Discover Hidden Gems of Turkey’s Ancient Wonders
Turkey is currently enjoying a tourism boom. Visitors flock to Istanbul for its vibrant flavors, experience the Instagram-perfect hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, and indulge in seaside luxury along the sparkling shores of Bodrum.
However, many of Turkey’s remarkable archaeological treasures remain largely unnoticed by tourists.
Peter Sommer, an archaeologist and founder of a travel company, has traveled over 2,000 miles across Turkey, retracing Alexander the Great’s route. He shares five lesser-known sites that offer ancient history, stunning landscapes, and adventurous hikes—all without the crowds.
Sail to Loryma: A Magnificent Fortification on the Carian Coast
Nestled on the Carian Coast, between Bodrum and Göcek, lies Loryma—one of the best-preserved ancient Greek fortifications, over 2,300 years old.
According to Sommer, Loryma stands as a testament to the skill of ancient military architects, with massive stone slabs that have endured wind, sun, rain, and seismic shocks for centuries. Unlike other sites, Loryma remains unexcavated, unrestored, and untouched, preserving its authentic beauty.
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Ancient Fortifications on the Carian Coast
Perched above the Carian coast, these well-preserved ancient Greek fortifications are more than 2,300 years old. Reaching the site requires effort: hike the Carian Trail or take a boat into the bay below. Sommer suggests arriving by boat for a relaxing trip and unforgettable views of the mighty walls and towers.
Built to protect the ancient port city of Rhodes, these walls controlled access to the region’s most strategic harbor. The site is rarely mentioned in guidebooks, and there are no signboards. Yet, its historical richness and dramatic setting make the journey memorable.
Explore the Ruins of Kyaenai
High above a rugged valley near Kaş, the ruins of Kyaenai await. From the road, spot a Greek temple façade carved into the cliffs—a clear sign of forgotten antiquities nearby.
Start in the small village of Yavu at the base. Ask a local to guide you up—a one-hour climb on a 2,400-year-old stone road. The path winds past an endless series of ancient sarcophagi, offering a true archaeological adventure.
On a rocky ridge high above a rustic valley, east of the resort town of Kaş, are the ruins of Kyaenai.
Finally, on high, with mountain and sea views in all directions, you’ll face the city walls, with Corinthian columns and decorative arches lying asunder in the undergrowth. “You’ll need a guide, for Kyaenai has the spirit of Indiana Jones,” Sommer adds.
Breaching the fortifications, you’ll find the city’s interior, once replete with temples, then churches, Roman baths, public squares filled with altars and statues, now completely engulfed by trees and vegetation.
On the slopes outside the city center is its ancient theater, shattered by earthquakes. Climb to the top, gaze around in wonder and the eons will dissolve as you are transported into the past. “Getting to Kyaenai isn’t easy, but I couldn’t recommend it high enough—it’s a true archaeological adventure,” says Sommer.
Discover Underfloor-Heated Bathhouses In Arykanda
Heading inland from the Lycian coast at Finike, up a river valley into the mountains, you’ll discover Arykanda. “There won’t be many other people there, which means you’ll have one of the prettiest historic spots practically to yourself, terrace after terrace of the most picturesque and splendid ancient Greek and Roman buildings marching their way higher and higher up the hillside,” says Sommer.
Heading inland from the Lycian coast at Finike, up a river valley into the mountains, you’ll discover Arykanda.
Turkish archaeologists have spent decades removing vast amounts of debris from landslides to reveal a stadium, a theater with a magnificent vista, grand bathhouses with underfloor heating systems, Byzantine churches floored with mosaics and monumental tombs adorned with sculptures and gouged out with ancient graffiti.
“Birds of prey circle the peaks above, the river flows fast far below and the air is full of the prayers of the past—to the pantheon of Olympian deities that were once worshipped here,” Sommers says.
Stroll An Ancient City Beneath Pine Trees In Priene
While Ephesus receives millions of visitors each year, just an hour’s drive to the south is the little-visited ancient city of Priene. Priene is considered one of the best preserved truly Greek cities, where you can walk on paved stone streets through ancient fortifications and admire temples, gymnasia and houses from around the time of Alexander the Great, some 2,300-plus years ago.
Devastated by earthquakes long ago, archaeologists have been uncovering Priene’s once grand architecture for centuries. They have kept it as a place of natural beauty, so you stroll by council houses, agoras and steep-stepped streets under shady pine trees with a soundtrack of cicadas.
While Ephesus receives millions of visitors each year, just an hour’s drive to the south is the little-visited ancient city of Priene.
One highlight is the temple of Athena bearing an impressive dedicatory inscription from Augustus, first of the Roman emperors. In the almost perfectly preserved theater, you can take a seat in one of the magnificently carved VIP thrones swathed with icons of Dionysius.
After the cultural riches, Sommer suggests taking a short drive west to meet the Mediterranean at the hamlet of Karine, where you can eat at one of the rustic fish restaurants and paddle in the sea.
Cruise Into The Ancient Harbor Of Knidos
Knidos, on Turkey’s turquoise coast, is one of the few places where you can cruise into an ancient city’s harbor, drop anchor and tie up in the very same place ancients did well over 2,000 years ago. As you sail in on a traditional wooden gulet, the whole Greek-Roman city surrounds you with tombs, temples, colonnades, and theaters.
With a double harbor set at the tip of a long and sinewy peninsula on a highly strategic coastline, Knidos grew rich from its favorable natural position and from trading wine, olive oil and vast quantities of amphorae.