Aydın doesn't get talked about as much as some of Turkey's coastal hotspots, but it's quietly one of the most interesting corners of the Aegean. This is fig country, actually the fig country: the province grows around 60% of everything Turkey exports, and its orchards and olive groves roll down towards a stretch of Aegean coast that takes in Kuşadası and the long sandy sweep of Altınkum Beach near Didim. The fertile valley of the Büyük Menderes River also grows most of the region's olives, mainly the Memecik variety used for table olives and oil. Inland, things get even more interesting. Aphrodisias, a Roman-era city famous for its marble sculpture workshop, sits quietly among the olive trees, and further north the ancient university town of Nysa still has one of Turkey's best-preserved libraries, built into the side of a gorge.

Beach days at Kuşadası, ruins at Aphrodisias, or a slower pace in a market town somewhere in between: Aydın has a base for all three. Here's where to stay and what to expect.

Where to stay in Aydın

• Kuşadası: the province's buzzing Aegean port, all marina bars, cruise-ship crowds and beach clubs. Good pick if you want nightlife within walking distance. See hotels in Kuşadası.
• Didim: home to Altınkum Beach, a proper long stretch of sand that's popular with families. Quieter than Kuşadası, but still plenty of resorts. See hotels in Didim.
• Söke: inland and low-key, best known locally for its golf courses and market gardens. A good shout if you want space and a slower pace. See hotels in Söke.
• Nazilli: a working market town further inland, and the handiest base if Nysa's ancient theatre and library are on your list. See hotels in Nazilli.

How much is Aydın accommodation?

Rooms across the province start from around AU$51 a night, though where you land on the price ladder depends a lot on whether you're chasing a coastal resort or a quieter inland stay.

• Backpackers and basic guesthouses: from AU$25 per night. Simple pensions inland, no frills, clean and cheap.
• Budget hotels: from AU$45 per night. The standard rate across most of the province's smaller towns.
• Mid-range apartments: from AU$70 per night. Self-contained places near the Kuşadası marina or Didim's beachfront.
• Boutique stays: from AU$110 per night. Smaller, design-led properties with a more personal level of service.
• Luxury resorts: from AU$180 per night. The big all-inclusive golf-and-spa set-ups along the coast.

Top-rated hotels in Aydın

• Korumar Deluxe Hotel (Kuşadası): right on a rocky, turquoise-water beach, with indoor and outdoor pools and a proper spa. View hotel.
• Ramada Resort Kusadasi and Golf (Kuşadası): a genuine golf resort with its own course, water-slide pools and a private beach. View hotel.
• Unique Residence Hotel Golf & Spa (Söke): golf and spa facilities plus a waterpark, built with families in mind. View hotel.
• Didim Beach Resort and Elegance (Didim): a beachside family resort with pools and dedicated kids' facilities. View hotel.

Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Aydın

• Decide beach or heritage first. Kuşadası and Didim are set up for coastal holidays, while Nazilli and Söke suit a quieter, ruins-and-countryside trip.
• Book the coast early for the European summer, roughly June to September. Kuşadası and Didim fill up fast and prices climb.
• Staying inland to visit Aphrodisias or Nysa? Base yourself in Nazilli rather than the coast. It cuts the drive down significantly.
• Travelling in fig season, from around August to October? Inland towns are at their liveliest, with roadside stalls selling fresh and dried figs straight from the harvest.
• Filter for "all-inclusive" if you want a full resort experience on the coast. Most of the bigger Kuşadası and Didim properties offer it.
• Most visitors fly into İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport rather than anywhere in Aydın itself. It's roughly an hour's drive to Kuşadası and Didim, so factor that into your first night if you're arriving late.

Beyond the beach, Aydın's biggest drawcard is Aphrodisias, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman city about 100km inland that was once a leading centre of marble sculpture in the Roman world. Its stadium held 30,000 spectators, and its sculpture workshop is one of the only ones ever properly excavated anywhere in the empire. Closer to Nazilli, the ancient city of Nysa is worth the detour too. It was once known as a centre of learning in the ancient world, and today it still has a 10,000-seat theatre and one of Turkey's best-preserved ancient libraries, built straight over a gorge with a Roman tunnel underneath it. Both sites are a comfortable half-day trip from an inland base, and neither gets anywhere near the crowds of Ephesus further up the coast. If you're planning a wider Aegean itinerary, take a look at hotels across Turkey.