-Gymnasium and Synagogue show Roman Sardis at its most urban and surprisingly cosmopolitan. The Temple of Artemis is more open and monumental, with columns standing against the mountain.
Sardis and the Lydian tumuli of Bin Tepe were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. It is still quieter than Ephesus or Pergamon, which is part of the appeal: you can walk between empire, trade, religion, and ruin without fighting crowds.