The Temple of Apollo

Didim was known in ancient times as the site of a magnificent Temple of Apollo, where an oracle foretold the future. Didim was not a city in its heyday but a center of devotion, connected to Miletus via the so-called Sacred Way. Pilgrims who arrived at Didim in search of answers to challenging problems traveled this path.

Didim is now a small seaside resort in the province of Aydın on the Aegean coast, with its most renowned landmark being the Temple of Apollo. Tourism is the primary source of income for the locals, although agriculture, mainly wheat and cotton farming, remains a significant element of the local economy.

Historical Side of Apollo

Settlement in the Didim area goes back to the Neolithic period. The ideal position drew immigrants from Crete and, later, Mycenae in the 16th century BCE. The settlement's following history displays the usual kaleidoscope of civilizations that dominated western Asia Minor, namely the Lydians, Persians, Seleucids, Attalids, Romans, and Byzantines.

Visit Temple of Apollo

The remains of Didyma's Temple of Apollo are available to tourists every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the summer (April - October) and 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the winter (November - March). Visitors are regularly denied access to the Sacred Road area next to the temple.

The area around the temple has been restored in recent years, and cars are no longer permitted to enter the remains. The vehicle must be parked in the parking area around 200 meters from the ticket office.