The region around Antalya was, for centuries, one of the most heavily settled parts of the ancient Mediterranean. Three major cities from that period are within reach as day trips: Aspendos, Perge, and Side. All three are well-preserved enough to be worth the journey, and each is different enough from the others that visiting more than one in a day is genuinely rewarding rather than repetitive.
We’re a local tour operator based in Antalya. We run tours to all three of these sites and this guide covers what each one offers, how to visit, and what to expect on the day.
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The Ancient Sites at a Glance
| Site | Distance from Antalya | Best Known For | Time Needed |
| Aspendos | 50 km east | Best-preserved Roman theatre in the world | 1-1.5 hours |
| Perge | 15 km east | Colonnaded main street, Hall of Gods statues | 1.5-2 hours |
| Side | 65 km east | Coastal ruins, Temple of Apollo, Side Museum | 2-2.5 hours |
All three can be visited in a single long day from Antalya. They are arranged along the same coastal road east of the city, so the routing is logical: Perge first, then Aspendos, then Side.
Aspendos
The Theatre
The theatre at Aspendos is the reason most visitors come, and the site justifies the description you’ll read in most guides. The Roman theatre, built in the second century AD during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, is considered the best-preserved example in the world, and the claim holds up.
Most ancient theatres have lost their stage buildings entirely, leaving only the seating tiers. At Aspendos, the stage building is nearly complete. The upper galleries, the arched facade, the vaulted entrance passages, and the multi-storey stage front are all still standing. You can walk the full circuit of the theatre, sit in the seats, and stand at the top gallery looking down at the stage, a view that hasn’t changed much since the second century.
The theatre seats approximately 15,000 people and is still used for performances. The Antalya International Opera and Ballet Festival takes place here each June, using the ancient stage for full productions.
The Rest of the Site
Beyond the theatre, Aspendos has a Roman aqueduct visible from the road approaching the site, one of the better-preserved examples in the region. The ruins of the city itself, basilica, agora, market, and nymphaeum, are spread across the site above the theatre but are less well-preserved than the theatre.
How to Visit Aspendos
**Distance from Antalya:** 50 kilometres east, about 50 minutes by car.
**Entry fee:** Paid site. Museum card valid.
**Time needed:** 1 to 1.5 hours covers the theatre and main ruins comfortably.
**Getting there:** By rental car (straightforward road) or as part of a guided tour. Dolmuş connections from Antalya’s eastern bus station exist but require a transfer at Serik.
Perge
What to See
Perge was one of the major cities of ancient Pamphylia, a coastal region that occupied much of what is now the Antalya coast. At its peak in the second and third centuries AD, it had a population of around 100,000 people. What remains is one of the more complete ancient city plans in Turkey.
The site’s main feature is the colonnaded main street that runs for several hundred metres through the centre of the ancient city. Walking it, with column stumps lining both sides and the covered drainage channel down the middle, gives a clear sense of the city’s layout and scale.
The monumental gateway complex at the southern entrance, two round towers flanking an inner courtyard, is one of the better-preserved gate structures in the region. The baths and basilica remains near the entrance are large and well-signed.
The Roman theatre at Perge (capacity around 14,000) and the stadium (one of the largest in the ancient world by capacity, though much of it is buried) are at the southern end of the site.
**Antalya Archaeological Museum connection:** Many of the finest statues and reliefs found at Perge are now in the Antalya Archaeological Museum in the city, in a section called the Hall of the Gods. The display includes largely intact marble sculptures from the baths here. Visiting the museum before coming to Perge adds significant context.
How to Visit Perge
**Distance from Antalya:** 15 kilometres east, about 20 minutes by car.
**Entry fee:** Paid site. Museum card valid.
**Time needed:** 1.5 to 2 hours for the main colonnaded street, gateway, baths, and theatre.
**Getting there:** Dolmuş from the eastern bus station (Doğu Garajı) toward Aksu, then 1.5 kilometres on foot to the site. Taxi is more practical. By rental car, about 20 minutes from the city centre.
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Side
The Ancient Quarter
Side is different from Perge and Aspendos in one important way: it’s still a working settlement. The ancient ruins are mixed into a modern resort town on a small peninsula. You walk past the Temple of Apollo columns on your way to the beach. The Roman theatre is at the edge of the main square. The ancient main street is now the pedestrian shopping street.
This doesn’t detract from the ruins. It makes them more unusual to visit. The Temple of Apollo, at the western tip of the peninsula, has two columns and a partial entablature remaining against the sea. The setting, with the water on three sides and the Taurus Mountains visible inland, is one of the more striking ancient contexts in the region.
The theatre at Side (capacity around 15,000) is partially restored and well-preserved. The Side Museum, housed in a Roman bath building, has a good collection of local finds including statuary from the site.
**Beach access:** The beaches at Side are sandy, which is unusual for this coastline. If the day is warm and you’re visiting in the afternoon, there is time for a swim before the drive back.
For a more detailed look at Side’s ancient quarter and what to do in the town itself, see our [Side travel guide].
How to Visit Side
**Distance from Antalya:** 65 kilometres east, about 75 minutes by car.
**Entry fee:** The theatre and museum have entry fees. The temple site itself is in an open area, largely viewable without a ticket.
**Time needed:** Allow 2 to 2.5 hours in Side for the main sites, museum, and a walk along the beach.
**Getting there:** Regular bus and dolmuş service from Antalya’s eastern terminal (about 90 minutes). Rental car takes about 75 minutes. Tour with hotel pickup is the most convenient option if you’re visiting Side alongside Aspendos and Perge.
Antalya Archaeological Museum
Before visiting the ancient sites outside the city, the Antalya Archaeological Museum is worth a morning. It’s located in the Konyaaltı district, about two kilometres west of Kaleiçi.
The Hall of the Gods contains the largest collection of intact marble statues from the baths at Perge, several dozen large-scale sculptures, well-lit and displayed with context. Walking this section before visiting Perge changes how you understand the site. The statues came from here; the plinths they stood on are still in the baths at Perge.
Other sections cover the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods across the region, plus an ethnographic collection. Allow two to three hours.
Visiting the Ancient Sites by Tour
If you’re staying in Lara, Belek, or Kemer and don’t want to drive or navigate dolmuş connections, the practical option is a guided day tour that covers all three sites with hotel pickup.
Our [Perge, Aspendos, and Side day tour] combines all three sites in a single day, with a licensed guide, hotel pickup from Lara, Belek, and Kemer, and return transfer included. You pay on the day.
For a broader look at cultural and historical tours from Antalya, see our [cultural and historical tours] page.
FAQ’s About Ancient Sites Near Antalya
Aspendos if you want the most dramatic single site, the theatre is genuinely impressive and the visit is focused. Perge if you want to walk through a complete ancient city with a clear street plan. Side if you want ancient ruins combined with a coastal setting and beach access. If you have a full day, all three together is a realistic itinerary.
Perge is 15 kilometres east, about 20 minutes by car. Aspendos is 50 kilometres, about 50 minutes. Side is 65 kilometres, about 75 minutes. They’re arranged along the same coastal road, so visiting them in sequence from west to east is efficient.
Yes. A typical day tour departs from Antalya around 08:00-09:00, visits all three sites with about 1.5-2 hours at each, and returns around 18:00-19:00. The pace is manageable but full. Perge and Aspendos involve significant walking on uneven ground.
All three sites charge admission. The Museum Card (Müzekart) covers most state-run sites and can be worth purchasing if you’re visiting several sites and museums in Turkey. Individual entry fees for each site are typically in the range of €5-15 per person.
Yes. our Perge, Aspendos, and Side day tour covers all three with a licensed guide and hotel pickup from Lara, Belek, and Kemer. A separate evening tour focuses specifically on Aspendos theatre with a cultural show.
