Stops along the way
Stops between İzmir and Muğla
257 km, roughly 3 hours of driving. The stops below are ordered as you pass them — the same road in both directions.
In short
The drive between İzmir and Muğla is 257 km and takes roughly 3 hours. There are 254 described places within 20 km of this route; it crosses 4 provinces, and the densest stretch is in İzmir (80 places).
There are 254 places within 20 km of this corridor; the 41 below are spread evenly along the drive.
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1
Nif Dağı Antik Kazı Alanı
Kemalpaşa, İzmir
The Nif Mountain Archaeological Site, known as Olympos in ancient times, hosts remnants of various cultures.
2
Kuvayı Milliye Anıtı
Yunusemre, Manisa
The Kuvayı Milliye Monument is a composition that elevates Atatürk's revolutions and progressive thoughts alongside the people.
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3
Çeşnigir Camii
Şehzadeler, Manisa
Çeşnigir Mosque, built in 1474 by Çeşnigir Sinan Bey, who was freed by II. Mehmed, is one of the oldest mosques in the city.
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4
Muradiye Camii ve Külliyesi
Şehzadeler, Manisa
The Muradiye Mosque and Complex was built between 1583-1592 on behalf of Sultan Murad III and is based on a design by Mimar Sinan.
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5
Hisar Camii
Konak, İzmir
Hisar Mosque is the largest and most impressive mosque in Izmir, built in 1592. It features typical characteristics of classical Ottoman architecture.
6
Forbes Köşkü
Buca, İzmir
Forbes Mansion is an architectural masterpiece located in Buca, developed as a leisure place for Levantines since the late 18th century.
7
Bin Yillik Tarihi Çinarlar
Buca, İzmir
In Buca Kaynaklar Merkez Mahallesi, in the square where the village mosque is also located, there are 5 plane trees that have completed a thousand years. It is the route used by mountaineers to ascend Nif Dağı. Breakfast halls, and the opportunity to have tea, coffee, food and rest under the trees can be found.
8
Buca Göleti
Buca, İzmir
Buca Göleti is a large social facility area located in the Buca district of İzmir. It offers various activities with a 30,000 square meter artificial lake, a theater, picnic areas, and children's play units.
9
Boncukköy
Menderes, İzmir
Boncukköy is a village famous for its evil eye beads and glass art. Efforts continue to promote the challenging yet beautiful craft of evil eye bead making.
10
Metropolis Örenyeri
Torbalı, İzmir
Metropolis is an ancient settlement located 45 km east of Izmir, featuring remnants from the Hellenistic period and a theater that offers historical richness.
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11
Jeep Ve Atv Safari
Selçuk, İzmir
Jeep and ATV safari services are offered in Selçuk and Menderes districts. It is possible to experience an unforgettable adventure amidst natural beauty.
12
Yedi Uyuyanlar Mağarası
Selçuk, İzmir
The Cave of the Seven Sleepers is a tourist site located near the ancient city of Ephesus, significant in both Islam and Christianity.
13
Efes Yamaç Evler
Selçuk, İzmir
The Terrace Houses of Ephesus are a well-preserved settlement of seven houses from the Roman period of the ancient city of Ephesus.
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14
Trajan Çeşmesi
Selçuk, İzmir
The Trajan Fountain is a historical structure located in the Ancient City of Ephesus, built in the 2nd century AD.
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15
Selçuk Kalesi
Selçuk, İzmir
Selçuk Castle is a historic fortress located on the site of the first settlement of Ephesus.
16
Magnesia Antik Kenti
Germencik, Aydın
The Ancient City of Magnesia is a historical settlement located in Germencik, Aydın. This city, known for its significance as a trade center in ancient times, is recognized for the works of architect Hermogenes.
17
Yamaç Paraşütü - Adnan Menderes Kent Ormanı
Koçarlı, Aydın
Adnan Menderes Kent Forest offers an ideal launch site for paragliding, along with a cafeteria, restaurant, and picnic areas, providing various activities amidst beautiful nature views.
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18
Çavuş Köprüsü
Efeler, Aydın
Çavuş Bridge is a historical bridge built with cut stone material, located over the Tabakhane stream.
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19
Süleyman Bey Camii
Efeler, Aydın
Süleyman Bey Mosque is a historical mosque built in the classical Ottoman style.
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20
Eski Yeni (Hasan Çelebi) Cami
Efeler, Aydın
The Eski Yeni Mosque, built before 1585, is a historic place of worship. Its square plan and single dome are notable features.
21
Nasuhpaşa Küllliyesi
Efeler, Aydın
Nasuhpaşa Külliyesi is a historical madrasa located in Aydın. It was restored and opened to visitors in 2010.
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22
Cemal Bey Hamamı
Efeler, Aydın
Cemal Bey Hamamı, also known as Bey Hamamı, is a historic structure located near the Nasuh Paşa Complex. It is currently in a dilapidated state, with traces indicating it was once decorated.
23
Cincin Kalesi
Koçarlı, Aydın
Cincin Castle is a historical structure located in the Koçarlı district, built to ensure the safety of the Cihanoğulları.
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24
Alinda Antik Kenti
Karpuzlu, Aydın
According to Hittite tablets and Egyptian writings, this ancient city was referred to as İalanti in ancient writing and was included in the land of the Seha river (Büyük Menderes). To secure the safety of Arzavva king Uhazitis, who took courage from the Hittite emperor II. Mursillis ascending the throne at a young age, and to carry out attacks comfortably, he first made an agreement with Ahhiawa and gave Miletus to him in return for the military assistance he would provide. This information II.
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25
Alabanda Antik Kenti
Çine, Aydın
Alabanda is an ancient city located in Doğanyurt village, 9 km from the district of Çine, in the Doğanyurt area formerly called Araphisar. Before Hellenization in the 4th century BC, it was a Carian city.
26
Doğa Yürüyüşü (trekking) - Madran Yaylası
Çine, Aydın
It is on Madran Dağı, which is Aydın's highest mountain at 1792 metres and is located to the east of Çine District. The plateau, where activities such as day trips and trekking can be done, is an important destination for the local people during the heat of the summer season.
27
Ahmet Gazi Camii
Çine, Aydın
Ahmet Gazi Camii (Ulu Cami), located in Eski Çine Village of Çine, was built in the first half of the 14th century. There is no detailed information about its construction. Looking at historical documents, it is highly probable that the Mosque was commissioned by his son Hızır Bey during the reign of Menteşoğlu Orhan Bey.
28
Lagina Antik Kenti
Yatağan, Muğla
The fame of the sacred area of Lagina, which was an important cult center of the Carians, has survived to the present day, and this area is still also known by the name Leyne. According to the remains identified in and around Lagina, settlements in the region date back to the 3rd millennium BC. Following the Early Bronze Age graves uncovered in the Yarbaşı area, the earliest finds in the region belong to the Submycenaean Period.
29
Stratonikeia Antik Kenti
Yatağan, Muğla
Stratonikeia Ancient City is located within the borders of Eskihisar Village on the Yatağan-Milas highway, 6-7 km. west of Muğla's Yatağan District. The city was founded in the 3rd century B.C. Syrian King Seleucus I gave his wife Stratonice to his son Antiochus. Antiochus then founded the city in the name of Stratonice, who was first his stepmother and then his wife. According to the traveler and writer Strabo, the city was adorned with very beautiful structures.
30
Anıt Ağaç
Yatağan, Muğla
The Monumental Tree is located in the Pınarbaşı area of the town of Bozöyük, 24 km from the Muğla - Yatağan road. The monumental tree, registered and protected by the Ministry of Forestry, has a diameter of 6 and a height of approximately 30 meters.
31
Panamara
Yatağan, Muğla
Panamara kutsal alanı Yatağan İlçesi, Bağyaka Köyü sınırları içerisinde yerleşim yerinin yaklaşık 300 m güneyinde yer alan tepelik bir alanı kapsamakta olup Muğla Kültür Varlıklarını Koruma Bölge Kurulu Müdürlüğü’nün 13.03.2014 tarih ve 2411 sayılı kararı ile I. derece arkeolojik sit alanı olarak tescillenmiştir.
32
Özbekler Evi
Menteşe, Muğla
The building, one of the traditional Muğla houses and known as Hacı Hamzalar and Ali Rıza Özbek Evi, has a history of approximately 225 years. In 1987, it was given the award for the best preserved and maintained house by the Muğla Chamber of Architects. In its early days, the building had an earthen roof, but later underwent certain renovations and spaces such as a winter house, summer house, landings, and under-house areas were created in the building. Later, the earthen roof was closed off and converted into a system with a wooden bağdadi and tiled roof.
33
Mobolla Antik Kenti
Menteşe, Muğla
To the south of Muğla city center and adjacent to the urban protected area, on the rocky hill known as Masa Dağı or Asar in the northeast of Saburhane Neighborhood, are the remains of the Ancient City of Mobolla and its castle. According to the Muğla Museum Directorate, the oldest known name of the settlement is Mogla (Mώγλα). An inscription dated to the 2nd century BC and found in Muğla leaves no doubt that the name of the city was Mόβολλα (Mobolla).
34
Muğla Saatli Kule
Menteşe, Muğla
The clock tower located on Kara Mustafa Caddesi in Balıbey Mahallesi was commissioned in 1895 by Hacı Kadızade Süleyman Efendi, Muğla’s first Mayor, and his wife Pembe Ana. After returning from the pilgrimage, they had a similar tower to the one they saw in the city of Damascus built by the famous Greek master Filvarus. Muğla Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism The Clock Tower is square-planned and five storeys high, built using cut stone and brick, and narrows from bottom to top.
35
Karabağlar Yaylası
Menteşe, Muğla
Karabağlar Yaylası, 3 kilometers from Muğla city center, is a place worth setting aside time to see. With its cold spring water, ancient plane trees, and abundant fruit trees, Karabağlar is a place of escape on hot days. . The plateau’s whitewashed, red-tiled houses share the same characteristics as the protected historic houses of Muğla’s Saburhane Mahallesi. This settlement on the plateau has been placed under protection, and ugly construction has not been allowed.
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36
Muğla Yaylaları
Menteşe, Muğla
Gökçukur plateau is at an altitude of 1700. On the plateau, which is completely covered with forest, there is an auberge-type accommodation unit belonging to the Forestry Directorate. Yerküpü Plateau, 5 kilometers from Menteşe and 15 kilometers from Kavaklıdere, is the most popular plateau in the region.
37
Kleopatra Plajı
Marmaris, Muğla
Cleopatra Island (Sedir Island (Cedrea)) is one of the tourist attractions and must-see places located 16 kilometers north of Marmaris. The area is famous for its golden-yellow sandy beach and sea. The beach is also called Cleopatra Beach. The city walls, pla and ancient theater ruins belonging to the ancient city of Cedrae are also located here.
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38
Ula Belediyesi Akyaka Halk Plajı
Ula, Muğla
Ula Belediyesi Akyaka Public Beach is a public beach candidate included in the 2025 Blue Flag official list.
39
Sedir Adası Örenyeri
Marmaris, Muğla
The ancient city of Kedrai, or by its common name Sedir Adası, is located to the east of Gökova (Keramos, Kerme) Gulf within the borders of Muğla’s Ula district. It is the largest of a group of three islands in the gulf filled with ancient ruins. The ancient name of Sedir Adası was Kedrae or Cedrae. It is thought that the island and its surroundings, which local people refer to as Sedir Adası, were covered with cedar trees (Cedrus) centuries ago, and that for this reason the island was called Cedrae.
40
Sultaniye Kaplıcası
Köyceğiz, Muğla
At the hot spring, which is also a stop for boat tours, you can hear many stories that patients brought in wheelchairs or on stretchers left walking after a 21-session treatment. Sultaniye is the hot spring with the highest radioactivity in Turkey. (98.3) The 39-degree water contains calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, calcium sulfur and radon. It is also good for skin and women's diseases as well as rheumatism and sciatica.
41
Köyceğiz Gölü
Köyceğiz, Muğla
The lake is fed by waters descending from the mountains in seven branches and by abundant water sources, and for this reason it does not lose its characteristic in summer or winter. It is a lake that discharges its excess water into the Mediterranean through a narrow 10-kilometer-long channel (Dalyan). If you do not have a detailed map of the surroundings, while traveling around the area it can easily be confused which is the lake and which is the sea. The best clue is the lake’s reed beds. The area covered by the lake, which is connected to the Mediterranean by the Dalyan Strait, is 6300 hectares.
Move the stops into your own plan, split them across days, and add places to sleep and eat.
Frequently asked
- How far is it between İzmir and Muğla, and how long does it take?
- Driving between İzmir and Muğla is roughly 257 kilometres and takes about 3 hours without stops.
- Where is it worth stopping between İzmir and Muğla?
- There are 254 described places within 20 km of the road between İzmir and Muğla. toroti lists 41 of them spread evenly along the drive, in the order you pass them; Nif Dağı Antik Kazı Alanı comes early on, and Köyceğiz Gölü sits near the end.
- Which provinces does the İzmir to Muğla route cross?
- The route between İzmir and Muğla crosses İzmir → Manisa → Aydın → Muğla. The stretch richest in places to visit is in İzmir.
- Should I take the toll highway or traditional route between İzmir and Muğla?
- Toll motorways save driving time between İzmir and Muğla, whereas traditional state roads pass directly through historic town centers, local culinary stops, and scenic nature viewpoints.
- How should breaks be scheduled between İzmir and Muğla?
- For a drive of around 3 hours, taking a break every 2 to 2.5 hours is recommended. The catalogued attractions in İzmir and neighboring provinces offer memorable stopovers compared to generic highway rest areas.