Dikili - a small resort in Aegean Turkey (Dikili, (Turkey))

Member Name: europhile

Product:	Dikili, (Turkey)
Date:	14/05/08 (159 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: small , good food, friendly people , few other European tourists

Disadvantages: none

Dikili - a small holiday resort in Aegean Turkey

For those of you who prefer a beach holiday with options this is a useful place to know about. Dikili is a small resort , mostly used by Turkish families and ex pat Turks on holiday from their homes in other parts of Europe. Dikili is about 20 K's from Bergama, the ancient city of Pergamon and 2hours drive from Izmir airport. The town has good beaches with European Blue flag status , a fine market twice a week and a great many restaurants using fresh local produce at very reasonable prices . Locally there is a lot to do - spas abound as the area is full of thermally warmed water with various curative powers . They are not expensive to use and if you are able to get some local fisherman to take you there are nearby beaches where the sea is warmed by thermal springs. Nearby the towns of Candarli and Deniscoy offer interesting beach life and restaurants. Bergama is intersesting for its ancient Asklepion and oodles of other ancient architecture. Take the Baedekker guide with you or the Dorland Kindersley guide as they are both good on places of local interest here . The town also has a website that though in turkish does give you a flavour of things . There is also a web site for Villa Hannora that I have found useful for planning a visit , though we have never rented the villa itself.
What we particularly like is that this is a place that is not overrun with the usual hordes of west European tourists that visit turkey in the summer months. You can get a sense of being part of a real Turkish small town and to observe another culture at play. Sensibly the town government insists that the larger discos are on the edge of town and therefore dont disturb your sleep if this is not your thing . We have on our many visits here over the years learned to play OKEY, the alternative national game to backgammon that tends to be played all over Turkey . There are OKEY salons along the main street and at the beach. If you ask someone will be pleased to teach you how to play - but beware - it is addictive!.
There are a number of small hotels and Hostels and one four star Hotel - the Mysia. There are also villas to rent from the locals , some of whom has British connections . We "discovered "Dikili on a car tour of the Turkish coast 8 years ago and have been back 7 times since then, either to stay for a week or two or on our way to other Aegean towns in Turkey . Do give it a try - you will return!

Summary: small , friendly , reasonably priced Turkish resort