Replete with archaeological splendour, Turkey is a history buff’s dream. This country’s multicultural past lends to a wide array of time-worn monuments that remain in impressive condition. Where east meets west — the meeting point of Europe and Asia — you’ll encounter influences from Roman civilisation, plus the Ottoman and Byzantine empires. Turkey is like one big outdoor museum that’s ripe for adventure. If you want to visit ancient ruins in Turkey, then add these eight below to your list.
1. Troy
You probably remember reading about Troy in history class. This ancient city, dating from 3,000 BC, remains intact near what is now Canakkale, a city on the Aegean coast a few hours south of Istanbul. Well known for both the Trojan War and the Trojan Horse, Troy is more than Greek mythology — it’s a real place filled with lore and history.
You won’t encounter the original Trojan Horse these days, but there’s a reconstructed model to imagine what it might have looked like millennia ago. Within the citadel’s sturdy walls, the structures provide a glimpse of a past civilization. Visit the Museum of Troy for an even deeper history dive.
2. Hierapolis
Built to be a thermal spa, the grounds of Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contain ancient bath structures, temples, a theatre, and Greek monuments across the site. Established at the end of the 2nd century BC, Hierapolis is impressively well preserved. Located in Pamukkale, it’s a one-hour flight or a six-hour drive from Istanbul.
The mind-boggling landscape is made up of terraced pools of bright blue water and an otherworldly network of bleach-white rock formations, which originally formed from hot springs that slowly deposited limestone over millennia. As far as ruins in Turkey go, it’s one of the more unique settings.
3. Ephesus
Ephesus, a former port city in western Turkey, is one of the most significant ancient sites in the country. This once-prosperous metropolis had an important role in the Roman Empire when it was named the capital of Asia Minor in 27 BC — a city of wealth and opulence. Nowadays, it’s still under excavation, and the details that remain paint a vivid picture of what it once was.
With an amphitheatre, library, aqueducts, and temples, it has everything you could ever want for an archaeological adventure. Rivalling Italy’s ancient monuments, these Roman ruins in Turkey are worth travelling down south from Istanbul.
4. Aphrodisias
The Hellenistic city Aphrodisias was dedicated to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Unlike other ancient ruins of Turkey, this site is known for its marble structures that date from the 3rd century BC. Way back when, the city’s economy relied on the marble quarries and artisanal works of residents, a key component of the early civilization that remains visible today.
Plenty of time-worn columns, plus a theatre complex with stadium-like seating, reveal the Greek influence in the architecture. The site remains beautifully intact in the upper valley of the Morsynus River in southwest Turkey.
5. Perge
Perge, a former Lycian settlement turned Greek city, has both Hellenistic and Roman ruins, plus an amphitheatre that could fit 15,000 people. Located along Turkey’s southern shore where the sun shines strongly, Perge is close to plenty of pristine nature just outside what is now the city of Antalya. This well-planned ancient city still maintains its organisation today, welcoming visitors to stroll around the stadium, theatre, and other monumental structures.
Perge was known for being a producer of sculptures, and you can find many of the original artefacts at the Antalya Museum. It’s a must when visiting southern Turkey, along with taking a swim in one of the many beaches in Antalya.
6. Aspendos
The Roman theatre is the main attraction at Aspendos, an ancient city roughly 40km (24.85 mi) from the modern-day coastal city of Antalya in southern Turkey. You can even visit the 2,000-year-old theatre and experience its original purpose by attending the annual Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival, a performance by companies from several countries. The rest of the year, you can still enjoy the near-perfect condition of the theatre on foot, along with the rest of Aspendos. Ancient aqueducts, a series of columns and vaults that used to supply the city’s water, remain standing today, along with a basilica, agora (a wide public space), and a former marketplace.
7. Xanthos
Not far from the glittering coast of the Mediterranean, Xanthos holds the history of varied civilizations: Greek, Persian, and the Lycian people of Turkey. This archaeological site in southwest Turkey is made up of two parts in between a small ravine flanked by weathered city walls that still stand tall today. Gently eroded Lycian tombs remain intact around the site, carved out of the hill’s rock. The city was eventually abandoned after a long resistance against the Persian Empire, but its longstanding history grants an in-depth look into the culture of the Lycian region’s former inhabitants.
8. Ani
Once regarded as the ‘city of 1,001 churches’, Ani has a storied past as the former capital of mediaeval Armenia. Today, these churches have been reclaimed by nature and are scattered across the landscape. Sun-drenched beige structures contrast with the surrounding grasslands, showcasing a mixture of Armenian and Byzantine influences. Because it’s located out east in the lesser-touristed Kars province, you won’t find quite as many visitors here compared to the other ancient ruins in Turkey.
