How To Visit Perge Ancient City Ruins In Antalya, Turkey

I visited Perge Antalya on a combined Perge and Aspendos tour while on holiday in Türkiye, as a guest of Jet2 holidays. All opinions are my own, honestly held and I do not accept payment or freebies in exchange for positive coverage. All prices are correct as of June 2024. This post may contain some affiliate links. 

Many people go on holiday to Turkey so they can lie on the beach or by a pool, get day drunk, sleep in the sunshine, and eat ice cream three times a day.

While all that sounds fun for a bit, it isn’t really how I like to spend my time away (I can eat ice cream three times a day at home!).

When I travel to Türkiye, I love to explore its incredible history and culture. And there’s no better way to do that, in my view, than to explore some of their amazing ancient ruins.

Turkey is bursting at the seams with fantastic historical sites dating back thousands of years, many of which are well-preserved or have been restored.

And one of the best I’ve discovered recently is the UNESCO-listed site of Perge Ancient City, near Antalya.

About my trip to Perge

I visited Perge as part of a four-day trip to Antalya in Turkey (also known as Türkiye) with my friend and fellow travel blogger Roma.

We based ourselves in the resort town of Side, which is about an hour east along the coast from Antalya airport. We stayed in a five-star resort with beach and pool, which we used as a base from which to explore the local area.

I did some research and discovered that the top thing to do in Antalya region is a visit to the incredible Roman city of Perge.

Since we didn’t have a hire car, we took a full day tour to Perge that also included Aspendos, another nearby ancient city in Turkey, as well as a trip to some local waterfalls.

So why should you include a visit to Perge in your Turkey holiday? Read on to find out.

introducing Perge roman ruins

Perge Ancient City (in Turkish: Perge Antik Kenti) lies about 15 km (or a 20 minute drive) northeast of Antalya airport in southern Turkey. It’s also 60 km or an hour’s drive from Side, another popular resort area (which is where we stayed). 

Perge is thought to have been founded in the 12^th century BCE by the Achaeans, a tribe who came over from Greece – the same Greeks said to have attacked Troy in Homer’s Iliad.  

The legendary Trojan war is thought to have taken place in the same century, and the story goes that some of the winning Greek army settled in the region after the war ended, so perhaps it was these guys who founded Perge.

Perge flourished during the Hellenistic Period (3rd-1st centuries BCE), and it’s thought the city welcomed Alexander the Great’s conquest in 333 BCE without resistance. You can still see some structures from that time standing today.

But the best monuments at Perge date from the city’s golden age in the 2^nd century CE under the Romans. They built a theatre, sports stadium, colonnaded main street, marketplace, bath houses and much more, much of which is extremely well-preserved and fully justifies Perge’s UNESCO status.

Top things to see at the ancient city of Perge

Perge Theatre

One of the most impressive Roman theatres still standing, Perge’s theatre began its life in the Greek style before being redeveloped by the Romans. This horseshoe-shaped structure could seat an audience of nearly 12,000 and boasts excellent acoustics. 

Stage productions, musical performances, and even gladiatorial battles with wild animals would have been held here, providing entertainment for the citizens of Perge. Don’t miss the remains of carved reliefs behind the stage, showing scenes from the life of the god Dionysus. 

Perge Stadium

Built in the 2nd century AD, this is one of the best-preserved Roman stadiums in Western Turkey. This huge structure, once hosting up to 12,000 spectators, hosted athletic games, wrestling, and gladiatorial contests. 

The tiered seating, partially built into a slope, rests on vaulted arches – some of which housed shops.

Today it’s incredibly impressive to see it still standing, and you can almost hear the roar of the crowd that would have echoed around its walls during a chariot race or other sporting event.

Nymphaeum of Septimus Severus

Under the Roman Empire, the growing city of Perge faced increasing demands for water. To address this, several structures related to the city’s water supply were built, including the Nymphaeum, dedicated to Emperor Septimius Severus, who ruled Rome from 193 to 211 CE.

This elaborate fountain house was a central point of the city’s water supply system. Decorated with statues and reliefs, the nymphaeum not only provided water for the city but also served as a beautiful public space.

Southern Baths

Perge had several bath complexes, and the Southern Baths are some of the most extensive. 

Built during the Roman period, these baths featured separate sections for men and women, with hot rooms, cold rooms, tepid rooms, and an exercise area. 

Baths in Roman times were not just for washing, but were a place for socializing and relaxation as well. 

The Hadrianus Arch

This triumphal arch was erected in 130 CE in honour of the Roman emperor Hadrian, who visited Perge during his reign. 

The arch features three gateways and intricate carvings depicting mythological figures and scenes from Roman victories. Hadrian’s Arch was used as a grand entrance to the city and a symbol of Roman power.

Perge Main Street

Also known as the Colonnaded Street, this impressive avenue was almost 500 metres long, and lined with shops, markets and other commercial buildings. 

The tall columns that still line the street helped to create a grand and imposing atmosphere and provided shade for pedestrians (though there isn’t much shade here now, sadly!). The Main Street was the heart of Perge’s commercial district and a busy centre of activity.

Forum / Agora

The forum or agora was the main marketplace and the commercial and social centre of Perge. This large square – the second largest agora in Turkey – was surrounded by covered walkways that housed shops and workshops. 

The agora (sometimes translated as bazaar) was a place for people to buy and sell goods, meet with friends and colleagues, and conduct business.

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Late Roman Gate

This imposing gatehouse was built in the 4th century CE as part of the city’s fortifications. The Late Roman Gate has a single gateway and was designed both to welcome visitors and protect Perge from invaders. 

The gate is a reminder of the turbulent times that the city faced during its later years.

As the Roman Empire’s influence waned and the Byzantine Empire took control, Perge’s strategic importance diminished. Later, invasions and raids by various groups, including the Arabs in the 7th and 8th centuries, contributed to the city’s instability and eventual decline.

How long should I spend at Perge Antalya

Perge is a big site, so how long you spend depends on your walking speed, how interested you are, and how many photos you stop to take! 

On average though, for someone with reasonable fitness who just wants to see the main areas but not in any great depth, I think about 2-3 hours is about right for a visit to Perge. 

If it’s as hot as it was when we visited, you may not be able to handle being outside in the heat for that long anyway.

Read more: 8 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Temples (Ranked By Wow Factor)

How to get to Perge

Perge is just a short drive from Antalya, or about an hour from Side. You can easily drive there in your rental car, or if you want to travel by public transport from Antalya, catch a tram or a minibus (Dolmuş) to the nearby town of Aksu, and from there take a taxi or walk the 2 km to the ruins of Perge.

However for large historic sites like Perge I always think an organised tour is a great option, as then you get a guide to explain everything to you.

Most of the tours do hotel pickups in either Antalya or Side, and almost all of them also include a visit to some waterfalls at either Manavgat or Kurşunlu and a visit to Aspendos.

We organised our tour through Jet2, but another recommended company is Gref Travel – they seemed very helpful and the only reason we didn’t use them was because they only had pickups from Antalya (we stayed in Side). 

What to pack to visit Perge Turkey

Perge is a large site without much in the way of shade. Once you’re inside expect to do a fair bit of walking, so it’s important to dress appropriately for the heat and fierce Turkish sun!

Here’s what I recommend you wear to visit Perge:

• Lightweight, comfortable clothes: loose trousers, shorts and t-shirt, or a sundress in light, natural fabrics. Avoid exposing too much skin if you don’t want to get burnt. Sweat-wicking sportswear is also a good option.
• Don’t forget sunglasses and a hat to protect you from heat stroke.
• Sunscreen is vital! I use P20 Factor 50 for my body, and Body Shop SPF 50 on my face.
• For all that walking, wear comfortable shoes like sports trainers, sneakers, or walking sandals.
• Don’t forget to bring your camera, and a water bottle.
• Some tours make take you to places where you can swim – check with your guide and pack your swimsuit and a towel if needed.

Is Perge worth it?

I had never heard of Perge before I visited Antalya and so I wasn’t expecting much. But it’s always wonderful when you have low or zero expectations, because that leaves room for you to be pleasantly surprised. Which I was!

I thought Perge was excellent. It’s a huge site with loads to see, and much of it is really well-preserved. I particularly loved Perge theatre, the stadium, the baths and the colonnaded street.

The layout makes the site easy to explore and gives you a really good sense of Roman city layout and how things fit together. And the forum and main street are so well-preserved that you can clearly imagine what they would have been like in Roman times, filled with people and shops.

Of course, whether you think it will be ‘worth it’ depends on your personal preferences. I love exploring ancient sites, but if you prefer lying on the beach, or you’re not too good at walking around historic sites in hot weather, you might not enjoy it so much.

Is a Perge and Aspendos tour worth it?

If you fancy a break from lying by the pool in your resort, then yes I think a visit to Aspendos and Perge is definitely worth it!

But should you join a tour?

Personally I always think a tour is worth it. Yes you can go by yourself, and it will be cheaper, but unless you’re an expert you’ll inevitably find yourself wandering around not knowing what you’re looking at. Having a guide to point things out and tell you stories really brings Roman sites like this to life.

In addition, having a bus and driver waiting for you means you can pack more into a single day than if you’re driving yourself, having to navigate, find parking, and so on.

Plus you may meet other travellers on your tour, which is always nice (as long as there aren’t too many screaming kids!)

Read more: Aspendos Ruins And Theatre In Turkey: The Essential Guide

Where to stay near Perge

We stayed at the Barut Hemera resort, a 5* resort in Side, which is about an hour from Antalya. 

It’s a medium sized resort with plenty of facilities in including two pools (one adults-only), a private beach area with sunbeds, a gym, spa, games area, and several bars and restaurants. I thought the rooms were clean and smartly-presented, and being all-inclusive made things very easy.

However if you’re heading to Antalya region just to visit Perge and Aspendos, you may be better off staying closer to Antalya. There are loads of resorts near to the city, and it did seem like more of the Aspendos and Perge tours start from Antalya than Side (though there are options from Side too).

Click here for a selection of hotels in Antalya.

Where to next?

If you found this useful, why not try some of my other posts about Turkey or historic sites?

• Aspendos Ruins And Theatre In Turkey: The Essential Guide
• Gordion in Turkey: City of King Midas and the Golden Touch
• The Ruins Of Troy Turkey: How To Visit Homer’s Ancient City
• 11 Things To Do On A Thessaloniki City Break in Greece
• Cyprus in Spring: 10 Reasons Why It’s The Best Time To Visit
• An Unhelpful Guide To… Aztec Ruins In Mexico

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