Pergamon Travel Guide

Pergamon lies in today's Bergama, roughly 100 km north of Izmir. In the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC it was the capital of the Attalid kings, who built a royal city on a steep hill over the plain and filled it with palaces, temples, a large library and an altar carved so richly that it is now in a museum in Berlin. UNESCO listed the site as World Heritage in 2014.

What makes Pergamon special

No ancient city in western Turkey has a more striking setting. The theatre is built into the slope at a sharp angle, with about 10,000 seats and a view directly down the valley. Above it rise the partly restored columns of the Temple of Trajan. Below the acropolis lies the Asclepion, among the best-known medical centres of antiquity, where patients were treated with sleep, water and diet. Galen, the most influential doctor of the ancient world, was born in Pergamon and practised here. In town, the Red Basilica, a vast brick temple for Egyptian gods, later became the home of one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.

How long to stay

Give it a whole day: 2 hours for the acropolis, 1 to 1.5 hours for the Asclepion, plus time for the Red Basilica and the Bergama Museum. With less time, a guide and a car can cover the acropolis and the Asclepion in half a day.

When to go

April to June, and September to October. In summer the temperature often goes past 35°C, and there is no cover on the acropolis. Spring is particularly nice, with green hills. Winters are mild but rainy.

How to get there

Most people arrive from Izmir, 1.5 to 2 hours by road, or from the port of Kusadasi, 2.5 to 3 hours. If you are on a cruise, join our Pergamon acropolis and Asclepion tour from Kusadasi port. Coming from Istanbul, take a flight to Izmir (around 1 hour 10 minutes) and drive north, or go by land on a route that also takes in Gallipoli and Troy.

Things to do

• Ride the cable car to the acropolis and skip the steep climb.
• See the foundations of the Altar of Zeus; its carved friezes are on show in Berlin's Pergamon Museum.
• Sit in the theatre, among the steepest of the ancient world.
• Walk the sacred way, the tunnel and the treatment rooms at the Asclepion.
• Visit the Red Basilica in the old town and the Ottoman houses that surround it.

Where to stay

There are a handful of small hotels in Bergama, but most people stay in Izmir or Ayvalik, a seaside town about 45 minutes to the north with good fish restaurants, or head on south to Selcuk for Ephesus.

What to eat

The local dish is Bergama kofte, grilled meatballs. This is olive-growing country, and Ayvalik is known for its olive oil and for Ayvalik tostu, a toasted sandwich.

Practical tips

• Paths on the acropolis are uneven, so wear sturdy shoes.
• From May on, carry water and sun protection.
• Many Seven Churches itineraries include Pergamon. Have a look at our Seven Churches of Revelation 5-day tour.

Pergamon also lies between Troy and Ephesus, as on our 3-day Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus tour. Browse all Pergamon tours.