Didim (Turkey) is a small town located in the south-west of the country in the province of Aydin and washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. The object occupies a small area of 402 km2, and the number of its inhabitants is just over 77 thousand people. Didim is quite an old city, because the first mention of it dates back to the 6th century BC. For a long time it was a small village, but from the end of the 20th century it began to be settled by the Turkish authorities, and was transformed into a resort.
Today, Didim is a modern city in Turkey, where unique natural landscapes, historical sights and tourist infrastructure are harmoniously combined. It would be wrong to call Didim super-popular among vacationers, but the place has long been popular with many travelers. Usually tourists come here who are tired of the crowded resorts of Antalya and its surroundings, and they really find a peaceful atmosphere surrounded by the beauty of nature. And the city’s cultural sites help them diversify their serene days.
Attractions
In the photo of Didymus, you can often see several ancient buildings that have survived to this day in good condition. They are the main attractions of the city, and their visit should be one of the main points of your trip.
Ancient city of Miletus
The ancient Greek city, whose formation began more than two millennia ago, is located on a hill near the coast of the Aegean Sea. Today, you can see many ancient buildings that can take travelers back dozens of centuries. The greatest attention should be paid to the ancient amphitheater, built in the 4th century BC. e. Once the structure was ready to accommodate up to 25 thousand spectators. There are also the ruins of a Byzantine castle, huge stone baths and the inner corridors of the city.
In some places there are ruins of the city walls, which served as the main defense of Miletus. Not far from the dilapidated colonnades of the ancient temple lies the Sacred Road that once connected ancient Miletus and the temple of Apollo. There is also a museum on the territory of the historical complex, where you can see a collection of coins belonging to different eras.
- Address: Balat Mahallesi, 09290 Didim/Aydin, Turkey.
- Opening hours: The attraction is open daily from 08: 30 to 19: 00.
- Admission fee: 10 TL-for adults, for children – free of charge.
Temple of Apollo
The main attraction of Didymus in Turkey is considered to be the temple of Apollo, which is the oldest temple in Asia (built in 8 BC). According to popular legend, it was here that the sun god Apollo was born, as well as Medusa Gorgon. The sanctuary operated until the 4th century, but after that the area was repeatedly subjected to powerful earthquakes, as a result of which the building was almost destroyed. And although only ruins have survived to this day, the scale and grandeur of the sights still amaze the minds of travelers.
Of the 122 columns, only 3 dilapidated monoliths remain here. In the historical complex, you can also see the ruins of the altar and walls, fragments of fountains and statues. Unfortunately, most of the valuable artefacts of the site were removed from the territory of Turkey by European archaeologists who excavated here in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Адрес: Hisar Mahallesi, Atatürk BLV Özgürlük Cad., 09270 Дидим/Aydin, Turkey.
- Opening hours: The attraction is open daily from 08: 00 to 19: 00.
- Visit fee: 10 TL.
Altynkum Beach
In addition to attractions, the city of Didim in Turkey is also famous for its picturesque beaches. The most famous place is Altynkum, located 3 km south of the central urban areas. The coastline here stretches for 600 m, and the coast itself is dotted with soft golden sand. Entering the sea is quite comfortable, the area is characterized by shallow water, which is great for families with children. The beach itself is free of charge, but visitors can rent sun beds for a fee. There are changing rooms and toilets.
The infrastructure of Altynkum pleases with the presence of a huge number of cafes and bars lined up along the coast. At night, many places host parties with club music. On the beach, you can go jet skiing, as well as surfing. But the place also has a clear drawback: in high season, crowds of vacationers (mostly locals) gather here, which makes it very dirty, and the coast loses its attractiveness. It is most reasonable to visit the beach in the early morning, when there are not so many visitors.
Accomodation
If you are fascinated by the photos of Didim in Turkey, and you are thinking of visiting its sights, then you will need information about the conditions of living in the resort. The choice of hotels here is scanty compared to other Turkish cities, but among the presented hotels you will find both budget and elite options. The best place to stay is in the center of Didymus, where you can quickly reach both the central beach and the temple of Apollo.
The most economical option will be to check into apart-hotels and guest houses, where daily accommodation in a double room will cost an average of 100-150 TL. Many establishments include breakfast in the price. It is noteworthy that there are very few star hotels in the resort. There are a couple of 3 * hotels where you can rent a room for two for 200 TL per day. There are also five-star all-inclusive hotels in Didim. Staying in this option, for example, in May will cost 340 TL for two people per night.
It is worth remembering that Didim in Turkey is a relatively young resort, and the construction of new hotels here is in full swing. Also keep in mind that hotel employees speak only English.
Weather and climate
The Didim resort in Turkey is characterized by a Mediterranean climate, which means that from May to October, the city has ideal weather for tourism. The hottest and sunniest months here are July, August and September. At this time, the air temperature during the day ranges from 29-32 °C, and precipitation does not fall at all. The water in the sea warms up to 25 °C, so swimming is very comfortable.
May, June and October are also good for a holiday in the resort: this period is especially suitable for visiting attractions. During the day it is quite warm, but not hot, and in the evening it is cool, and occasionally it rains. The sea is not quite warm yet, but it is quite suitable for swimming (23 °C). The coldest and most inclement period is considered to be the period from December to February, when the thermometer drops to 13 °C, and there are prolonged showers. The exact weather data for the resort can be found in the table below.
| Month | Average daytime temperature | Average temperature at night | Sea water temperature | Number of sunny days | Number of rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13,2 °C | 9,9 °C | 16,9 °C | 16 | 9 |
| february | 14,7 °C | 11,2 °C | 16,2 °C | 14 | 7 |
| March | 16,3 °C | 12,2 °C | 16,2 °C | 19 | 5 |
| april | 19,7 °C | 14,8 °C | 17,4 °C | 24 | 2 |
| May | 23,6 °C | 18,2 °C | 20,3 °C | 27 | 1 |
| June | 28,2 °C | 21,6 °C | 23,4 °C | 28 | 1 |
| July | 31,7 °C | 23,4 °C | 24,8 °C | 31 | 0 |
| august | 32 °C | 23,8 °C | 25,8 °C | 31 | 0 |
| september | 28,8 °C | 21,9 °C | 24,7 °C | 29 | 1 |
| october | 23,8 °C | 18,4 °C | 22,3 °C | 27 | 3 |
| November | 19,4 °C | 15,3 °C | 20,2 °C | 22 | 4 |
| december | 15,2 °C | 11,7 °C | 18,3 °C | 18 | 7 |
Public transport links
There is no air harbor in Didim itself in Turkey, and the resort can be reached from several cities. The nearest airport is Bodrum-Milas, located 83 km to the southeast. Getting there from Bodrum is easy with a pre-booked transfer, which costs about 300 TL. You won’t be able to get to Didim by public transport from here, as there are currently no direct bus services in this direction.
You can also get to the resort from Izmir Airport. The city is located 160 km north of Didim, and buses depart daily from its central bus station in a given direction. Transport departs several times a day with a frequency of 2-3 hours. The ticket price is 35 TL, and the trip time is 2 hours.
As an alternative, some tourists choose Dalaman Airport, which is located 215 km south-east of Didim. Transportation to our desired destination departs from the city bus terminal (Dalaman Otobüs Terminali) every 1-2 hours. The fare is 40 TL, and the journey takes about 3.5 hours.
Conclusion
If you have already spent several holidays on the Mediterranean coast, and you would like a variety, then go to Didim, Turkey. The young unspoiled resort will envelop you in calm and serenity, the sights will immerse you in ancient times, and the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea will refresh you with their soft waves.
