Ancient Cities & History with Private Transfer Options

The region known in antiquity as Pamphylia and Lycia sits directly behind Antalya's modern coastline and holds one of the densest concentrations of Greco-Roman ruins anywhere in the Mediterranean. Aspendos, whose theatre seats 15,000 and still hosts opera performances today, stands 47 kilometres east of the city. Perge, a colonnaded Hellenistic city mentioned by the Apostle Paul, lies 18 kilometres to the east and is often combined with Aspendos in a single day. Side, with its Temple of Apollo framed against the sea at sunset, is a further 30 kilometres beyond Aspendos. Termessos, high in the Taurus foothills and never conquered by Alexander, requires a mountain drive and solid walking shoes. Each site is distinct; none is a faded footnote.

Public transport between these sites is technically possible but slow and unpredictable. A dolmus from Antalya's otogar reaches Perge in roughly 40 minutes, but onward connections to Aspendos are infrequent and the return journey from Side in the evening is uncertain. A private transfer solves the sequencing problem entirely: you depart when the morning light is right for photography, spend as long as you choose at each site, and avoid the afternoon heat by returning before 14:00. Drivers familiar with the region can advise on which site car parks to avoid during peak coach-tour hours — typically 10:00–12:30 — so you see the ruins with fewer crowds.

Most sites charge a modest entry fee at the gate (not included in the transfer price) and have limited shade inside, so lightweight clothing, a hat, and at least two litres of water per person are standard preparation. Termessos and Phaselis are exceptions worth noting: Termessos involves a genuine uphill hike of around 45 minutes before the ruins begin, while Phaselis offers shaded pine forest and a small beach as well as the ancient city, making it one of the more comfortable half-day options for families.