Our daily Pergamon tour from Ayvalik takes you inland to Bergama, home of one of the most impressive ancient cities in Turkey and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. With a licensed guide you explore the hilltop acropolis, reached by cable car, the healing sanctuary of the Asklepion and the vast Red Basilica in the town below, then enjoy a local lunch before returning to the coast. It is a compact day tour that brings the history of the Hellenistic and Roman world to life.
Guests staying on Lesbos can enjoy the Pergamon Tour as a day trip from the Greek islands to Turkey — from Lesbos the ferry takes about 90 minutes, so the excursion can be planned between the morning and evening sailings. Pickup is at the Ayvalık ferry terminal, and the tour is timed so you can catch the return ferry comfortably. For longer itineraries we check the ferry timetable first and confirm that the full programme fits your day. Please bring your passport and check the Turkish entry requirements for your nationality before travelling.
Pergamon rose to power in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC as the capital of the Attalid kings, who filled their acropolis with temples, palaces and a library said to hold some 200,000 scrolls. Tradition links the city to the development of parchment, whose name derives from Pergamon. The theatre, cut into the hillside, is one of the steepest of the ancient world, while the monumental Altar of Zeus now stands reconstructed in Berlin; its foundations remain on the acropolis. Under Rome the marble Temple of Trajan was added, and in the lower town the brick-built Red Basilica was raised for Egyptian gods.
The Asklepion was a renowned medical centre where patients came for treatment with water, sleep and therapy; the physician Galen, born in Pergamon, worked here. This daily excursion includes the cable car, entrance fees and lunch with vegetarian and halal options. Wear comfortable shoes and a hat, as the sites are open and partly uneven.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Pergamon Ancient City Programme The tour begins with a pickup from your hotel in Ayvalik and a scenic drive inland to Bergama, the modern town built over ancient Pergamon. Your guide leads you through the highlights of this UNESCO-listed city. A cable car carries you up to the acropolis, where you walk among the columns of the Temple of Trajan, the remains of the Doric Temple of Athena and the site of the famous library, before looking down the dramatic slope of the hillside theatre and visiting the terrace of the Altar of Zeus. The guided visit continues with the Red Basilica, the huge brick temple dedicated to the Egyptian god Serapis, and the Asklepion, the healing sanctuary of Asclepius with its sacred spring, colonnaded courtyard and small theatre. A local lunch is served during the day. Afterwards you stop at an onyx and jewellery workshop to see traditional Turkish craftsmanship, then drive back to Ayvalik, arriving at your hotel in the afternoon.
Ayvalik → Pergamon → Ayvalik Acropolis → Asklepion → Red Basilica
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
👥 54 Seats
👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
👥 55 Seats
👥 54 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 46 Seats
👥 37+2 Seats
👥 37 Seats
👥 35 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 12+1 Seats
👥 6+1 Seats
More day tours and excursions in Ayvalik — swipe to explore.
Turn your day trip into a longer journey — these tours also visit this destination.
Fill in your details and we confirm your private departure within 24 hours.
Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!
