Priene

The basics

Like Ephesus and Miletus, Priene was part of the Ionian League. A planned city, with a neat grid of marble streets encircled by substantial walls, it was originally a port but moved inland after the river silted up.

There’s a small charge to visit Priene, but no need to buy tickets in advance. It’s most often visited on history tours from Kusadasi or occasionally Bodrum. Many packages pair it with one or more of the other Ionian sites in the area: Miletus, Didyma, and Ephesus.

Things to know before you go

• Priene is a good choice for photographers and history fans.

• The site has a shop and bathrooms, but no restaurant.

• There’s wheelchair access to parts of Priene, but not all.

How to get there

Priene sits about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Kusadasi and about 80 miles (125 kilometers) north of Bodrum. To reach the site from Kusadasi, catch one of the regular buses to Söke, then pick up a dolmuş (shared taxi) to the village of Güllübahçe; from there, it’s a 5-minute walk to Priene. Driving or joining a tour is quicker, and there’s parking on-site.

When to get there

Priene is open morning to early evening all year round. The site is generally less crowded than Turkey’s big ancient attractions, so there’s no need to schedule your visit carefully.

The best archaeological sites near Kusadasi

Kusadasi is a surprisingly good base for discovering Greco-Roman cities. Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies about 12 miles (20 kilometers) to the north. To the south, Priene forms one of a trio of spectacular sites with Miletus, a once-powerful city with an enormous theater, and Didyma, a monumental sanctuary to the god Apollo.