Perge from Antalya: Planning a Day Trip to the Ancient City

Perge is an ancient settlement whose history reaches back to at least the Early Bronze Age. Its name is associated with “Parha” in Hittite texts, and Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism describes it as one of the country’s best-preserved and important ancient settlements.

The site’s layout makes its urban scale easy to understand: two main streets, one running east–west and the other north–south, organize the ancient city. Excavations began in 1946 under Ord. Prof. Dr. Arif Müfid Mansel, according to the official museum listing.

Perge also connects to the wider history of the region. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism says St Paul reached the city by way of the Aksu River during his missionary travels.

Perge includes a stadium, theatre, city gate, agora and macellum, palaestra, baths, water channels, monumental fountains and colonnaded streets. The two main streets provide a clear framework for understanding how these remains fit into the ancient city.

The stadium, built in the 2nd century BC, could hold approximately 12,000 spectators, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The theatre had a capacity of approximately 13,000; its stage building was constructed in the 2nd century AD.

Sculptures recovered during excavations at Perge are displayed at Antalya Museum. That makes the museum a relevant addition if you want to see finds from the site alongside the ruins themselves.

Perge is 17 km east of Antalya city centre, in Aksu. The official museum listing gives its location as Barbaros Mahallesi, Perge Caddesi, Aksu, Antalya. Confirm your route before travelling, as public-transport details can change.

Perge can fit into a day that also includes time in Kaleiçi, but give the archaeological site its own substantial block of time. A walkable day in Kaleiçi offers a different way to spend time in Antalya, focused on the historic centre.

For city travel by tram, bus and on foot, how to get around Antalya covers the main options.

Allow at least 2.5–3 hours to explore Perge comfortably, according to an Antalya visitor guide. That gives you time to take in the city’s main streets and the range of remains across the site, rather than treating the visit as a quick stop.

Use the site’s two main streets as a simple orientation point as you explore. The stadium, theatre, agora and other structures make up a broad archaeological landscape, so factor in time to move between them.