Top 15 Ancient History Tours in Turkey

1.Ancient Perge, Aspendos Theater & City of Side Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,237 reviews · 9 hours · from $41Our pick

Travel from Antalya to Perge, Aspendos, and Side with an English, German, Spanish, or French-speaking guide. Walk Perge’s colonnaded avenue, visit Aspendos Theater, enjoy a local lunch by the river, and finish at Side’s Temple of Apollo. Guides such as Ozzy, Recep, Ibrahim, and Fatima are praised for clear explanations and good humor.

“We are so glad we did this trip, it was amazing. Recep our guide was lovely and helpful. Perge Antik is a beautiful historic site, then we went on the Aspendos which is so well preserved. Side completely blew us away with beautiful location of the Temple of Apollo, just wow! We stopped for a lovely organic lunch with a view. An amazing day. Thank you Recep!”

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2.Ancient Perge, Aspendos Amphitheater and City of Side Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 644 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $42Top rated

This 10-hour Antalya day trip combines Perge’s Roman streets, Aspendos Theater, Side’s seafront ruins, and Apollo Temple, with hotel pickup, lunch, and a guide. Guides may include Ibrahim, Ozzy, Oğuzhan, Recep, or Gamze. Expect a small group of up to 15, long drives, and limited time at some stops.

“This tour was a very enjoyable dive into history! Our guide, Ms. Gamze, was exceptional. With a background in history and archaeology, her knowledge was both deep and comprehensive. I highly recommend her tour for anyone looking to explore these incredible historical sites. Her expertise and enthusiasm made the tour both informative and enjoyable, ensuring that we left with a greater appreciation for the rich heritage of Perge, Aspendos, and Side.”

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3.Day Tour of Ancient Roman Sites

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 278 reviews · 9 hours · from $89

Travel from Antalya with an English-speaking guide to Perge, Aspendos, Side, and Manavgat Waterfall. You’ll see Roman baths, colonnades, a 15,000-seat theater, and Side’s Temple of Apollo. Guides such as Fatima, Cigil, Kerem, and Tuly are praised for lively explanations. Expect a full day, outdoor walking, lunch, and limited time at each stop.

“An excellent day trip with an informative guide and pleasant company all round. Highly recommended.”

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4.From Izmir: Guided Tour of the Ancient City of Ephesus

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 205 reviews · 9 hours · from $117

Travel from Izmir to Ephesus in an air-conditioned minivan, then walk marble streets with a guide such as Alpi, Erman, or Alperen. See the Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, Temple of Artemis, and optional House of Virgin Mary. Lunch is included, while Terrace House and Mary’s House tickets cost extra.

“Great logistic for the tour. Transportation of high quality. Our guide Erman speaks perfect Spanish, it was easy to understand all the information provided. This city it's amazing we enjoyed and leaned a lot.”

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5.Fire of Anatolia Dance Show at Ancient Aspendos Theater

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 198 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $64

Travel to Gloria Aspendos Arena for Fire of Anatolia, a large-scale Turkish dance performance staged in the ancient Aspendos Theater. You will see 120 dancers combine folk dance, ballet, modern choreography, dramatic lighting, and fast footwork in the shows Troy or Evolution. Transfers from Side may be added, while dinner is available with selected Kemer and Alanya options.

“Magnificent show. Professional dancers. Not the expected touristic attraction. An amazing experience in an ancient roman theatre”

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6.Hiking in Termessos Ancient City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 152 reviews · 4 hours · from $62

Join Önder on a four-hour small-group hike from Antalya to Termessos, a 1,050-meter ancient city in Güllük Mountain National Park. You’ll see the theater, agora, cisterns, tombs, gates, and temples while walking through quiet mountain ruins. Transportation is included, but entrance fees are extra.

“The tour was beautiful and the theatre in particular was unbelievably scenic. Our guide Onder was excellent. He was really knowledgeable on the ancient city itself as well as rich Turkish history. Onder is incredibly friendly and went above and beyond for us, giving us great advice on our stay in Antalya and beyond. This was certainly a major highlight in our entire Turkish holiday. Thank you Onder.”

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7.City of Side: Eagle Canyon and Selge Ancient City Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 124 reviews · 8 hours · from $45

Travel by minibus from Side into Antalya Province for a full day of Roman ruins, mountain scenery, and a short hike to Eagle Canyon. You will stop by the Koprucay River for lunch, photograph an ancient bridge and aqueducts, and spend 40 minutes at Selge with an English or German-speaking guide. Expect a long day with some waiting and walking.

“Spændende og smuk oplevelse, som bestemt var pengene værd. Der var desværre ikke en engelsk guide med.”

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8.City of Side: Green Canyon, Waterfall, Ancient City Mix Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 109 reviews · 7 - 8 hours · from $32

From Side, you’ll visit a historic mosque and Lyrbe Agora, cruise Green Lake, eat lunch by the water, and see Oymapinar Dam. Swimming and a foam party are included, while jet skis, the orange grove, drinks, and Manavgat Waterfall cost extra. Guides speak English, German, Russian, and Turkish. Ahmet has received especially warm praise for his friendly, informative guiding.

“Excellent trip. Loved boat ride and plenty of stops. Guide was very good and attentive but unfortunately did not speak good English but did try to .are up for it by giving us transcrip commentary on his phone.”

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9.Antalya Eagle Canyon Tour With Rafting OR Selge Ancient City

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 79 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $35

Spend a full day in Koprulu Canyon National Park with hotel pickup, a 4x4 ride, lunch, rafting or a Selge visit, and time at Tazi Canyon. Expect a long day, possible group delays, and a package choice that should be confirmed before booking.

“Exhilarating. Excellent crew. Brimming with life and inspiring everyone. Only downside is the driver of the van did not turn on AC during the journey.it became a little hot.”

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10.Alanya: Ancient Ruins & Hidden Coves of Gazipaşa w/ Cave

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 63 reviews · 9 hours · from $53

Travel from Alanya to Syedra, Aytap, Delik Deniz, and Lying World Cave with an English, German, or Russian-speaking guide. Taner is among the named guides, and the day mixes Roman ruins, rocky coastal paths, a swim in King's Cove, cave exploring, lunch, and striking views. Sturdy shoes matter.

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11.Exploring Ancient Wonders and Natural Beauty in Turkey

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $100

From Alanya, you’ll visit Side’s Temple of Apollo, the Roman theater at Aspendos, and Kurşunlu Waterfall. The 8.5-hour trip includes hotel pickup, lunch, and waterfall admission. Aspendos costs an extra 15 euros. Expect a small group of up to 25 people and a long day on the road.

“Essential parts of the tour were excellent (Side, Aspendos, Waterfall). Personal tour with very good guide and excellent driver. Turkish Delight factory was good but we didn't need the jewellery showroom. Longish drive from Alanya though.”

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12.Full-Day Tour of Ancient Ruins in Ephesus from Izmir

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 43 reviews · 8 hours · from $155

Spend eight hours traveling from Izmir to Selçuk with an English-speaking guide and a group of up to 14. Walk through Ephesus, see the Library of Celsus and Great Theater, visit the House of the Virgin Mary and Temple of Artemis, and enjoy lunch. Extra stops at shops may be included.

“I booked the tour at late night but they still confirmed right after my booking”

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13.Roman Ancient Sites & Manavgat Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 38 reviews · 9 hours · from $77

Spend nine hours exploring Perge, Aspendos, and Side with a guide such as Kerem, Fatma, or Cengiz. You’ll see Roman streets, a working ancient theater, Side’s Temple of Apollo, and an 18-meter waterfall. Hotel transfers, air-conditioned transport, and buffet lunch are included, but entrance fees and drinks cost extra.

“Learned soo much and had an amazing day I don’t normally write reviews too often but Kerem was fantastic and was not only a guide he became a friend and made us all feel prioritised and witnessed him go above and beyond and made sure the tour was one of a kind, thank you best excursion we have been on.”

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14.Full-Day Tour of Kursunlu Waterfalls, Aspendos, and Ancient Ruins of Side From Alanya

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 37 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $66

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Alanya to Aspendos, Kursunlu Waterfalls, and Side. You’ll see a Roman theater, pine-forest cascades, temples, baths, and an ancient spring. Lunch is included, but drinks, entrance fees, and a leather and jewelry shop visit are extra parts of the day to plan for.

“The tour was very well organized and the tour guides communicated with everyone. If you're going in the summer be prepared it is very very veryyy hot. I highly recommend bringing a portable fan and a water canteen. If you're looking for a tour to see things and take pictures I would recommend. However, if you are looking for a more informative or historical experience do your research on your own. The tour guides did have some information and if you asked they gave context and background knowledge. Overall a very nice experience and would recommend if you are looking to see some sites in Alanya.”

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15.Ephesus Ancient City Highlight Tour For Cruisers

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 35 reviews · 4 - 4.5 hours · from $22Best value

Meet your guide at Kusadasi cruise port and spend 4 to 4.5 hours exploring Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, Saint John Basilica, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Memo, Kaya, Tijen Oral, Esen, and Kunce are praised for clear English, local insight, and flexible pacing. Transport is included, while site tickets, lunch, and drinks cost extra.

“Excellent trip. The guide was very informative and knowledgeable”

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