Islands You Can Visit Near Didim

Just off the coast of Didim are small islands reachable by boat or on foot, and boat tours from Didim also run day trips to the Dodecanese — Kos, Leros and Rhodes. That combination turns Didim from a simple seaside town into a gateway to the Aegean's world of islands.

Islands Close to Didim

Saplı Island, in Akbük, is about a 20-minute drive from central Didim. It is a protected site, said to have formed from a volcanic eruption around 1500 BC. Since it sits only 300 metres from shore, most visitors reach it by wading over pebbles or swimming — making it the easiest island to reach for travellers without a boat.

Panayır Island (also called Ziraat Island) is reached by boat from Altınkum, 2 km off the coast in the Gulf of Güllük. It is uninhabited, with the ruins of an abandoned church; swimming is possible where boats anchor. Its quiet, empty character makes it an appealing alternative to the busier beaches.

Tavşan Island lies just 150 metres from Tavşan Burnu. Harbour remains dating to around 3000 BC point to its historical importance; earthquakes have since submerged part of the old harbour — a point of particular interest for anyone keen to snorkel or dive around the ruins.

Greek Islands Reachable by Boat

Boat tours from Didim also reach the Dodecanese islands of Kos, Leros and Rhodes. Each has its own character:

• Kos: one of the largest Dodecanese islands. The Asklepion medical centre founded by Hippocrates — of Hippocratic Oath fame — stands on the island, and some doctors still travel here to take the oath.
• Leros: an island with a 71 km coastline and a history stretching back centuries. It remained under Ottoman rule for 400 years before joining Greece in 1947. At the top of the island, 10th-century Leros Castle is reached by a staircase; the Platonos district still keeps a traditional way of life.
• Rhodes: the largest of the Dodecanese, with a 220 km coastline and a population of around 130,200. The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was built around 280 BC. Its medieval fortress was built by the Knights between the 14th and 15th centuries and conquered by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1522. The island has five harbours, led by the Central Harbour; the Süleymaniye Mosque he had built after the conquest was restored in 2005 and opened as a museum (it is closed to worship).

You can visit these islands on a day tour or chart your own route with a private boat. Day tours usually involve a passport check and a set amount of time ashore, so it's worth confirming current travel-document requirements with your tour operator beforehand.