Antalya: Perge, Aspendos & City of Side Day Trip with Lunch

Perge’s column-lined street and Aspendos’s remarkably complete Roman theater make this day trip a useful way to see three major ancient sites without arranging separate transport. Side adds a different mood: ruins set beside a modern resort town and the Temple of Apollo near the harbor.

I like the mix of big archaeological sites and the riverside lunch stop, and I like that hotel transfers and a guide are included in the $60 price. The main caution is the extra €30 entrance fee for Perge and Aspendos, plus a reported mismatch over what one customer was charged. Confirm the full price before you go.

The day in six useful points

• Perge gets the longest visit: Plan on about two hours for its stadium, gates, baths, nymphaeum, column street and agora.
• Aspendos is the theater highlight: The guided visit lasts about 45 minutes, with a separate look at the ancient aqueduct.
• Side pairs ruins with sea views: Expect about an hour for the Temple of Apollo, the ancient city and free time.
• Lunch is beside the Euromedon River: The meal is included, but drinks are not.
• Allow for extra admission costs: Perge and Aspendos tickets are listed at €30 per person in total.
• Pickup times vary by area: Contact the operator on WhatsApp the day before to confirm your pickup point and time.

Three ancient cities, three different moods

This trip covers Perge, Aspendos and Side in a long day from Antalya. They are not interchangeable ruins. At Perge, you get the scale and plan of a Pamphylian city, with streets and public buildings that help you picture daily civic life. At Aspendos, the theater commands attention. Side brings ancient remains into close contact with today’s resort town and its waterfront.

That variety is the tour’s main strength. You are not spending the whole day looking at one kind of monument, and the guide can connect the sites through the region’s history and water systems. Perge’s aqueduct remains part of the story, while Aspendos offers a separate visit to an ancient water canal.

The pace is brisk by design. Perge is allotted about two hours, Aspendos about 45 minutes, and Side about an hour, with driving, lunch and a 45-minute shopping stop also in the schedule. If you want to read every inscription or wander slowly through each site, this may feel rushed. If you want a guided overview and a good first look at all three, the format makes sense.

Perge: follow the city’s public life

Perge was once a leading city in Pamphylia, and the visit focuses on its public spaces rather than a single showpiece. You can expect to see the stadium, Roman Gate, nymphaeum, Roman bath, Hellenistic Gate, column street and State Agora. Together, those remains show how a large ancient city organized movement, trade, water and civic life.

The two-hour visit is the most generous stop on the schedule. That matters here: Perge is a site where a guide’s explanations can make scattered structures easier to read. The tour description promises a guided walk, and the strongest feedback about the day has been for guides who bring the sites to life with stories. Oğuzhan, also called Ozzie, and Omer are among the guides whose names have been praised.

Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably. The site includes a range of archaeological remains, and you will get more from the visit if you can focus on the guide rather than your footing. A hat and comfortable clothing are sensible, especially on a sunny day.

The shopping stop: a pause in the schedule

The itinerary includes a 45-minute shopping stop in Antalya Province. The exact shop or products are not specified, so treat this as a planned break rather than a promised cultural visit. Shopping is described as possible, not required.

For some, the stop is a welcome chance to rest between the ruins. If you would rather spend every available minute at archaeological sites, it is worth asking the operator what the stop involves before booking. A 45-minute pause is noticeable on a packed day, particularly for anyone hoping for longer in Side.

Aspendos: the theater and its water supply

Aspendos is the tour’s architectural showstopper. Its Roman theater is among the best-preserved and most complete in Turkey, and the venue continued to host concerts, festivals and events until recently. Even with only about 45 minutes for the guided theater visit, you have time to appreciate the structure and hear why it has remained useful long after its original era.

The nearby aqueduct adds a practical counterpoint to the theater. Rather than seeing a city only through grand public buildings, you get a glimpse of the engineering that supplied water. Perge’s water canal system and Side’s aqueduct are also noted as highlights, so water infrastructure is a recurring theme across the day.

The main limitation is time. Forty-five minutes is enough for a focused introduction, not a leisurely exploration of every corner. If Aspendos is the site you care about most, you may want to ask whether a private group can adjust the pace. Private groups are available, though the details and price are not provided.

Lunch beside the Euromedon River

Lunch is included at a restaurant beside the river known in antiquity as the Euromedon. The setting gives the day a useful pause after the first archaeological visits, and the river offers a change of scene from stone streets and theater seating.

Drinks are not included, so budget for them separately. One visitor particularly recommended the fish, but the meal choice and menu are not specified, so I would not count on a particular dish being available. The practical value is clear: you do not have to find a restaurant yourself during a tightly timed day.

Side: ruins beside a working resort town

Side combines the ancient Agora, theater and temples with a present-day resort setting. The Temple of Apollo, close to the harbor, is the best-known stop, and its seaside position gives this visit a different feel from inland Perge and Aspendos. The tour allows about an hour for a guided visit and free time.

That hour is also the clearest drawback of the itinerary. One visitor wished for more time in Side, and the schedule leaves little room to linger. If you want to explore the modern town as well as the ruins, browse at leisure or spend time by the water, an hour may feel short. For a quick orientation and a look at the main ancient sights, it is a useful introduction.

An optional one-hour boat ride is mentioned as a way to see the harbor, castle, beach and Taurus Mountains from the water. The information does not make clear whether this is included in the tour price, how it fits into the day, or whether it runs on every departure. Ask the operator before booking if the boat ride is important to you.

What the $60 price really covers

At $60 per person, the base price includes hotel transfers, a guide and lunch. That is appealing for a full day covering three sites, especially if you are staying in one of the listed pickup areas: Aksu, Belek, Beldibi Bahçecik, Kaleiçi, Muratpaşa, ESKİ LARA or Aska Lara Resort. Pickup and drop-off locations are listed across these areas.

But the $60 is not the whole cost. Entrance tickets for Perge and Aspendos are listed separately at €30 per person. Drinks are also extra, and the optional boat ride may involve another charge. Work out the likely total in advance rather than comparing the tour price alone with other day trips.

There is also a reason to confirm the amount directly. A customer described being charged more than expected and receiving an unsatisfactory response when asking about the difference. That report does not establish that every booking will have the same problem, but it makes clear communication worthwhile. Ask the operator to confirm the booking price, the €30 admission charge, and any optional costs in writing before departure.

Pickup, pace and what to bring

This is a 9- to 10-hour outing, with hotel pickup and return transfers. Pickup times differ by location, so contact the operator on WhatsApp one day before the tour to confirm the time and meeting point. The stated meeting point is the hotel security gate outside.

Bring comfortable shoes, a hat and comfortable clothes. An umbrella is also on the recommended list. Drinks are not included, so plan for that expense. Drones, bikes, alcohol and drugs, electric wheelchairs and scooters are not allowed. The tour is listed as unsuitable for people over 95 years old or over 140 kg.

English, Russian and German guides are offered. If language is important to your experience, confirm which language will be available for your departure. Private groups can be arranged, but ask what changes in timing or cost they permit rather than assuming the standard itinerary will be different.

Who should book this day trip?

I would consider this trip if you are based in Antalya and want guided transport to several major ancient sites in one day. It suits people who like having the route, lunch and transfers handled, and who are happy to see each place at a steady pace rather than setting their own schedule. The praise directed at guides such as Ozzie, Oğuzhan and Omer is encouraging, especially if you value historical stories over simply being dropped at the gates.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a slow, in-depth visit or a long stretch of free time in Side. The entry fees also make the advertised price less useful as a measure of the true cost. Confirm every charge before you commit, then decide if the convenience is worth the extra expense.

The tour has a lot going for it: Perge’s city plan, Aspendos’s theater, Side’s harbor-side remains and lunch by the river. Book it if that three-site sampler is what you want. If you would rather spend a whole day at one site or explore Side at leisure, look for a slower plan.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The outing lasts about 9 to 10 hours, including transfers, site visits and lunch.

What is included in the $60 price?

Hotel transfers, a guide and lunch are included. Drinks and entrance tickets are not.

How much are the Perge and Aspendos entrance tickets?

The stated additional cost is €30 per person for Perge and Aspendos.

Which languages are offered?

Guides are listed as speaking English, Russian and German. Confirm the language for your departure with the operator.

How long do you spend at Perge?

The guided visit at Perge is scheduled for about two hours.

How long is the Aspendos Theater visit?

The guided visit to the theater is scheduled for about 45 minutes. The nearby aqueduct is also part of the tour description.

How much time is allocated to Side?

The itinerary allows about one hour for a guided visit and free time around Side and the Temple of Apollo.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included at a restaurant beside the Euromedon River. Drinks are not included.

Is the boat ride included?

A one-hour boat ride is described as optional, but its price and availability are not specified. Ask the operator before booking.

What should I bring, and how do I confirm pickup?

Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, comfortable clothes and an umbrella. Contact the operator on WhatsApp one day before the tour to confirm your pickup time and location.