This is a full day tour exploring the highlights of Antalya from antiquity to our day. Perge, with ongoing excavations is a walk in a Roman city with a great theatre, a stadium, fountains, gates, a market place. Aspendos is probably the most stunning and the best-preserved ancient theatre of antiquity. Whatever we cannot see in these sites, we will see in Antalya’s Archaeology Museum, which was awarded the Museum of the year in Europe. We will crown this day with a walk in Kaleici, Antalya’s Old Quarter.
We will have an early departure to beat the crowds and explore Perge. Once the capital to the Pamphylian League, the site of Perge expands over a large terrain. Some of the structures are clearly visible, some of the structures will come alive with our guide’s descriptions and some, we will witness (during season) being excavated or restored by the archaeological team in Perge. The well-structured baths here are probably offer the best understanding of how the Roman bath functioned, and what the tradition was. We will then walk to the end of the city’s main street and see more artifacts. Before the visit is over, we will also visit the city’s stadium, and the beautiful theater, the friezes of which we will see in the museum in the afternoon.
Our next visit will be to the theater of Aspendos. The theater was built during the 2nd Century CE and seats 12 – 15,000 people. It was restored periodically during the medieval ages by the Selcuk Turks as it was used as a caravanserai. In the early years of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic who paid great attention to archaeology, instructed the site to be maintained and to be used for functions. Aspendos theater is still home to an International Music Festival.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Archaeological Museum that exhibits a vast collection of beautiful artifacts from the nearby sites. These include the famous Hercules Sarchopagi, the statue of the Weary Hercules, and a collection of Gods, Goddesses, Emperors and Empresses.
Our final experience today is a leisurely stroll around Kaleici, Antalya’s Old Quarter where we will first look at 19th century planning, housing and life, and finally wash down the day with a cold drink overlooking the Mediterranean by the harbor.
This tour is available on any day.
Group Size Price
- 2 people 420 USD per person
- 3 people 320 USD per person
- 4 people 270 USD per person
- 5-6 people 235 USD per person
- 7-9 people 200 USD per person
- 10-12 people 175 USD per person
Included services
- Transportation with an A/C luxury minivan
- Professional guiding
- A la carte lunch with soft drinks
- Admission fees to the museums and sights
- Taxes
Excluded services
