Priene is an ancient Greek city of Ionia (and member of the Ionian League) at the base of an escarpment of Mycale, about 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) north of the then course of the Maeander (now called the Büyük Menderes or "Big Maeander") River, 67 kilometers (42 mi) from ancient Anthea, 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from ancient Aneon and 25 kilometers (16 mi) from ancient Miletus.

It is originally on the sea coast, built overlooking the ocean on steep slopes and terraces extending from sea level to a height of 380 meters (1,250 ft) above sea level at the top of the escarpment Today, after several centuries of changes in the landscape, it is an inland site.

It is located at a short distance west of the modern village Güllübahçe Turun in the Söke district of Aydın Province, Turkey.Priene possesses a great deal of famous Hellenistic art and architecture.

The city's original position on Mount Mycale has never actually been discovered; however, it is believed that it was a peninsula possessing two harbors.

Priene never holds a great deal of political importance due to the city's size, as it is believed around 4 to 5 thousand inhabitants occupied the region.

The city is arranged into four districts, firstly the political district, which consists of the bouleuterion and the prytaneion; the cultural district containing the theater; the commercial, where the agora is located; and finally, the religious district, which contains sanctuaries dedicated to Zeus and Demeter and, most importanty, the Temple of Athena.