On the plain between Antalya and Side, the three richest cities of Pamphylia line up along 70 km. Your driver collects you from your hotel; you walk through Perge's Hellenistic towers, sit in the Aspendos theatre whose stage has stood since the 2nd century, and end the day among the columns of Side overlooking the sea.
The colonnaded street of Perge, the world's best-preserved Roman theatre at Aspendos and Side with its Temple of Apollo by the sea: Antalya's three great ancient cities in one day, by private car. Suggested duration 8 hours; pickup from hotels in Lara, Kundu, Konyaalti and the rest of the region. Prices start at €440 per vehicle, paid to the driver on the day.
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Pamphylia is a fertile plain between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean; in antiquity its name meant “land of all tribes”. This tour shows three faces of the region: Perge, grown rich on trade; Aspendos, with a showpiece theatre at the foot of the hills; and Side, a harbour town on a peninsula.
Large group tours often skip Perge, give Aspendos half an hour and leave time for shopping in Side. On a private tour you decide how long to stay in each city – stop for photos at the Seljuk bridge over the Köprüçay, or take a swim in Side.
The programme takes about eight hours. From central Antalya, Lara, Kundu, Belek and Side, eight hours are enough; from Kemer and Alanya the drive is longer, so we recommend the twelve-hour package. The price is per vehicle, not per person.
Stops are shown in a typical order; your driver waits at every stop.
18 km east of Antalya, at Aksu, Perge was one of the largest cities of Pamphylia. You enter through the two round towers of the Hellenistic gate and walk the colonnaded street with a water channel running down its middle; the agora, Roman baths and a 12,000-seat stadium open onto it. Many of the statues in Antalya Museum were found here. Allow 1.5 hours.
Built in the 2nd century AD under Marcus Aurelius by the architect Zenon, the theatre is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world, stage building and seating included. The Seljuks used it as a caravanserai, which helped it survive. Its acoustics are still impressive, and in summer it hosts the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival.
North of the theatre, the remains of the Roman aqueduct that brought water from the Taurus foothills cross the plain. Two towers of its pressure system still stand. A short drive takes you to the point with the best view of the arches for a photo stop.
The bridge over the Köprüçay – the Eurymedon of antiquity – was rebuilt in Seljuk times on Roman foundations and crosses the river in a zigzag. The trout restaurants beside it are a good choice for lunch.
Side is a harbour town on a peninsula reaching into the sea; its name means “pomegranate” in an ancient Anatolian language. Between ruins on both sides of the road you reach the 15,000-seat theatre, the agora and Side Museum, housed in a Roman bath. The modern town still lives inside the ancient city.
At the tip of the peninsula, right by the water, the five columns of the Temple of Apollo are Side's most photographed sight, especially in afternoon light. Cafés and fish restaurants line the harbour, and in summer you can swim from the beach next to the temple.
Times are an example; your driver adapts the day to traffic, season and your wishes.
According to ancient writers, various tribes settled in Pamphylia after the Trojan War, which gave the region its name. Perge, Aspendos and Side were wealthy rival cities that minted their own coins. The mathematician Apollonius of Perge is still remembered for his work on conic sections, and in Christian history Perge is one of the cities where Saint Paul and Barnabas preached.
A folk tale is told about the Aspendos theatre: the king promised his daughter to the architect who built the most useful work for the city. One built the aqueduct, the other the theatre – and a word whispered on the top row could be heard on the stage, so the architect Zenon won. In reality the theatre was dedicated to the emperor by the city's wealthy families.
Side was known both for trade and as a haunt of pirates. It reached its peak in Roman times and was abandoned in the Middle Ages; a village founded by Cretan settlers at the end of the 19th century became the core of today's resort town.
Prices are per vehicle and include fuel, motorway and bridge tolls, parking and the driver. Guide, meals and hotel are added as options.
| Duration | FirstClass Van (1–6) | Vip Sprinter (1–16) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 hours | €440 | €560 |
| 12 hours | €580 | €780 |
| 24 hours · 1 night | €720 | €820 |
| 36 hours · 1 night | €1060 | €1450 |
| 48 hours · 2 nights | €1560 | €1980 |
| Add-on | Price | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed guide | €200 | Per day, whatever the group size |
| Lunch | €15 | Per person, for each lunch in the package |
| Dinner | €15 | Per person, for each dinner in the package |
| Hotel accommodation | €60 | Per person per night (sharing a double room) |
Example – 2 persons, 8 hours, FirstClass Van: Private vehicle & driver + Lunch = €440 + €30 = €470
Can be added as options: Licensed guide, Lunch, Dinner, Hotel accommodation.
Distances are approximate road kilometres to the main sight (one way). We also pick up from hotels and addresses not listed – just enter yours in the form.
| Area | Distance | Suggested package | Airport transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lara | ≈ 15 km | 8 hours | Lara transfer |
| Kundu | ≈ 15 km | 8 hours | Kundu transfer |
| Konyaalti | ≈ 25 km | 8 hours | Konyaalti transfer |
| Belek | ≈ 15 km | 8 hours | Belek transfer |
| Side | ≈ 10 km | 8 hours | Side transfer |
| Kemer | ≈ 65 km | 12 hours | Kemer transfer |
| Alanya | ≈ 130 km | 12 hours | Alanya transfer |
Suits history and archaeology lovers, photographers and anyone who wants to see Antalya beyond the beach. At Perge you walk about 2 km on level ground; climbing to the upper rows of the Aspendos theatre is optional.
A guide is optional. Without one, your driver takes you to each stop, waits and helps along the way, but does not give tours inside museums and sites. For in-depth explanations, tick the guide in the form.
No other passengers and no waiting for anyone – the car is yours all day.
The order and length of stops are flexible, with no compulsory shopping stops.
The price is fixed at booking and paid to the driver on the day.
Vixride is a TÜRSAB-licensed travel agency (licence 14798); vehicles and drivers are insured.
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Yes. We then reverse the order: Side first, then Aspendos and Perge. The total drive from Side is similar to the tour from Antalya, so the eight-hour package is enough.
About 1.5 hours covers the main sights from the gate towers to the stadium. If you have a special interest in archaeology, you can stay longer and shorten the free time in Side.
Visitors can climb the seating; some sections may be closed for conservation. Watching the stage and the plain from the top rows is one of the best moments of the day.
Yes. In Side you can swim from the beach next to the Temple of Apollo or the town's eastern beach; we leave free time at the end of the tour for this.
All three sites have information panels, but the street plans, inscriptions and statue finds of Perge and Side come alive with a guide. You can add one with a click in the form; the fee is per day.
The tour price is per vehicle: the package costs the same whether one or six people travel in the van. Only lunch, dinner and hotel accommodation are charged per person. The guide fee is per day and does not depend on the group size.
Nothing is charged online at booking; you pay the driver on the day of the tour in cash (EUR, USD, GBP, TRY) or by card. Free cancellation and date changes; please let us know at least 24 hours in advance.
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