I left Turkey just over a month ago, but there is still so much to tell. It is an amazing country with incredible history, culture and people. Not to mention all the archaeological sites and ruins spread throughout the country. But how many ruins are too many? I’m not quite sure, but let’s just say I’ve seen a lot during my various trips to Turkey. Would you like to know which ones are worth a visit? Well, some certainly stood out more than others, so I thought I’d summarise my personal top five ancient ruins in Turkey for you. From Aphrodisias, to Ephesus, Hierapolis and Kibyra. Who do you think is number 1?
Top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey – my list
Get ready for lots of amazing photos! Let’s start with no 5…
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5) The Aphrodite of Aphrodisias
I visited the archaeological site of Aphrodisias, the city dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, after exploring Pamukkale, Hierapolis and Laodicea. At first glance, I wasn’t overly impressed. The archaeological site is vast, with plenty to discover, but visitors must follow a designated path. As you probably know by now, I’m not a big fan of that. I much prefer wandering around freely.
Looking back at my photos, however, I realised just how unique Aphrodisias really is. I especially loved the intricate carvings along the walls. The faces were simply incredible. Not to mention the impressive male statue that catches your eye from afar, although it is actually a replica. The original stands inside the on-site museum alongside many other remarkable sculptures.
So, despite my initial doubts, Aphrodisias has certainly earned its place in my top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey.
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4) Ephesus
One of the most famous archaeological sites in Turkey, Ephesus is certainly a must-visit. Whether you’re walking along the grand ancient Roman streets, exploring the basilica or standing inside the impressive Great Theatre, there’s plenty to discover. The layout of this remarkable archaeological site almost seems designed to lead your eyes towards the magnificent Library of Celsus, without a doubt my favourite part of Ephesus.
Ephesus is also one of the busiest ancient ruins in Turkey, so I highly recommend arriving early. Once the tour buses roll in, the site quickly fills with visitors, making it much harder to enjoy the atmosphere and capture those beautiful photos.
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3) The Stadium of Magnesia
The ruins of Magnesia are the lesser known ruins of Turkey, however, I find it still deserves a spot in the top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey. When I was there two years ago it was a deserted site that I found just by accident. Now, there is a proper gate, entry fee and signs to follow.
However, once you walk inside this archaeological site, the signs are a bit confusing. After all, I just wanted to see the amazing Stadium of Magnesia. Remember the photos from last time? (read my first blog post about Magnesia here: Pamukkale and Hierapolis.
Following the new signs I admit I was suddenly lost. There was no road to follow except grass as far as I could see. However I still continued to walk. It must be here somewhere… all I could see where fences and cameras. Could it be on the other side of the fence?
So….
Well, being far from the entrance and having already walked through long grass and bushes, I had to make a decision: turn back or keep going?
So, adding a little more adventure to the day, and doing something I never thought I would do (did I really just climb over a fence in front of security cameras?), I finally found the correct path to the stadium. I just hoped no one had seen me…
Another large gate blocked my way, complete with a bell to ring. A few moments later, I finally stood inside the Stadium of Magnesia. It was just as breathtaking as I remembered. Not much had changed since my last visit, and I didn’t mind at all. I stood at the top, completely alone, taking in the spectacular view.
I’m glad Magnesia hasn’t attracted the crowds yet, because it is certainly worth a visit. For me, however, it’s the stadium alone that makes this archaeological site worthy of a place in my top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey.
P.S. The entrance to the stadium is actually outside the main entrance to the archaeological site, and you can drive almost all the way there. Simply follow the sign behind the official entrance gate.
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The list of the top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey continues…
2) Pamukkale & Hierapolis
It was a close race, and no top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey list would be complete without Pamukkale & Hierapolis. I wrote a detailed blog post about them after my second visit, as this is one of Turkey’s most remarkable archaeological sites.
The dazzling white terraces of Pamukkale, filled with baby-blue thermal pools, create one of the most unique landscapes I’ve ever seen. Sitting above the hot springs, the ancient ruins of Hierapolis are equally impressive. You can follow the path through the ancient necropolis or climb to the top of the magnificent theatre, where spectacular views stretch across the surrounding countryside.
Like Ephesus, this is a very popular destination, so I highly recommend arriving early. Not only will you avoid the crowds, but the softer morning light is also perfect for photography.
Since you can’t really separate Pamukkale from Hierapolis, (they share one entrance and one ticket), they comfortably take second place on my list.
So, which archaeological site claimed the number one spot in my top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey?
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And the winner is … !!!
1) The Ancient ruins of Kibyra
I’ve already written a detailed blog about the ancient ruins of Kibyra, and although it was a close race with Hierapolis, Kibyra is definitely my favourite archaeological site in Turkey.
I had so much fun exploring the ruins without another visitor in sight, and that’s exactly what made the experience so special. If you’re planning a trip around the country’s ancient ruins, Kibyra is an absolute must-see and deserves the number one spot in my top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey.
If you’d like to learn more, read my full blog post: Kibyra – The Amazing Ancient Greek City in Turkey.
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So, that’s my list of the top 5 ancient ruins in Turkey.
Of course, I visited many other impressive archaeological sites that simply didn’t make the top five. Priene (near Ephesus) was definitely worth exploring, Miletus impressed me with its magnificent theatre, and I loved the beautiful mosaics in Laodicea near Pamukkale. Pergamon is, of course, another well-known archaeological site, while Troy, which I wrote about in my previous blog – Troy, Pergamon and Assos – Which One Is Best? – didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Then there were Sardis, Assos and Aspendos, all fascinating in their own way.
Yes, I know… I’ve seen a lot of ruins! But I hope this list helps you decide which ancient ruins in Turkey are worth adding to your own itinerary.
As I continue cycling and enjoying the summer in Germany, I still have one more blog post to write about Turkey. My hike to Termessos. Yes, another set of ancient ruins! After that, my Turkish adventure will finally come to an end.
What comes next? I’m not entirely sure… perhaps it’s time to write about Paris?
PRIENE
LAODICEA
(post 179)
