Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme

|Daily, 3 Destinations |Starts from Cesme
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 1
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 2
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 3
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 4
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 1
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 2
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 3
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 4
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 5
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 6
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 7
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 8
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 9
Daily Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour from Cesme 10
Best price guaranteed
No booking fees
Earn €20 in travel credits

Duration

daily

Max Group Size

40

Departure Type

Scheduled

Guiding Method

Fully guided

Physical level

relax

Operated In

English

Age Requirement

0 - 99 Ages

Tour Overview

Sigacik is one of the fishing villages in Izmir. Its name comes from warm people and closeness to the sea. It was established around the castle and a perfect place to watch marvelous sunset. Narrow streets and unique architecture are worth seeing.

DailyDiscoveryFamilyHistoricalIn-depth CulturalMuseumPhotographySightseeingSolo TravelWalking Tour

Route

Starts from

Cesme

Ends in

Cesme

Pickup Location

Cesme

Dropoff Location

Cesme

Tour route map

Highlights

Sığacık Fishing Village & Castle Explore narrow cobblestone streets within the 16th-century fortress built under Suleyman the Magnificent. Visit the atmospheric harbor, old mosque, Turkish bath, medrese (Ottoman school), and traditional water tank. Browse local Culture Museum featuring ethnographic finds. Teos Ancient City Walk through the 10th-century BC Ionian city: acropolis, theater, city walls, and former port. Stand before the remains of the Temple of Dionysus, once Anatolia’s largest, designed by Hermogenes of Priene Picturesque Atmosphere Enjoy the laid-back charm of this historic fishing village—part of the Turkish Cittaslow movement—and admire the seaside marina lined with fresh-fish restaurants

Itinerary

Pick up from your hotel in Cesme and depart to Sigacik. Sigacik is one of the fishing villages in Izmir. Its name comes from warm people and closeness to the sea. It was established around the castle and a perfect place to watch marvelous sunset. Narrow streets and unique architecture are worth seeing. There is a fish market, restaurants and extraordinary Ataturk statue.
He’s standing on a sailboat and watches the sea.
Sigacik Castle is also one of the must seen places which was built in 1522 by Suleyman the Magnificent. Inside the castle you can see restored ancient streets, some of the houses are stone and some of them are lime white. Some houses are still residence however some of them are restaurants with its unique atmosphere. There are a lot of place you can have lunch inside of the castle.

You can also visit Suleyman Han Mosque, Turkish bath, medresa(Ottoman School) and old water tank. Before visiting ancient cities around Sigacik, you will stop for Culture Museum which is near the castle. In this museum there are ethnographic pieces which were found on this area.
After Museum continue to Teos Ancient City is one of the historical places you can visit. It’s 5 km away from Sigacik. The first inhabitance dates back to 10th century BC. Then you will visit Acropolis, Ancient Theater, city walls, ancient port and the biggest temple of Anatolia, Dionysus.

After Tour around 17:00 – 18.00 we will depart back to Cesme and drop back to your hotel.
We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another TravelShop Booking Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking.

Trip includes

Included

Professional English - speaking tour guides

Guiding Method
Fully guided

English

Lunch

Vegetarian Halal Meat

Pick up from your hotel in Cesme

Transportation in a fully air - conditioned, non - smoking coach

Drop back to your hotel in Cesme

Coach / BusMini-coachPrivate Vehicle

Guided Teos Ancient City & Sigacik Tour
All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary Tours & Transfer Taxes

Teos Ancient City & Modern Sığacık
The ancient city of Teos, known today as Sığacık, is located approximately 80 km north of Kuşadası and 60 km southwest of İzmir.

The first settlement dates back to the 10th century BC, founded by Greek colonists fleeing the Dorian invasions in mainland Greece. According to legend, the city’s founder was Athamas, and it was initially called Athamias—“the city of Athamas.” Later, it became known as Teos when Ionian settlers arrived and established one of the twelve Ionian cities of Western Anatolia.

Teos occupied a central location in Ionia, surrounded by other notable Ionian cities such as Miletus, Myus, Priene, Ephesus, Kolophon, Lebedos, Klazomenai, Phocaea, Samos, Chios, and Erythrai. (Smyrna, originally an Aeolian city, later joined the Ionian League.) This federation of cities, called the Panionion, became a major power known for maritime trade and mining. In the 6th century BC, the philosopher Thales of Miletus even suggested making Teos the federation’s capital due to its central position.

In the 7th century BC, Teos fell under Lydian control, and by the 6th century BC, it faced Persian invasions. The Ionian League allied with Athens and other Greek islands in what became known as the Attica-Delos League. A pivotal event was the Battle of Lade in 494 BC, where Teos contributed 17 ships to the alliance’s fleet of 353, fighting valiantly against 600 Persian ships. Despite their efforts, the Ionians were defeated, leading to Persian domination and the migration of many Teans to found the city of Abdera in Thrace.

The Legacy of Dionysus and the Arts
Archaeological discoveries in Teos include coins depicting griffins, believed to symbolize Dionysus, the city’s patron god of wine, art, and theatre. Teos became a renowned center for performers and musicians. The Temple of Dionysus, constructed in the 3rd century BC by the architect Hermogenes of Priene, was the largest of its kind in Anatolia. Hermogenes, likely a student of Pytheos (the architect of the Temple of Athena in Priene), designed the temple in the peripteros style with 6 by 11 columns.

Roman architect Vitruvius mentions this temple in his writings, noting its elegance and scale. Unfortunately, earthquakes repeatedly damaged the temple. The remains visible today date from the time of Emperor Hadrian.

The actor-priests of Dionysus held significant influence in Teos, but their privileges sometimes sparked conflicts. In 152 BC, they were expelled from Teos and relocated to Ephesus, only to face similar hostility there.

Modern Excavations and Sığacık Today
For the past four years, Turkish archaeologists have been conducting excavations at Teos. However, the site remains underdeveloped, and visitors are advised to manage expectations as ongoing work and funding are still needed.

Modern-day Sığacık sits adjacent to the ancient ruins. In the 16th century, Ottoman Emperor Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned a fortress here to protect against the Knights of St. John and to establish a naval base controlling trade routes.

Today, Sığacık is known for its organic agriculture—particularly olives and tangerines—and its membership in the Cittaslow movement, which promotes a quieter, more sustainable way of life. On Sundays, the town hosts a vibrant organic farmers’ market in its charming center. Visitors can also enjoy the marina, fresh seafood restaurants, and peaceful streets lined with traditional houses.

Excluded

International and Domestic Flights

Insurance: All types

Personal expenses: Lunches , Extras at hotel or additional meals
Tipping: Tips for guides and drivers

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