Antalya’s Ancient Cities in One Day: Perge, Aspendos and Side

Short answer: You can see Perge, Aspendos and Side in one long day from Antalya by driving east along the coast in that order and returning in the evening, with about three hours of driving in total. Perge gives you a complete Roman city plan, Aspendos one of the best-preserved Roman theaters anywhere, and Side temples by the sea. In summer, start at opening time, because the midday heat is the real limit on this day.

The coast east of Antalya was ancient Pamphylia, and its cities line up neatly along one road. That makes a well-planned day very rewarding and a badly planned one exhausting. Here is the order I suggest, how long each stop takes, and what to drop if the day runs short. For hotels, beaches and the rest of the city, see our Antalya guide.

What is the right order for Perge, Aspendos and Side?

Go from west to east: Perge first, Aspendos second, Side last, then drive back to Antalya. Perge is the most exposed site, so it belongs in the cool of the morning, and Side is pleasant in the late afternoon by the sea.

Stop	Distance and drive (approx.)	Time on site
Antalya to Perge	About 15 to 18 km east, around 25 minutes	1.5 to 2 hours
Perge to Aspendos	About 30 to 40 minutes	About 1 hour
Aspendos to Side	About 45 minutes	2 hours, including lunch
Side back to Antalya	About 78 km, 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic

Driving times are estimates and depend on traffic, which can be heavy on the coastal highway in summer. With a private vehicle, the day runs roughly from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Perge: a Roman city laid out in full

Perge lies about 15 km (9 miles) east of Antalya and is the stop where the layout of a Roman city makes the most sense on the ground. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.

You enter near the stadium, which the Ministry of Culture and Tourism describes as one of the best-preserved stadiums of antiquity, with room for about 12,000 spectators. Inside the walls, the symbol of Perge is the Hellenistic gate: two round towers from the 3rd century BC, later expanded into a monumental complex by the city’s benefactor Plancia Magna. Beyond them runs the long colonnaded street with a water channel down its center, once fed by cascading pools from a monumental fountain at the foot of the acropolis.

Note that the ancient theater at Perge is closed to visitors until restoration work is finished, according to the Ministry’s official listing. You can still see its outline from outside.

Paul and Barnabas at Perge

Perge appears twice in the Book of Acts. In Acts 13:13 to 14, Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia, where John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem, and they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the return journey, Acts 14:25 says that “when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,” the ancient name of Antalya. Faith travelers often read these passages on the colonnaded street.

Aspendos: the theater still in use

Aspendos, about 40 km (25 miles) east of Antalya, has one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world, with its seating and tall stage building almost complete. One hour is enough for most visitors.

The theater was built in the 2nd century AD; the Ministry dates it between AD 138 and 164 and names its architect as Zenon. In the Seljuk period it was used as a palace, which helped keep the building intact. Sit high in the seating to appreciate the acoustics, and look at the stage wall, where much of the original decoration survives.

The theater still hosts performances. The International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, organized by Turkey’s State Opera and Ballet, held its 33rd edition from September 12 to 26, 2026. If your dates match next year’s program, an evening performance here is an experience in itself, though schedules are announced only a few months ahead.

The aqueduct

A short drive north of the theater, the remains of the Aspendos aqueduct cross the plain on a long line of arches, with tall pressure towers that were part of an inverted siphon system. It is a quick photo stop and worth the few extra minutes if you have an interest in Roman engineering.

Side: temples by the sea

Side is a Greek-founded port town about 78 km (48 miles) east of Antalya, where ancient ruins and a modern resort share the same peninsula. Give it about two hours, including lunch.

The Temple of Apollo stands at the tip of the peninsula beside the Temple of Athena, with a few restored columns against the open sea. Restoration work in recent years has raised more columns at the Athena temple. The temples are especially photogenic in the late afternoon light.

The theater, from the 2nd century AD, combines a Greek semicircular plan with Roman building methods, and its stage building carries a frieze on the life of Dionysus. The Side Museum occupies a restored Roman bath building and displays statues and sarcophagi from the city. If you are short of time, the museum is the stop to drop here.

A sample timetable

This is how I would pace the day in late spring or early autumn. In midsummer, shift everything half an hour earlier and keep the lunch break long.

1. 8:00 Leave your Antalya hotel.
2. 8:30 to 10:30 Perge: stadium, Hellenistic gate, colonnaded street and the agora.
3. 11:00 to 12:00 Aspendos theater, with a short stop at the aqueduct if time allows.
4. 13:00 to 14:00 Lunch in Side, near the harbor.
5. 14:00 to 15:30 Side theater, museum and the temples of Apollo and Athena.
6. 15:30 to 17:00 Drive back to Antalya, with an evening walk in Kaleiçi if you still have energy.

What about the Antalya Museum and Kaleiçi?

The Antalya Museum is closed. It shut to visitors on July 16, 2025, after a seismic assessment rated the building risky, and a new museum is being built on the same site. Officials targeted completion at the end of 2026; check its status before you travel.

This matters because many statues from Perge were displayed there. Until the new building opens, Kaleiçi, the walled old town, is the most rewarding way to spend a spare few hours in the city. Enter through Hadrian’s Gate, a triple-arched marble gateway built in AD 130 for the emperor’s visit, then wander down the lanes past the fluted Yivli Minaret to the old harbor and the Hıdırlık Tower above the cliffs. Kaleiçi is ideal for the evening after your ancient-cities day, or for a separate half day.

Tickets as of October 2026

Foreign visitor prices are set in euros and charged in Turkish lira at the daily rate. A new national tariff takes effect on April 1, 2027.

Site	Foreign visitor ticket, October 2026	From April 1, 2027
Perge	€11	€12
Aspendos	€15	€16
Side Museum and site	€10 (combined)	Museum €6, site €8
Antalya Museum	Closed	Not applicable until reopening
Hadrian’s Gate and Kaleiçi	Free, open air	Free

How hot is it, and when should you go?

July and August are very hot on this coast, with afternoon highs often around 35°C (95°F) and little shade at Perge or Aspendos. Spring and autumn make this day much easier.

In summer, be at Perge at opening time, carry plenty of water and plan lunch in Side in the shade. A hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes are essential, as Perge’s streets are long and uneven. May, June, September and October give warm sea and manageable sightseeing.

What should you skip if time is short?

If you only have half a day, do Perge and Aspendos and skip Side. Both are within an hour of Antalya and together give you the city plan and the theater, which are the two strongest experiences on this coast.

• Skip first: the Side Museum and the aqueduct detour.
• Skip second: Side itself, if the heat or traffic is building.
• Do not skip: the Aspendos theater. It takes an hour and is the centerpiece of the day.

Our 14-day private grand tour of Turkey includes Antalya with time for these sites, and it continues on to Konya and Cappadocia. If you would like a shorter route with Antalya added after Pamukkale, you can build your trip and we will plan the coastal days around the season.

Sources

• Perge Archaeological Site, Ministry of Culture and Tourism
• Aspendos Archaeological Site, Ministry of Culture and Tourism
• Side Ancient Theater, Ministry of Culture and Tourism
• Acts 13:13 to 14 and 14:24 to 26 (Bible Gateway)
• 33rd Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival dates (DHA, August 2026)
• Antalya Archaeology Museum closure (Türkgün)
• Museum and site prices, October 2026 (Karekod)
• 2027 museum and site tariff, Ministry list (via Alomaliye)

FAQ

Can you visit Perge, Aspendos and Side in one day?

Yes, with a private vehicle and an early start. Drive east from Antalya to Perge, then Aspendos, then Side, and return in the evening, about three hours of driving in total. Plan roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. In July and August the heat is the real limit, so many travelers drop Side or the museum.

Is the Antalya Museum open?

No. The Antalya Museum closed to visitors on July 16, 2025, after a seismic assessment rated the building risky, and a new museum is being built on the same site. Officials targeted completion at the end of 2026. Check its status shortly before your trip, since many statues from Perge will be displayed there.

Is the Aspendos theater worth visiting?

Yes. It is one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world, with its seating and tall stage building nearly complete. It was built in the 2nd century AD and still hosts performances, including the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival each September. A visit takes about an hour, and it sits directly on the coastal route.

Did the apostle Paul visit Perge?

Yes. Acts 13:13 to 14 records Paul and his companions sailing from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia, where John Mark left them. On the return journey, Acts 14:25 says they preached the word in Perga and then went down to Attalia, today's Antalya, before sailing back to Antioch.

How much are tickets for Perge, Aspendos and Side?

As of October 2026, foreign visitors pay €11 for Perge, €15 for Aspendos and €10 for the combined Side Museum and site ticket, charged in Turkish lira at the daily rate. A new tariff starts April 1, 2027, raising Perge to €12 and Aspendos to €16, with separate Side Museum and site tickets.