1. Ephesus, the grandest ancient city in Türkiye
Why is Ephesus considered Türkiye’s grandest ancient city? Because it features all the typical characteristics of an important settlement of its time – and many of these structures are still intact. Wide avenues and narrow streets, public plazas, inns, bazaars and more; due to its port, Ephesus was a prominent commercial hub during the Roman Empire. It held religious significance as home to the Temple of Artemis, and political importance as an administrative center. A population of 250,000 citizens inhabited Ephesus during its Golden Age.
That Golden Age did not endure. Earthquakes buried the port; the Temple of Artemis was destroyed. The flooding of the Menderes River covered Ephesus in sand and mud. The city was abandoned, hidden for a thousand years, only to reappear when archaeologists began to excavate in the area. The excavations lasted more than one hundred years, uncovering the Library of Celsus, the amphitheater, Yamaç House, Kuretler and Liman avenues, the Temple of Hadrian, the Door of Hercules, the Trajan Fountain, the Agora, and the Basilica. The city was so enormous that, to date, only the city center has been excavated – about 20 percent of its entire area. It is believed that many other sites exist, extending towards the Selçuk district and other nearby cities. When you visit Ephesus, we recommend that you enter via the Magnesia Gate, one of the two entrances; from that entry, your exploration of the city will be mainly downhill. To feast your eyes on this ancient wonder, book a flight to İzmir and discover Ephesus, Türkiye’s grandest ancient site.
2. Aspendos, the famous theatre with incredible acoustics
In the village of Belkıs, in the Serik district of Antalya, Aspendos was a prominent stop on trading routes due to its location along the Eurymedon River. The city includes a stadium, an agora, baths, shops, and cisterns, as well as the parliament building, a monumental fountain and a Hellenistic-era temple. But the most famous surviving ancient structure in Aspendos is its magnificent amphitheater, with a capacity of 12,000 people. One of the world’s best-preserved ancient theatres, the Aspendos Theatre features superb acoustics: It is alleged that the sound of a coin tossed on the center stage can be heard even in the furthest seats. This remarkable theater continues to host performances and events. Book a flight to Antalya and explore the historical ruins of this unique ancient site.
3. Çatalhöyük Neolithic City, bearing the fine traces of settled life
With a history reaching back nine thousand years, Çatalhöyük was the site of important human developments, such as the beginning of agriculture and hunting. The urban settlement, which at its peak is believed to have had a population of 8,000 people, extended over an area of fourteen hectares. As its name suggests – çatal refers to a fork and höyük means mound – the mounds are fork-shaped, eastern and western. Researchers believe that the structures found in Çatalhöyük are mainly domestic; bi-level, two-roomed houses built with sun-dried mud, straw, cob and reeds. The entrances to these homes were via openings in the roofs; the roofs were also used as “streets” and public areas. Intriguingly, floor and wall paintings were found on the interiors and exteriors of the houses; small figurines, mainly female, were also found. While excavations of other ancient sites, such as Göbeklitepe, indicate that art was used to adorn structures such as temples, the Çatalhöyük excavations suggest that private homes were used as places of worship. To reach Çatalhöyük, which is on the Plain of Konya, you can book a flight to Konya and then rent a car.
4. The Ancient City of Zeugma, a mosaic paradise
Set near Gaziantep, along the Euphrates River, the Ancient City of Zeugma was an elegant settlement and the site of numerous villas. What was found in these villas was utterly remarkable: Stunning mosaics that retain their ability to enchant viewers. Many of these mosaics are now exhibited in the world’s largest such museum, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. The “Gypsy Girl” is probably the best known of the recovered mosaics: The figure’s large eyes and penetrating gaze have led many to compare her to the Mona Lisa, while her earrings and headscarf have given her the nickname of the “Gypsy Girl”, though some researchers have suggested that the figure depicted is Alexander, rather than a woman. The mosaic was found under a collapsed column in the ancient city in 1998, during a rescue excavation. The column had hidden the mosaic from looters; other mosaics were not so lucky. Fortunately, numerous artifacts, including mosaics, were later recovered and repatriated to Türkiye. To see more of these incredible artworks, book a flight to Gaziantep and visit the Ancient City of Zeugma, as well as the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, in Gaziantep.
5. The Ancient City of Phaselis, an important port settlement
Phaselis, an ancient Lycian city, was founded along the beautiful Phaselis Bay. Perhaps selected for its lush forests, the settlement was established by colonists from the island of Rhodes. Phaselis is on a small peninsula extending to the Mediterranean Sea, thus it is believed by some that the city was intended to be a transit point for timber shipped to Mediterranean ports from the Taurus Mountains. There are three ports in Phaselis: images of ships adorn the city’s ports, agoras and city coins. The visible ruins in Phaselis date to the Roman and Byzantine periods, though the city’s history predates those eras. The ruins of the Hellenistic Period Phaselis theater, three agoras and monumental aqueducts can be seen, along with the remains of a small basilica from the Byzantine period and two baths, one large and one small. The hillside behind the north harbor was the city’s cemetery area. Book a flight to Antalya to explore the ancient city of Phaselis and swim in Phaselis Bay.
6. Göbeklitepe, where history is being relearned
The famous ancient site known as ‘the dawn of civilization’ and ‘the birthplace of human history, Göbeklitepe in Şanlıurfa Göbeklitepe has been something of a hot topic in recent years, perhaps because the ancient site is considered the location of “the dawn of civilization” and “the birthplace of human history”. Excavations commenced in 1963 and groundbreaking discoveries followed: For example, the Neolithic-era settlement features the oldest and largest center of worship ever found. Research on the Göbeklitepe ruins strongly suggests that human settlement and wheat cultivation arose here due to the temple; a rather stunning departure from the conventional theory of human settlement as the cause of wheat cultivation and temple building. Another mystery: how were the megalithic pillars of the temple transported? For more on the mysteries behind this 12,000-year-old site, check out 5 questions about Göbeklitepe. One way to get to the site itself is via a flight to Şanlıurfa, 12 kilometers northeast of Göbeklitepe.
7. The Ancient City of Troy, city of legends!
Set on the slopes of Mount Ida, within the borders of Çanakkale, Troy (Troy) is prominent in both mythology and history. This is where the Trojan War took place – where the term ‘Trojan horse’ originated. To understand Troy, it is necessary to know a bit about this war. In Greek mythology, the Trojan War started with a beauty contest between three goddesses. Paris was the judge and the winner, Aphrodite, made the beautiful Helen, the wife of the Spartan King Menelaus (Menelaos), fall in love with Paris. Consequently, Paris abducted Helen and brought her back to Troy. The Trojan War lasted ten years and inspired many works of literature; among the most notable are plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, and, of course, Homer’s Iliad. According to legend, the Trojan Horse, a model of which is encountered upon entering the ancient city, was presented as a peace offering to the city of Troy. Greek soldiers were hiding inside the wooden animal. As the Trojans carried the horse into the city and started celebrating, the soldiers emerged and commenced to plunder the city.
The ancient city of Troy has been excavated at intervals since 1870. There are nine different layers, showing evidence of settlement by numerous civilizations including the Greeks, the Romans, and the Byzantines. A good starting point for a Troy tour is the Pithos Garden, featuring a 20-ton granite rock known as the Eternal Stone of Troy, a symbol of the city. The Temple of Athena and the Odeon, where parliamentary meetings and musical performances were held, are among the ruins, along with the theatre and baths. Book a flight to Çanakkale to get to Troy, then visit the Çanakkale Troy Museum.
8. The Ancient City of Assos, one of the best- preserved ancient cities of Anatolia
Established 236 meters above sea level, on the hill of an extinct volcano, the history of Assos dates from the 6th century BC. Set in the Ayvacık district of Çanakkale, Assos was advancing towards the sea but showed a reverse development after the Ottoman Empire and thus Behramkale village emerged. The excavation of the ancient city began in 1981; among the first discoveries was the cemetery, known as the Necropolis. In addition to the Necropolis, the Temple of Athena is worth a visit, especially at sunset. Said to be the first and only Doric-style temple built in Anatolia in the Archaic era, it is located at the highest point of the city. The Agora, the Gymnasium, the Stoa and an open-air theatre are also notable. Allegedly, Aristotle lived here for three years and founded a school of philosophy. Book a flight to Balıkesir or Çanakkale to visit the ancient city of Assos, renowned for its fine preservation since the 17th century.
9. The Ancient City of Perge, one of the most magnificent cities of the Hellenistic Period
In the Aksu district of Antalya and about 15 km from the center of Antalya, Perge dates to the Early Bronze Age according to research on ceramics found in its acropolis during excavations. The ancient city, referred to as “Parha” in Hittite written texts, was once the capital of the Pamphylia region, between the Lycia and Cilicia regions. Considered one of the most beautiful and richest cities of the Hellenistic Period, Perge was designed as a planned city in the 3rd century BC. The splendid Hellenistic Towers reflect the city’s former magnificence; Perge is also renowned for its architecture and marble sculptures.
The Ancient City of Perge experienced its Golden Age during the Roman period, benefiting greatly from an era of peace during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Its famous theatre, stadium, agora, city gate, baths, fountains, and aqueducts were built during this time. The theatre and stadium are among the most important structures of the period. The well-preserved theater could hold 15,000 people and featured a bi-level stage; also well-preserved, the stadium had a capacity of 12,000 people. Book a flight to Antalya to be enchanted by the ancient city of Perge, one of the most important ancient cities of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
10. The Ancient City of Dara, representative of Mesopotamian culture
The Ancient City of Dara, one of the most important settlements and commercial centers in Upper Mesopotamia, was built as a garrison city of the Eastern Roman Empire. Located in Oguz Village, 30 kilometers southeast of Mardin, Dara is believed to have been founded by Emperor Anastasius in 505, although the date has not been definitively confirmed. Dara later came under the successive rule of the Persians, Umayyads and Abbasids. After the 15th century, it was dominated by the Ottoman Empire.
In accordance with its status as a garrison, Dara had a four-kilometer wall surrounding it; structures were carved into the rock. Today, churches, bridges, tombs, gates, bazaars, dungeons, palaces, cisterns and armoury ruins can be visited in the ancient city. According to the archives, Dara was among the locales subject to the war between Darius, the King of Persia, and Alexander the Great. Book a flight to Mardin to visit Dara, one of the ancient cities that best represents Mesopotamian culture.
11. The Ancient City of Myra, a place of the Great Mother Goddess
Set in Antalya’s Demre district, the Ancient City of Myra was named for the Myros River, now known as the Demre Stream. The city’s importance derived from its port, Andriake, which no longer exists. The city’s ancient residents worshipped the goddess Artemis, represented as Kybele, the Mother Goddess; Christianity arrived in Myra during the Roman Era. In the 4th century AD, Saint Nicholas, arguably Myra’s most famous citizen, served as the Bishop of Myra. Saint Nicholas was the forerunner to our modern-day Santa Claus. Myra continued to thrive: in the 5th century AD, Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II decreed Myra as the capital of Byzantine Lycia. Myra was one of six cities in the powerful Lycian League, with three voting rights. The city fell to the Abbasids in 808 AD and lost its prominence.
The ruins of an ancient theatre, a bath, embossed tombs, walls and the Church of Saint Nicholas Church in the Ancient City of Myra are worth seeing here. Book a flight to Antalya to visit the Ancient City of Myra and walk in the footsteps of Santa Claus.
12. The Ancient City of Bergama (Pergamon), the most famous and magnificent city in Asia Minor
The phrase “the most famous and magnificent city in Asia Minor” is attributed to the 1st century AD Roman writer Pliny the Elder. The Ancient City of Bergama, also known as Pergamon Ancient City, was founded in 282 BC and served as the capital of the Pergamon Kingdom for 150 years. During this period, it was the most powerful center in the region economically, politically, and culturally.
Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape were added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 2014. The city’s hilltop location necessitated innovative urban planning, and comprised two main sections, a Lower City and an Upper City. Its culture was notable – the Pergamon Library, which contained almost two hundred thousand volumes, was considered the most important library of its period. It is also believed that parchment paper, made with sheep and calf skins, originated in Pergamon.
Among Pergamon’s notable sights are the castle, on the south slope of the hill and surrounded by walls; the Temple of Dionysus, on the acropolis; and the Temple of Athena – the goddess was considered the city’s guardian and the temple is one of the most important ruins in the ancient city, although only its foundations exist today. On the hill, west of the Temple of Athena, is a Hellenistic Period 10,000-seat theater. Originally located south of the temple, the Altar of Zeus is now exhibited at the Pergamon Museum.
Book a flight to İzmir to reach the area’s beauties and visit the Ancient City of Bergama.
13. The Ancient City of Patara, the world’s first surviving parliament building
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism declared 2020 as the Year of Patara for good reason: the Ancient City of Patara is one of the oldest ancient cities in Türkiye. Ceramic fragments found in the Tepecik Acropolis date to the Middle Bronze Age; a stone ax was also found there.
In Ovagemis Village between Fethiye and Kalkan in Antalya, Patara was among the most important cities of the Lycian Empire. Patara was recognized as the capital of Lycia in the 2nd century and later gained autonomy and independence over Rome and Rhodes, officially becoming the capital of the Lycian League in 167 BC. The meetings of the Lycian League were held at the parliament building in Patara. Later, under Roman rule, Patara was the judicial seat of the Roman governor and was used as a naval base.
Patara is also significant in Christianity. Saint Nicholas, the forerunner of our modern-day Santa Claus, was born in Patara. As well, Saint Paul conducted missionary work in Patara, prior to leaving for Rome.
The entrance of the ancient city and its main street, its necropolis and sarcophagi, the theatre and the ancient harbor are fine examples of Hellenistic and Roman period structures. The Vespasian Bath and the Corinthian Temple are also historical sites worth seeing during a visit to the Patara Ancient City.
Book a flight to Antalya to explore Patara’s unique streets.
14. Ancient City of Olympos, City of the Eternal Flame
Olympos Ancient City is approximately 10 kilometers north of Tahtalı Mountain, in the Kumluca district of Antalya. It is also part of the Beydağları National Park. After Phaselis, Olympos was the most important port city on the southern coast of Antalya. Although the date of its foundation is unknown, the name ‘Olympus’ was found on coins minted in 167 BC. Olympos was also one of the six cities in the Lycian League and held three voting rights.
Representing the Classical Roman period, the theatre, basilica and bath in the Olympos acropolis are among its most important ruins, as are the remains of medieval citadels and the Tomb of Captain Eudomus; the latter was a ship’s captain. However, most striking is the Byzantine Church, with its frescoed walls.
With ruins from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods to satiate history buffs, the Ancient City of Olympos is also one of the most natural summer holiday destinations in Türkiye and the Antalya region. The famous Lycian Way passes through Olympus for about seven or eight kilometers. To find out more about the Lycian Way, please see The Lycian Way for beginners.
Book a flight to Antalya and visit Olympos Ancient City.
15. The Ancient City of Teos, Dionysian culture at every step
Believed to have been established around 1000 BC, Teos is within the borders of İzmir’s Seferihisar district, near Sığacık, a quiet farming village. While most of Teos is buried and its surviving structures are few in number, its Temple of Dionysus is outstanding and was the largest temple to Dionysus in Anatolia. It was built in the 2nd century BC by Hermogenes of Priene, a renowned architect of that time, and its walls featured friezes of Dionysian celebrations and festivities. An Artists of Dionysus guild was formed here, consisting of musicians, poets and actors.
In addition to the Temple, the theatre, agora, odeon, city walls, and ancient port are unique remnants of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Book a flight to İzmir and explore the mysteries of the cult of Dionysus in the Ancient City of Teos.
16. The Ancient City of Sagalassos, the city among the clouds
Overlooking Burdur’s Ağlasun district from an altitude of 1,700 meters, Sagalassos had settlements reaching back nearly twelve thousand years. During the Roman era, it was a prominent center of the region known as Pisidia. Thanks to its high elevation, many of its artifacts and structures are well preserved. Among the intact structures in Sagalassos are villas and gates at the entrance to the ancient city, baths, a bazaar, a fountain, an odeon, a theatre, the parliament building, a church and a library. There are also lime and metal kilns, as well as a ceramic production center; ceramic production started here around a thousand years earlier. Statues of kings, unearthed during excavations, are now exhibited in the Burdur Museum. Sagalassos was included on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2009.
Book a flight to Isparta or Antalya to visit the ancient city of Sagalassos.
17. Ancient City of Miletus, capital of philosophy and science
If the progress of ancient Greek civilization in science and philosophy can be connected to a single city, this city might be Miletus – the birthplace of Anaximenes, who laid the primary foundations of existential thought; Anaximandros, who envisioned a universe independent of gods; Thales, the mathematician who considered the forms of matter; and Hekataios, who drew the first world map.
The ancient city of Miletus is in the Didim district of Aydın, near Balat village. Miletus was a developed port city close to the mouth of the Büyük Menderes River and one of the most important cities of Ionia. Its first settlement was believed to have been four thousand years ago and Miletus was prominent during the Hellenistic, Roman, Early Christian, Seljuk and Ottoman periods, though its peak was in the 6th and 7th centuries BC. The city’s bath and hammam, its agora, theater, fountain and senate building date from its ‘golden age’, as do its port gate, monument and warehouse structures.
Book a flight to İzmir and familiarize yourself with the Ancient City of Miletus, a capital of science and philosophy.
18. The Ancient City of Aizanoi, the best-preserved Temple of Zeus
In the Çavdarhisar district of Kütahya, the ancient city of Aizanoi has a history of nearly five thousand years. It was the main settlement center of the Aizanites of Phrygia, came under the rule of Pergamon during the Hellenistic Period, and then under Roman domination in 133 BC; at this time, the city’s wealth and prominence increased, with urbanization studies conducted, structures erected and coins minted. During Byzantine rule, Aizanoi was a diocese under a bishop.
Aizanoi had two important structures, including one of the world’s best-preserved temples to Zeus, and the world’s first trade exchange building. The city was also home to a 15,000-person capacity theater, and a 13,500-person capacity stadium, as well as baths, an agora, necropolises, bridges, aqueducts, embankments, and a column-lined avenue.
Book a flight to Kütahya to see the world’s best-preserved Temple to Zeus Temple in Aizanoi Ancient City.
When you’re strolling around Türkiye’s ancient cities, keep the following in mind:
- Marble was a common building material. Marble retains heat and attracts sunlight. In the summer, we suggest that you wear light, loose clothing, along with a hat and sunglasses. You may even want to bring an umbrella for extra sun protection.
- Sneakers or hiking shoes are probably the most practical footwear for touring an ancient city, as the roads are paved with stones and there are numerous footpaths.
A glossary of Ancient City terms:
Agora: A main square for public gatherings and, sometimes, commercial activities.
Forum: A main square for commercial activities, and formal, political or religious events.
Acropolis: In Greek, the word means “high city”. It was typically a plaza at the highest point of the city.
Necropolis: A public graveyard.
Gymnasium: In ancient Greece and Rome, a sport training facility and gathering place.
Stoa: Covered, columned galleries on streets or near the agora.
Doric: Simple columns that give an ordered harmonious feel to the structures.
Stories knock at your door!
You can easily download images, and share on your social media accounts via your smartphone. Just press and hold the story, and save or share the image you have selected via the menu that appears.
