Miletus, Karina and Old Doğanbey Village Trip from Didim

Apollo, Miletus and Old Doğanbey

From the ancient theatre to Karina’s shore

The Temple of Apollo was the centre of the oracle at Didyma. At Miletus, the rows of the theatre climb the hillside with a view across the Büyük Menderes plain. After the coast at Karina, Old Doğanbey brings a smaller scale, with lanes between stone village houses.

Three landscapes in one day

At the Temple of Apollo the scale of the columns stands out. At Miletus, the rows of the theatre open onto the plain where the city stood. Karina brings the horizon down to the water, and Old Doğanbey narrows the view again between stone houses. Each stop shows a different part of the same region, from a sanctuary and an ancient city to a coast and village.

Walking through the ancient sites

Ancient sites have steps, uneven paving and long exposed stretches. Take a moment to look at where streets widen, how the façades face the road and where one public space gives way to another. If you have a particular interest in architecture or photography, pick a few features to spend time on so you can see them at a comfortable pace.

What to look for along the way

The massive column drums at Didyma convey the scale of the Temple of Apollo. Miletus has a different setting, with the theatre looking out over an open plain. After a slower stop on Karina’s waterfront, the stone houses and courtyard walls of Old Doğanbey bring the route back to village life.

For another itinerary in the region, see Karina Sunset and Old Doğanbey Village Tour out of Didim.