10 Must Visit Ancient Ruins near Antalya, Turkey!
Antalya is the beautiful, eighth-most populated city in Turkey. This bustling city boasts ruins and great museums within its boundaries, but there are also plenty of ancient ruins near Antalya worth visiting. Below are the most notable and interesting ruins in the area, along with important visitors’ information.
10 most interesting ancient ruins near Antalya, Turkey
Antalya, Turkey map of ruins and ancient sites
Use this map to plan your visit to ancient sites near Antalya. All of the ruins and transportation routes are marked where available.
ADD MAP LINK (JESSICA)
Ancient city of Perge (allies of Alexander the Great)
Type: Greek
Dated: Founded around 1000 BC
Distance from Antalya city center: Perge city is about 15 km east of the city.
Bus from Antalya city center: Take a bus and alight at Aksu 1 bus park. The rest is a 20 minute walking distance.
Cost to get in: 15TL ($2-3)
Back in 1300 BC, Perge was a prosperous trading port in the ancient world. It has some of the most extensive remains in the region contemporarily. It’s the place of Alexander the Great where he occupied with his army after quitting Phaselis. People enduringly welcomed him when he conquered the region and started using Perge as his base campaign.
Here, you can explore many ancient sites such as the 15,000-seat theater, agora, two churches, stadium and necropolis – which make this ancient place most interesting site for visitors.
Theatre is located on the way to Perge and it was built around 120 AD. It has an auditorium on a slope of a hill that has a shape of a semicircle. It is estimated that it would accommodate approximately 15000 spectators.
The stadium was built in the 2nd century AD. Its dimensions are 234 meters long and 34 meters wide. its auditorium had seats in 12 rows. It could accommodate approximately 12000 spectators.
While at the top of the ruins, you can see beyond the ruins to the surrounding areas. The ruins are open and they do not have shades. It is therefore important that you visit the ruins in the morning especially during summer season.
To get to Perge from Antalya, you can choose to drive, use a taxi or take a bus. Bus fare is 2 TL while taxi price is between 10TL to 15TL.
Termessos
Type: Greek
Dated: 334 BC
Distance from Antalya city center: About 30 km northwest of Antalya.
Bus from Antalya city center: Direct bus from the Antalya main bus station, the Otogar.
Cost to get in: 5 TL ($1)
Termessos city – a Pisidian city is uniquely known among one of the cities that Alexander could not conquer. This city is built on the side of Gulluk Mountain with an altitude of 1665 meters. The extremely high altitude differentiates Termessos from the other ruins near Antalya. It’s location gives it a magnificent view of the surroundings. You should come prepared for some efforts to climb and in some instances you will need to climb large rocks to get to the top. while at the top, you can see the Temple of Artemis and Handrian.
Because of the terrain of the area, have proper shoes and water to keep you hydrated. facilities available are the restrooms only.
However, a huge earthquake destroyed the aqueduct and water supply, forcing locals to flee.
Because Termessos is located on the site of the mountain, visiting it is entirely different from the other ancient cities due to its location along with the Mediterranean coast. Here you can explore the pine forest where you will find rare plant species that grow undisturbed in the national park.
To visit this place, you need to climb to the altitude of 1000 meters that is located deep into the Taurus mountain range. It is a challenging journey since you will need to climb steep hills. However, the challenges of climbing the hills get compensated by the view of vista that is seen from the ancient theatre.
Among the features of Termessos city is the ancient theatre is a magnificent site surrounded by mountains. it had the shape of a semicircle and it could host approximately 42000 people. there was also temples. you will find the remains of five temples. among other features of the city are necropolis, agora and gymnasium.
Located so close to Antalya’s city center, Termessos makes a great day trip. You will want to bring a good pair of hiking boots and will certainly get rewarded with the magnificent sight of its astonishing surrounding. In some areas, you will need to climb over huge rocks to get to the top of the ruins.
On your way to the ruins, you will see Temple of Artemis and the Handrian at the car park. Still in the car park, you will find a map which you can take a photo to refer to as you walk around.
Theater are among the most significant ruins in the area. The “Eagle’s Nest” hosts a National Park with the remains of ancient buildings and pine forest and also, rare plant species grow here without any disturbance from mass tourism.
You can visit the area either by public transport or by use of taxi or hitchhiking. A car or a taxi is more recommended. Visit the ruins in the morning so that you will have ample time to explore the area and also avoid excessive heat from the sun.
Syedra
Type: Greek
Dated: 7th century BC
Distance from Antalya city center: Approximately 155 km
Bus from Antalya city center: East along D400 route drive from Antalya
Cost to get in: 8 TL ($1.50)
The ancient ruins of Syedra are located near the Antalya. Researches date the history of Syedra back to the 7th century BC. These historical ruins are full of mysteries and an excellent proof of the fact that there are still numerous ruins left undiscovered in Turkey. This history makes it a great attraction point for the tourists.
Syedra is full of scenic sites that include numerous historical buildings having many mysterious facts along with it. Apart from these scenic buildings, you can see several marvelous baths, Byzantine church, olive oil workshop, five water cisterns, an ancient temple, a gymnasium and much more.
Among the most memorable moments of they city was in 194 AD. Emperor Septimius sent a commendation letter to the city praising the residents for fighting away pirate attacks. The contents of the letter were e were engraved on a stone that is now in Archaeological Museum.
These ruins are located on the top of Asar Hill at an altitude of 400 meters, near the inhabited village – Seki, Antalya. It takes 20 km east along D400 route drive from Antalya to visit the place. The last leg journey of this visit is most difficult because the roads are narrow and winding path, full of holes and covered with large boulders.
The Syedra ruins are located on a steep hill. They are about two-hour drive following D400 east of Alanya from the city. Since they are not very popular, they are easier to access using a car. However, the ruins are unique due to their rough nature and they are not highly trafficked unlike other ruins near Antalya.
Since the ruins are not very popular, you will be all by yourself if you choose to climb or hike. The place was inhabited in the 7 BCE and later abandoned in 13 BCE. Since then, archeologists have not excavated the area until 1994.
When visiting the place, go prepared for a bumpy and strenuous hike. Carry adequate water and climbing shoes for the hike since there will be climbing and hiking. Visit the ruins in the morning to get adequate time to explore the area and also avoid excessive heat from the sun. from the ruins, you can see the Mediterranean.
Aspendos Ruins
Type: Roman
Dated: 1000 BC
Distance from Antalya city center: About 40 km east of Antalya.
Bus from Antalya city center: No direct bus, Cab is the best option available
Cost to get in: 15 TL ($2-3)
Aspendos ruins are a historical and archaeological center and among the greatest tourist attraction centers in Antalya because of the Roman theatre. Other features you will find in the ruins include a stadium, basilica, aqueduct and an agora.
Roman Theatre
This Roman theater is probably the best-known and most prominent of the ruins in Antalya. Standing at 315 feet tall, Aspendos boasts being the best-preserved theater of antiquity. Local architect Zenon built this masterpiece in 155 AD as a gift to the Roman gods and the emperor Marcus Aurelius. The theater was used for summer opera performances and it is a home to the International Opera and Ballet Festival.
Aqueduct
Aqueduct is among the best preserved sites in Turkey. There were two sources that supplied water from the mountains to the city by use of a canal, bridges and tunnels. It consists of a complicated 2-kilometer stretch system that siphoned water to a height of 30 meters. However, it was destroyed by an earthquake forcing the locals to flee.
Stadium
The stadium was built in the 2nd century AD and it is U shaped. it has a length of 220 meters and 30 meters width. From the north eastern side of the stadium, you will see fragments of seats where it is estimated that over eight thousand spectators sat.
City Gates
Three city gates are still standing up to now. Among them is the southern gate that leads to agora. There is an arch, the road that led from the eastern gate that is still standing up to date. Before you get to the arch, the road widens to a square. From here, you can see where statues stood. You will also see a canal that directed sewage out of the acropolis.
Agora
The agora is irregular in shape which represents topographical feature of a hill. It was used for trading and political purposes. It is located at the center of the acropolis and a basilica and a market area surround it.
Basilica
It was a significant building in the city. The eastern part of the building is still in a good shape up to date. It was used as a court and also a political venue. It has two gates from the southern and the northern walls. The foundations that can be seen up to date.
Market Hall
The building is 70 meters long and it consists of small chambers that were used as shops. The front side was decorated by a stoa.
Side Ruins
Type: Greek
Dated: 7th Century BC
Distance from Antalya city center: 78 km from Antalya
Bus from Antalya city center: Direct bus or dolmus to Antalya city center
Cost to get in: 8 TL ($1.50)
The famous Side ruins near Antalya are hailed as one of the most classical sites located in Turkey. Representing the interesting history of Greek from the time of the Roman empire. These ruins are considered among the extremely spectacular remains in the current era.
Side ruins has an interesting history. Alexander the Great occupied the area in 333 BCE and introduced the people to Hellenistic culture. Ptolemy later concerned the area and declared himself the king in 305 BCE. In the 2nd century, it was captured by the Seleucid Empire. Despite of the conflicts, Side has remained prosperous. The prosperity was as a result of its favorable location, harbour suitable for trade.
A trip to Side Ruins is worth a visit since it renders a lot of interesting sites for a visitor. Here, the Temple of Apollo is a marvelous place and beautiful sight for you to have a photoshoot. It has many ruins which you can see and learn about their marvelous history. You will also find the theatre which is the most complete ruin in Side. It could host around 15000 people and the seats have inscriptions of patron’s names up to now. You will also find the remains of Byzantine hospital and basilica. There is also an aqueduct which supplied water to the city.
One of the most unique things about the Side ruins is that the village has preserved the ancient ruins while building up a modern city around them.
Taking a bus and car is one the safest and highly recommended mode of transport for visiting and exploring this ancient village.
Phaselis
Type: Ancient Greek and Roman city
Dated: 700 BC
Distance from Antalya city center: Approximately 58 km south of Antalya
Bus from Antalya city center: Direct Bus from Kemer,
Cost to get in: 20 TL ($3.5)
Phaselis was an Ancient Greek and Roman city of Lycia. This ancient place is full of ruins that are located in the north of modern town Tekirova, Kemer district. It is located between the bay mountain and Olympos National Park. It is surrounded by the Mediterranean sea thereby providing beaches where you can relax. Start to explore the ruins, baths and shops and the you can finally enjoy swimming in the beaches.
The best thing about roaming at this place is that you don’t need a guide to have an insight into the ruins.When you get to a certain point of one of these ruins, you are given a tours manual to help you explore the ruins.
When you move southwards around the bay, you will see ruins of Phaselis. Just like a majority of the cities in the area, the port city was a trading center. It is near water though not well maintained. Therefore, it attracts fewer tourists compared to Olympos which is just in the nearby. To get to the area, drive southwards along D400 until you get to the city. Alternatively, take a dolmus (bus number 08) from Kemer. Travelling by car is the best mode of transport that will take you approximately 9 minutes from Antalya. When you get there, you can choose where to go and what to see.
Other spots of the ruins include the main street, amphitheater, aqueduct, agora and you can also visit the beach. In the ruins, you will get to see waterway canals, round theatre and agoras that are well designed and built in the harbour. Phaselis is expensive compared to the other ruins but since you will enjoy the beach, it is worth the amount.
You are not allowed to picnic within the park. You can grab drinks, snacks and enjoy other facilities in the museum. Activities in the water are the most enjoyable part of the ruins. Therefore, carry your swimming gear and enjoy the whole day on the southern beaches which have softer sand.
Xanthos-Letoon
Type: Greek
Dated: Late 6th century BCE
Distance from Antalya city center: 215 kilometers from Antalya
Bus from Antalya city center: No direct bus, Cab is the best option available
Cost to get in: 10 TL ($2)
The Xanthos-Letoon is immensely famous for its mysterious stories and historical ruins and known for those who never thought to surrender to the enemy. Dating back to 3000 BC, it was the capital city of Lycia. During antiquity, this city is known to be the largest administrative center of Lycia and is noted as the most architecturally significant. In 1988, Xanthos-Letoon was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List and is the Antalya area’s only site on the list.
For tourists, this city has much more to explore – starting from blending of Lycian traditions and Hellenic influence, especially in its funerary art. Especially for the hikers, the Lycian Way of Xanthos is one of the ten most beautiful long distance hikes of the world. This city is full of many monumental tombs, rock tombs and sarcophagus tombs made using traditional architecture.
Archaeological features that you will find include the theatre of Xanthos which could host 2200 people. You will also find stage building which has vault entrances, theatron bears and semicircle orchestra. There is also the square area that is surrounded by porches and there is also the Roman Agora.
The Xanthos is located on the Lycian way that is a long-distance footpath along the Lycian coast. This ancient city has a huge area that is 510 km long and stretches from Oludeniz, near Fethiye to Geyikbayiri which is approximately 20 kilometers from Antalya.
Kaleici – Antalya Old Town
Type: Roman
Dated: 150 BC
Distance from Antalya city center: 2.5km far from the middle of Antalya city
Bus from Antalya city center: A cab (or walking) to Kale Kapısı, the city’s main square
Cost to get in: There is no admission fee
Located at the center of present-day Antalya, Kaleici is a picturesque old quarter. The architecture of Kaleici is predominantly from the Ottoman period. However, the walls surrounding the old city date from Roman times. In Kaleici, you will find narrow winding streets and historic wooden houses.
Visitors have numerous options to enter Kaleici, but the easiest is from Kalekapisi – a pedestrian zone in the center of Antalya. Kalekapisi features an ancient stone tower, the Grooved Minaret and a statue of Attalus.
You will also see the Ottoman mosques, Broken Minaret Mosque and a Roman temple. On the ancient harbor, you will find the 44 stone steps that were built by Venetians.
A visitor can get a cab from Antalya to reach Kaleici village and enjoy the interesting trip to this ancient village.
Hadrian’s Gate
Type: Roman
Dated: 130 AD
Distance from Antalya city center: Located in the city center
Bus from Antalya city center:
Cost to get in: There is no admission fee.
Hadrian’s Gate, also known as the Triple Gate, was built in 130 AD and it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful monuments of Antalya which leads to Kaleici. Its first name – Triple Gate is a memorial of the ancient history of the city. Sultana Belkis – the Queen of Sheba, is said to have passed beneath those gates and experienced a delightful day in the palace in Aspendos on her way to visit King Solomon. And its second name – Hadrian was assigned on the visit of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 2nd Century AD.
This interesting monument is ideal to have an inside view and the history of Romans. Beautiful architectural qualities make it one of the most highlighted attraction points for tourists. This gate includes two towers standing on either side, each from a different period. The tower on the south side was built independently from the gate from the Roman era. The northern gate tower is associated with Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubat – who reigned in the first half of the 13th century AD, with a befitting inscription in Arabic script.
You can visit the Handrian’s Gate either by public transport like a bus or you can choose to go by a car. You can also use the tram, Nostalji tramvay and alight at fittingly, Handrian.
Antalya Archaeological Museum
Hours of operation: 9:00 am to 6:30 pm daily (April to October); 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (November to March)
Antalya Archaeological Museum is the first museum in Antalya, founded in 1919, and is one of the best venues of its kind in Turkey. Most of the exhibits available in the museum come from archaeological sites located in Antalya Province. The most important sites represented in this museum are Karain cave, ancient city of Perge and the cities of Lycian civilization.
The museum hosts the following display halls and collection; natural history hall, prehistory hall, ceramics and small objects hall, mosaic hall, heads and portraits hall and emperors and Gods halls. All these halls display different collections.
Both the wealth of museum collections and their presentation in spacious, modern interiors encourage visitors to spend more time in this place. The uniqueness of this institution has also been recognized internationally; the Council of Europe awarded it with the Museum of the Year Award in 1988.