Updated in September 2026, this Perge Archaeological Site guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, transport, accessibility and what to see.
Perge is a large Graeco-Roman ancient city in the Aksu district of Antalya, Turkey. The ancient theatre remains closed for ongoing restoration, and the standard entrance fee is set to rise from €11 to €12 under a newly announced 2027 tariff.
Quick facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 08:00–20:00 daily, box office closes 19:30 (per the Ministry’s live listing; hours adjust seasonally) |
| Ticket prices | €11 for non-Turkish visitors aged 8+; free for Turkish citizens under 18, students and over-65s |
| Address | Barbaros Mahallesi, Perge Caddesi, Aksu, Antalya |
| Nearest transport | Taxi, rental car or Antray tram to Aksu, about 30–40 minutes from central Antalya |
| Typical time needed | 2 to 3 hours |
Perge opening hours
Perge opens at 08:00 every day. As of September 2026, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s own site lists closing at 20:00, with the box office closing at 19:30.
Turkey’s official museum site does not publish a fixed seasonal table for Perge; instead it shows the currently applicable hours, which the Ministry adjusts through the year, typically extending in summer and shortening in winter. Since the exact changeover dates are not published in advance, checking the official listing shortly before your visit is the most reliable approach.
In previous summers, closing time has run later into the evening, closer to 21:00 at the peak of the season, though this is not currently confirmed on the official listing and should not be relied on for planning.
The site has no weekly closed day and remains open on public holidays, though hours can occasionally change for events. Perge’s theatre, discussed further below, is currently the only major structure that is not accessible to visitors.
Perge ticket prices
The standard entrance fee is €11 for visitors aged 8 and over who are not Turkish citizens. Turkish citizens pay a domestic rate in lira; Turkish citizens under 18, university students of art history, archaeology or museum studies, and Turkish citizens aged 65 and over all enter free, as do non-Turkish children under 8.
A newly announced 2027 tariff will raise the non-Turkish adult fee to €12 and make entry free for all Turkish citizens, a change not yet reflected in most current guides.
Perge is included in the Museum Pass Mediterranean, a 7-day card covering more than 40 museums and sites across Antalya, Mersin, Adana and Denizli provinces, including Aspendos, Termessos and Side, for €90; the pass does not cover separately ticketed night events.
Opening hours were checked directly on the official Ministry of Culture and Tourism listing; ticket prices were cross-checked against the Ministry’s published fee schedule. Both were last verified in September 2026.
Payment at the gate is generally accepted in cash or by card; prices for non-Turkish visitors are set in euros, so carrying some cash or a card without foreign transaction fees is useful.
How to get to Perge
Perge is about 17 km east of central Antalya, in the Aksu district. The easiest options are a taxi or rental car, taking roughly 30 to 40 minutes from the city centre, or the Antray tram toward EXPO, getting off near Aksu and walking or taking a short taxi for the final stretch.
Perge is also close to Antalya Airport, about 15 km away, making it a practical stop before a late flight. Many visitors combine it with Aspendos and Side on an organised day tour, since all three sites lie along the same stretch of coast east of Antalya.
Parking at Perge
Free parking is available near the ticket entrance for visitors arriving by car, taxi or tour coach.
How long to spend at Perge
Most visitors need 2 to 3 hours to see the main highlights. Allow up to 4 hours for a thorough visit, given the site’s large scale and the distance between the stadium, main street and necropolis areas.
Accessibility at Perge
Paths combine flat gravel sections with original, uneven ancient paving, particularly along the colonnaded street, so the site is not fully step-free. There is very little shade, so sun protection and water are essential, especially in summer.
Wheelchair users and those with limited mobility can manage the main colonnaded street and stadium area with assistance, but the necropolis route and stretches of original paving are more difficult; contact the site in advance for current conditions.
Inside Perge: what to see
The Hellenistic City Gate, flanked by two horseshoe-shaped towers built in the 3rd century BC, is one of the best-preserved structures of its kind in Turkey and still marks the old entrance to the city. Perge’s origins reach back to the Early Bronze Age, with the city referred to as “Parha” in Hittite texts, though it reached its greatest wealth under Roman rule during the “Pax Romana” of the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
Beyond it, the colonnaded main street runs in a straight line, with the remains of a water channel once running down its centre and column bases lining both sides. The Agora and Macellum (marketplace) stand just off this route.
The Stadium, one of the best-preserved in the ancient world, could hold around 12,000 spectators and hosted gladiatorial contests under Roman rule; much of its seating remains intact.
Across the road from the main entrance, the Theatre could seat a similar number and features carved reliefs linked to Dionysus, but it remains closed to visitors for structural restoration, so it can currently only be viewed and photographed from outside the fencing.
Several monumental fountains survive, including the restored Caracalla Fountain, along with Roman baths and a Palaestra (exercise ground). The route to the Western Necropolis has recently been fully opened to visitors.
Perge also has a place in early Christian history: it marked the starting point of St Paul’s road to Pisidian Antioch, and later became a Byzantine “Metropolitan City” with several basilicas.
Excavations at Perge began in 1946 under Arif Müfid Mansel and continued for decades under Jale İnan and Haluk Abbasoğlu; since 2012, work has been led by the Antalya Museum Directorate. Recent digs have focused on the Western Colonnaded Street, a second main artery of the ancient city, alongside its parallel water channel.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the strongest midday sun. |
| Crowds | Tour groups tend to arrive mid-morning; early or late visits are usually quieter. |
| Layout | The site is large and spread out, so pace yourself between the stadium, street and necropolis. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets at the gate or in advance through the official e-ticket portal. |
| On-site logistics | Bring water, sun protection and comfortable shoes; there is very little shade. |
Frequently asked questions about Perge
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Perge suitable for children? | Yes, though the heat and lack of shade call for sun protection and plenty of water. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Perge? | No. Tickets are sold at the gate; e-tickets are also available online. |
| Is Perge open every day? | Yes, year-round, with no weekly closed day. |
| Is the theatre at Perge open to visitors? | No. It remains closed for structural restoration; it can be viewed from outside only. |
| Is Perge included in a museum pass? | Yes, the Museum Pass Mediterranean covers Perge along with 40+ other regional sites. |
Things to do near Perge
- Aspendos: the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world, about 40 minutes east.
- Side: an ancient port city with a seaside Temple of Apollo, about 45 minutes east.
- Antalya Archaeology Museum: displays artefacts excavated from Perge, about 30 minutes away.
- Antalya Old Town (Kaleiçi): a historic harbour and bazaar district, about 30–40 minutes away.
- Düden Waterfalls: a scenic waterfall near central Antalya, about 30 minutes away.
Alternative attractions
- Termessos: dramatic Pisidian ruins on a mountaintop, about 1 hour northwest.
- Phaselis: harbour ruins spread across three bays, about 1 hour west.
- Olympos: Lycian ruins beside a pine-backed beach, about 1.5 hours west.
- Myra (Demre): rock-cut Lycian tombs and the Church of St Nicholas, about 2 hours west.
- Xanthos and Letoon: UNESCO-listed Lycian capital and sanctuary sites, about 2.5 hours west.
More Turkey travel
Other Turkey travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What you’ll see when visiting the Ephesus Museum in Selcuk.
- Practical guide to visiting the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations in Ankara.
- Practical guide to visiting Galata Tower in Istanbul.
- Plan your visit to the Temple of Apollo in Didim.
- Practical guide to visiting the Patara Archaeological Site – the ancient capital of Lycia.
