This guided day trip from Olympos visits three of the great ancient cities of Pamphylia — Perge, Aspendos and Side — tracing Hellenistic gates, Roman theatres and seaside temples in one well-paced day. You are picked up from your accommodation in Olympos and driven along the coast past Antalya to the Pamphylian plain, where these cities flourished for more than a thousand years.
The first stop is Perge. The geographer Strabo wrote that it was founded after the Trojan War, Alexander the Great passed through in 334 BC, and by the first and second centuries BC it was among the wealthiest towns of the region — which is why St. Paul chose it as a starting point for his mission in Anatolia in 46 AD. Walk past its Hellenistic gate, Roman baths and stadium before continuing to Aspendos. Here, on the plain east of Antalya, Greeks and Persians fought a famous battle in 486 BC; the city is best known today for its theatre, built in the reign of Marcus Aurelius and kept in use by the Byzantines and Seljuks, and now the best preserved Roman theatre in the ancient world. A lunch stop is made on the way between the two sites.
The day ends in Side, once the leading port of Pamphylia. Enter through the Great Gate, see the ancient fountain and the remarkably intact Side Ancient Theatre, and finish at the seafront Temple of Apollo, the town's most photographed monument. Half an hour of free time lets you browse the shops of Side before the transfer back to your hotel in Olympos. With an expert guide and comfortable transport, this Antalya ancient cities daily excursion is perfect for history lovers staying on the Olympos coast.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Perge Aspendos Side Programme After pickup from your hotel in Olympos, the air-conditioned vehicle heads north along the coast towards Antalya and the Pamphylian plain. The first visit is Perge. According to the ancient geographer Strabo, the city was founded by the Achaeans after the Trojan War. Alexander the Great passed through in 334 BC, and Perge later fell under the influence of Pergamon before becoming Roman. In the first and second centuries BC it grew into one of the richest towns of Pamphylia, and St. Paul began his Anatolian campaign here in 46 AD. Your guide leads you past the Hellenistic gate, the Roman baths and the stadium. Continuing east, the group takes a lunch break on the road before reaching Aspendos, which lies on the Pamphylian plain east of Antalya. In 486 BC a major battle between Greeks and Persians took place here, ending in a Greek victory. The highlight is the theatre, built under Emperor Marcus Aurelius and maintained by the Byzantines and Seljuks, and today the best preserved of all ancient theatres. The final stop is Side, an important harbour city of Pamphylia. You pass through the Great Gate at the entrance to the ancient city, see the Side ancient fountain and the theatre, one of the few ancient theatres to have survived with minimal damage, and walk to the iconic Temple of Apollo by the sea. Half an hour of free time follows for shopping in Side, after which you are driven back to your hotel in Olympos.
Olympos → Perge → Aspendos → Side → Olympos Ancient Pamphylia
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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