The west coast of Turkey is one of the great crossroads of the ancient world, and the archaeology alone would justify a long visit. The Ionian coast — the stretch running roughly from Pergamon in the north down through Ephesus and Aphrodisias to Marmaris in the south — was as culturally significant in antiquity as anything on the Greek mainland. Greek temples, Roman cities, Byzantine churches, and Ottoman harbour towns appear at almost every turn.
Izmir is the region's capital and transport hub: a large, lively port city with a strong Greek heritage and a relaxed Mediterranean character. From here you can reach most of the west coast easily by road or rail.
The coast also has substantial beach appeal. Bodrum, built around the ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, draws a sophisticated crowd to its whitewashed harbour town and turquoise bays. Kusadasi, closer to Ephesus, is busier and more package-oriented. Further south, Marmaris and Dalyan offer a quieter alternative. The best beaches tend to be on the peninsulas between the resort towns, reachable by boat or dolmus.
The archaeological sites are the real reason to come. Ephesus is the most visited — and for good reason, the ruins are on a scale that stops you in your tracks. Pergamon above Ayvalik has a spectacular hilltop setting. Troy, near Canakkale at the northern end of the region, is smaller and more evocative than famous — but standing on the walls and looking out toward the Dardanelles is still a genuinely moving experience.