Aydin Guide

Aydin Aydın, one of the most important cities of the Aegean Region in terms of tourism and stretching along the Aydın Mountains, is a city where blue, nature and history are intertwined.

Aydın is also known as the “Land of the Efeler” in our country. Moreover, it is one of the places where the world's most beautiful figs grow. It is the second most populous province of the Aegean Region, after Izmir. The people, who make a living with agriculture and animal husbandry in the interior, are more interested in tourism in the coastal areas. It hosts both touristic and historically important towns such as Kuşadası, Söke and Didim within its borders.

The name of Aydın city comes with the capture of the city by Aydınoğulları Principality during the Principalities Period. When Aydınoğlu Mehmet Bey captured the city, he started to call it “Güzelhisar of Aydın”. Later, the name of the city remained as Aydın.

The history of Aydin as a settlement is also quite old. In the studies conducted in the Aegean and Central Anatolia, it is explained that the first historical information of Aydın is found in Hittite sources. According to Hittite sources, a river named “Seha” and a valley irrigated by it are mentioned in the west. This is undoubtedly the Büyük Menderes. The lands to the north of Seha were called the country of “Lukka”.

The name of Aydın at that time was Atria. It is said to have been founded on the ancient city of Tralles. In 400 BC, the Spartans tried to take Aydin and its surroundings from the Persians, but they failed. In 334 BC, it was taken by Alexander the Great and used as a base. Aydın, which was called “Ceasarec” until the end of the Roman Emperor Nero's period, started to be called “Tralles” in the 1st century AD. In the 11th century, the region was captured by the Turks and later by the Byzantines. In 1280, the city was captured by the Menteşe Principality and later by the Aydınoğlu Principality and the name of the city became “Aydın Güzelhisar”. Later, this name was transformed into “Aydın”.


In 1425, the city was annexed to the Ottoman Empire by Murat II and became a sanjak under the Anatolian province. The first railroad of Anatolia is built and put into operation between Aydın and Izmir. On May 27, 1919, the city was occupied by the Greeks, who retook it on June 30, 1919. The city was liberated from the invaders on September 7, 1922 and joined the territory of the Republic of Turkey.

Today, Aydın is a city visited by thousands of local and foreign tourists every year, especially in the coastal areas. Kuşadası and Didim are the most important touristic districts. Especially Kuşadası gets crowded with the start of the summer vacation season and many foreign tourist ships dock in the harbor. Kuşadası is a district where those who want to reach Ephesus come by sea and stay or visit.

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