Pergamon Tour, Izmir

About this activity

This tour takes you to Pergamon, one of the finest archaeological sites in Turkey. The city was a great cultural centre of culture and the capital of the East during the reign of the Roman Empire. After a short cable car ride, you will have a birds-eye view of the local surroundings. You will see numerous ruins including the celebrated Library, the steepest theatre in Anatolia, the Temples of Trajan and Dionysos, the location of the Altar of Zeus which is famous for its relief with God and devils, the Sanctuary of Demeter, the Gymnasium situated on terraces, and the lower Agora. After a delicious lunch with Turkish specialities, you will visit the Archaeological Museum in Bergama, before proceeding to the Medical Center of the ancient world -- the Asclepion -- where the first psychological treatments were performed and which was dedicated to the God of Health, Asclepios. You will return to Izmir in the evening.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: Arabic, German, Russian, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Turkish, Spanish
Operated by: Deren Koray Tourism

Ages: Adults (1–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: Carbonated beverages: Soda/Pop
Included: On-board WiFi: WiFi on board
Included: Bottled water
Included: Lunch
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: Surcharges on fuel: Fuel surcharge
Included: Parking Fees

Not included

Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Bergama

2 hours

The goddess of love and beauty, a city dedicated to Aphrodite, had over 200,000 visitors last year, and signs show that it is about to increase. It is one of the few settlements that have survived invasions and devastation throughout the ages but reoccupy itself on the merits of its strategic location and was included in 2014 on UNESCO's UNESCO World Heritage List. Pergamon prehistory goes back to the second millennium BC, as confirmation of the findings from the excavations held. The town survived Alexander the Great's Persian domination and conquest. The brilliant phase of its history lasted nearly one hundred fifty years when, in the third and second centuries BC, it was the capital for the Kingdom of Pergamon. One of the world's largest libraries was constructed here, and the city was converted into a centre of healing. The arts were also flourishing and the city became especially famous for its splendid sculptures. Pergamon kept its importance during the Roman era.
Pergamon Ancient City

2 hours Admission included

The historic gateway of Pergamon with old temples, theatres, the library, cultural heritage, and riches is located close to Izmir. In the Aegean region, Pergamon is high over the plain of Bakircay. Bergama (Pergamon), once a great centre of culture, survives as one of Turkey's finest archaeological sites. On the Acropolis, a hill above the modern town, are the remains of the celebrated library, a steep and impressive theatre, the Temples of Trojan and Dionysus, the monumental altar of Zeus, the sanctuary of Demeter, a gymnasium laid out on three terraces and the Agora. The Asclepion, located to the southwest of the lower city, was a sanctuary dedicated to the god of health, Asclepios.
Pergamon Parchment

30 min Admission included

Almost a million visitors annually visit Bergama and the ruins of the ancient city of Pergamon, the first historical town of Bergama. The first parchment to be used was one of the most significant of these. Script creation has been a major breakthrough for human history and parchment innovation was quite important as it created a medium for quick and stable script recording. Parchments were developed in such a way that the city became a major centre of arts and science during the 2nd century BC and created a bookstore of manuscripts rivalling the world-famous Alexandrian library. One of the first seven early Christian Churches was held in Pergamon, and the Bible cites its name. The first wooden stage theatre; the first trade union; the first market law; the first regulation of public buildings; first strike and collective agreement were among the first in Pergamon 's history.
Stop 4

30 min Admission included

The principal ruins of ancient Pergamon, which comprise all religious, social and commercial structures, are found in the Acropolis. Of these most notable, the ruins of Pergamon Library, one of the largest ruins of the world at that time, housed a collection of 200,000 manuscripts. Wow!
Stop 5

one hour Admission included

While we are in Bergama we will also visit the Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum; nearby, the site of a temple dedicated to Serapis, later one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, and subsequently converted by the Byzantines into a basilica.
Stop 6

20 min Admission included

In the Acropolis could also be seen the base of the Grand Altar of Pergamon or the altar of Zeus. However, in the late Ottoman era, the whole superstructure of the Altar was demolished, and now it is displayed here in Berlin – the Altar and its friezes show some of the best examples of Pergamon's works of art and architecture in the Hellenistic era.
Red Basilica (Kizil Avlu)

30 min Admission included

The Serapis Temple was one of the main Romanesque buildings, and because of the colour of the bricks, it was known as the Red Basilica. This remarkably large structure was transformed into a church during the Byzantine era, which is one of the first seven Churches quoted in the Bible.
The Asklepion

30 min Admission included

The Asclepius Sanctuary, one of the most important ancient health centres, where the patients were treated with sounds of water, mud and healing spring waters. The town also stood in Pergamon, in the history of medicine and pharmaceuticals by Physician Galen, the father of pharmacology.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Ibis Styles Izmir Bornova Hotel
Piano Hotel Alacati
Livn Boutique Hotel & Wine House
Hotel Yaman
Mom Hotel
Izmirim Hotel
Wyndham Grand İzmir Ozdilek Thermal & Spa
Ege Palas
Volley Hotel Izmir
Kirmizi Residence
Anemon Ege Otel
Orty Airport Hotel

and 119 more pickup points

Hand sanitizers and masks will be available for the best hygiene practice.
Please be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby 15 minutes prior to your scheduled pick-up time and let the lobby staff know that you are expecting a tour guide.
Comfortable shoes are advised
Wheelchair users must inform our agent whether guest(s) is/are fully dependent on the chair or partly able to walk or move.
Cruise port pickups from Izmir International Cruise Port are included in the tour price.
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport pick up service is included in the tour price

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Service animals allowed
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Wheelchair accessible

Options

Prime Languages

You can purchase this tour in English, German, French and Turkish. Please see other language options.

Pickup included
Other Languages

You can purchase this tour in Spanish, Italian, Russian, Greek, Chinese (Traditional), Japanese, Arabic and other languages.

Pickup included