Admittedly, in Turkey, you have plenty of choices regarding ancient sites, and people focus on more famous and prominent ancient sites like Ephesus. Still, consider a stop at Stratonikeia for another engaging experience.

Stratonikeia offers a unique opportunity to visit ancient ruins with ongoing excavations and restorations whilst also experiencing everyday rural life in Turkey. Why is that?

Well, Stratonikeia is still inhabited even today.

A Return Visit Can Be Full Of Surprises

About five years ago, we first visited Stratonikeia and stopped there regularly during our road trips. However, we must admit that our last stop must have been two years ago.

You would think that once you visit an ancient site, you can get it off and remove it from your list. We know now that even ancient ruins evolve. So does Stratonikeia. Some of the structures that were previously in ruins have been restored.

Some places are just wasteland, new buildings have been unearthed, and a return visit to Stratonikeia is like a unique experience. So, it’s time to take a look at our existing post on Stratonikeia and overhaul it. To see how Stratonikeia has evolved in this article, we show you the current situation, but we also compare our old photos to give you an idea of the impact and scale of the restoration work. This explains why a return visit can be a discovery.

A Former Major City Turned Intimate

Although Stratonikea is gaining popularity, you can still wander the streets of Stratonikeia’s no man’s land at certain times and be the only one there. It’s slightly magical to discover this partially restored ancient town.

Having it all to yourself makes up for the fact that many parts still need to be sorted, and pieces of the ancient puzzle need to be put back together. None of this seems to matter. As you walk past the empty houses along the narrow paved streets, you sense old town life in a certain way. This ancient site is majestic, impressive and intimate at the same time.

Majestic Columns

Colonnaded Street At Stratonikeia

In the village, the mosque has been lovingly restored. Behind it are the remains of the Seljuk Baths.

The mosque is no longer in ruins, but it is a beautiful example that restoration works can be of added value if done correctly.

Now that the restoration of the mosque has been completed, the building is back in service. It’s a testament to the expertise of the teams working at Stratonikeia and their vision for how to connect old and new. Inside the mosque, parts of the floor are made of glass tiles instead of carpet.

They show the ancient structures beneath it.

The Latrines

The “recent” addition to Stratonikeia is the Latrines near the Roman Baths.

The latrines are not new; quite the opposite, but excavations in the area are recent, so nothing visible today was excavated a few years ago.

There is a lot of “old stones” around Turkey as we sometimes tend to speak about it disrespectfully. Some of these ancient stone sites just happen to be more fascinating than others.

Getting away from the hustle and bustle helps enhance the Stratonikeia experience. Getting off the beaten track and exploring some of the lesser-known parts of the country will often leave you satisfied as the only visitor to a place full of history and charm.

Stratonikeia Has A Particular Charm

Places Nearby

Visit Hekate in Lagina, (8 km)

Gökbel Valley, Fresco hunting in Jurassic landscapes (6 km)

Gerga, hiking to one of Turkey’s most mysterious sites (24 km)

Labraunda, a visit to the Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos (25 km)

Beçin Castle, dominating the Milas’ plain (25 km)

Practical Information

You will find Stratonikeia near Yatağan, on the main road connecting Milas and Muğla. We recommend planning this as a day trip, or as a stop on a road trip. It is only a short drive from the Bodrum Peninsula or the beautiful Gökova Bay.

Entrance is free and, weather permitting, you can enjoy a drink or a light meal in the café. During the tourist season, abandoned houses near the Old Village Square are turned into souvenir and gözleme stalls.