Such a historic site with the marble slab walkways and ancient ruins still standing. Close your…read moreeyes and you can imagine this beautiful place filled with the hustle and bustle of people walking down the streets. Ephesus is considered one of the greatest cities of the Western world and one of the 7 churches mentioned in the Holy Bible, thus an important part of Christian history. Highlights include the Theater carved into a hill, the Temple of Hadrian, The Gates of Hercules, The house of Mary and the impressive Library of Celsus. Our private guide walked us downhill which was a more impressive route than walking uphill like others were doing. The walkways can be slick in wet conditions, so take a walking stick to help. I don't think a trip to Turkey can be considered complete unless you come here to witness this amazing city formed back in 1000bc.

Ephesus is a historic landmark in Turkiye, founded around 600 BCE. Originally an ancient Greek…read morecity, it became under Roman rule in 129 BCE. Ephesus remained the most important city of the Byzantine Empire in Asia after Constantinople in the 5th and 6th centuries. Ephesus commanded the west end of a trade route to Asia so it was an important port city in its heyday. It boasted a Temple to Artemis, a Temple to Hadrian, a Library of Celsus, the massive Oedon Theatre, the last known home of the Virgin Mary, and some of the earliest Christian churches. Mark Antony was welcomed by Ephesus when he was proconsul and in 33 BC with Cleopatra when he gathered his fleet of 800 ships before the battle of Actium with Octavius. Ephesus is an ancient city with much historical significance. When we visited with our tour group, we were given a quick overview, entered the state-of-the-art museum, and explored the grounds. The site is massive. The ancient ruins are in fairly good condition considering and it is still an active archeological site. When you visit, marvel at the expansive stone lined streets of the agora, peer up at the arches, and wonder at how far humankind has come over the centuries.

PLEASE GO! If you're in Turkey, and you don't make a trip here - YOU WILL REGRET NOT GOING!…read more It's truly a fairy-tale, dream-like environment. Endless views of white limestone. For travelers unaware of its nature, one might think it's a winter wonderland. We are grateful (and unfortunate) today that we can still enjoy the pools today. When you go, please respect the walls and pools. They are a gift from mother nature, not meant to be grafitti-ed or damaged by any means. I made a day trip from Kusadasi (a port city along the western coast of Turkey). While we spent about half the day driving, Pamukkale was truly amazing. Words cannot express the sheer grandeur and magnitude of this site. Just beyond the pools of Pamukkale lies Hierapolis. There is a well preserved Roman city and contains pool that Cleopatra once loved.

This site dates back to the Roman Empire from the 5 th century BC. It was the magical springs that…read moreprompted its development and are still in existence today. You can walk into the water. The ruins are spread over 2 miles. Also a very nice museum is on site.

"Hierapolis & Pamukkale"…read more Hierapolis, in Pamukkale, is well worth the visit. There are so many ruins that it is almost unbelievable, and you stroll past Roman column pieces as though they were just detritus. The Cotton Castle of Pamukkale is a site to be visited and experience. This was one of our best sites on our Turkey tour. The place is located in Denizli province southwest of Turkey, it is layers of cascading mountain of white calcite formation spilling over the landscape and formed terraces of faint blue pools of thermal water. One of the attractions is the spa with the Cleopatra Pools

Neat ruin site. Admission covered by museum Turkey pass. Not a ton of interpretive content on…read moresite so read background before visiting. Parking near site available. Not a destination but a nice stop if in Ephesus.

Another great place! So cool to visit where John, the beloved, was laid to rest. It's known he…read morereturned to Ephesus, after being exiled on Patmos, and that was where he passed away. So this is where his tomb is and in the 6th century, this large basilica was built over his tomb. However, earthquakes and the encroachment of the Turks resulted in the church being abandoned and relics lost. The original design of the church was laid out like a cross. Most of it is gone today, but you can still kind of see how it was set up. They have a replica of the grounds for Ephesus and the basilica so you can have an idea of what things looked like and how far apart they were. The renderings of the buildings are pretty cool. Such amazing history here!

Beş yildiz. Why? Because THIS is the symbol of Izmir. A…read morecity that I fell in love with back in 2007. It's located in the municipality of Konak. Pretty much all the financial areas and government buildings are in that area. The clock is super old. Like 1901 old. If you're in the 35 (Izmir's regional code) you should take a look.

Historical ruins... combination of Greek and Ottoman ruins... very well restored... they are still…read moreworking on bettering the place... they are currently building a visitor center.