PLAN YOUR SEA OF MARMARA AND THE NORTH AEGEAN TRAVEL
The ruins of Troy, Pergamum, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely travel is also rewarded with fresh air, a cool sea, excellent food, and shelter in the wilderness.
The North Aegean and the Sea of Marmara regions are rich in history, crossing many centuries and empires. Cultures rose and fell at Troy for 5,000 years, and the ruins of Pergamum date from the period of Alexander the Great. The city of Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, before Istanbul. The battlegrounds of Gallipoli bear testament to the more recent past, World War I while the backstreets of Ayvalık still echo with the steps of the Greeks who lived there until early in the 20th century.
The beaches in this region serve to be more pebbly (and the water a touch colder) than they are in different parts of Turkey, but they're also usually less crowded. You can see the whole of the region in a week or, if you're based in Istanbul, on separate, shorter trips. Spend at least one evening seeing the sun go down over Homer's wine-dark sea, and you'll accept that the North Aegean has a little bit of all—and a lot you won't find anywhere else.
TOP REASONS TO GO
EXPLORE "GREEN BURSA" Visit Yesil Cami (Green Mosque), stroll the covered bazaar and make sure to try the local kebab specialty, İskender kebap.
GO BACK IN TIME AT TROY Visit the remains of this 5,000-year-old city of Homer’s Iliad, where more than nine stories of civilization have been opened
PAY RESPECTS AT GALLIPOLI Travel the battlegrounds and memorials where one of the key battles of World War I was challenged.
RAMBLE THROUGH ANCIENT PERGAMUM Travel this magnificent showcase of the classical period, second in Turkey only to Ephesus.
RELAX IN ASSOS Enjoy the quiet of Behramkale Village; wonder at the Greek remains and soak up the sun on nearby beaches.
SEA OF MARMARA AND THE NORTH AEGEAN
WHEN TO GO
- The Southern Marmara and the North Aegean area are considerably fresher than the South Aegean and Mediterranean coast, but summer is still sweltering. In July and August, the royal park at Uludag, in Bursa, lives refreshingly cool, and, with its skiing possibilities, is also an attraction in winter. If you're here in colder months, dipping in Bursa’s thermal baths is a great antidote to the winter blues.
Passengers from New Zealand and Australia throng the Gallipoli Peninsula and nearby towns for the April 25 Anzac Day ceremonies; other visitors may want to avoid the area at this busy time. Gallipoli, Çanakkale, and Troy—which Homer referred to as a windy city—can all be gusty in late summer and fall.