18 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Turkey’s Must-See Ancient Cities

From the classical cities scattered on the coast to the earliest archaeological sites that can be traced back to human history, Turkey’s fertile plains, tall grasslands, and rugged mountains have witnessed every stage of the human journey.

From the Neolithic Age to the Roman Empire, here are some of the most fascinating and important archaeological sites in Turkey.

Göbekli Tepe

Göbekli Tepe is a 12,000-year-old temple located near the province of Şanlıurfa. Göbekli Tepe’s anthropomorphic T-pillars decorated with carved vultures and foxes were made in the pre-pottery period.

Göbekli Tepe is now recognized as the earliest place of worship in the world and the newest UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey. The discovery of Göbekli Tepe reversed the accepted theory that religion followed the invention of agriculture and the settlement of villages.

Göbekli Tepe is located 11 kilometers northeast of Şanlıurfa. Before heading to Göbekli Tepe, visit the Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum to help you understand the site.

Göbeklitepe
Göbeklitepe

Göbeklitepe, Dağeteği Mahallesi, 63290 Haliliye / Şanlıurfa, Türkiye

Çatalhöyük

The settlement of Çatalhöyük is one of Turkey’s most famous archaeological sites, built in the Neolithic period and located in Konya Province. Due to its large area and beautiful frescoes, the site became World famous when it was discovered in the late 1950s.

Founded more than 9,000 years ago on the bank of a river that has since dried up, Çatalhöyük is believed to have been home to an egalitarian Stone Age society that built distinctive houses, arranged one after another without a doors or windows.

As National Geographic writes, Çatalhöyük marks a time when people embarked on one of the earliest experiments in “urban” living.

 

Çatalhöyük
Çatalhöyük

Çatalhöyük, Küçükköy Mahallesi, Çatalhöyük Yolu, 42500 Çumra / Konya, Türkiye

Ancient city of Hattusha

The Hittites were the ancient superpower of Anatolia. In the 13th century BC, they fought the Egyptian Ramses II at the Battle of Kadesh, which results in the world’s first peace treaty. Today, the remains of Hattuşa, the capital of the Hittites, are spread over a hillside surrounded by the remnants of some of the greatest city walls ever built in the ancient world.

Hattusha, the once-thriving capital of the Hittite Empire in the Late Bronze Age, continues to amaze visitors. The site is located in Çorum and discovered in 1834. It consists of the Lower City with remnants of civic life and the Upper City with the temples.

Ancient city of Hattusha
Ancient city of Hattusha

Hattuşa, Hisar Mahallesi, 19310 Boğazkale / Çorum İli, Türkiye

Ancient city of Troy

The ancient city of Troy is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Its history can be traced back to the 4th century BC. It is located at the base of Mount Ida in Canakkale. Troy is famous for Homer’s epic “Iliad” (Iliad), which describes the Trojan War.

Troy is one of the most famous places in Turkey, although walking through its messy layers of ruins can be disappointing and confusing. Be sure to visit the new Troy Museum to help understand the site.

Ancient city of Troy
Ancient city of Troy

17100 Tevfikiye Köyü/Çanakkale Merkez/Çanakkale, Turkey

Ancient city of Perga

The Mediterranean region, one of the most preferred vacation spots, attracts attention with its ancient cities and ruins. The ancient city of Perga, located in the Aksu district of Antalya Province, bears traces of the Late Classical, Hellenistic, and mainly Roman ages. It is one of the most visited places by tourists.

Perge sits 16km northeast of Antalya city center.

Ancient city of Perga
Ancient city of Perga

Barbaros, Perge Yolu, 07112 Aksu/Antalya

Ancient city of Ephesus

Certainly one of the most famous archaeological sites for visitors to Turkey, Ephesus lies near the town of Selçuk in Izmir. The population of Ephesus flourished during the Roman period around the 1st century BC when it was one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean.

The ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most important centers of antiquity. It is a key port city and a cultural and commercial center at all stages of its history that began in the prehistoric period and were inhabited continuously through the Hellenistic, Roman, East Roman, principals, and Ottoman periods.

Ephesus Ancient City is visited by an average of 1 million people a year.

Ancient city of Ephesus
Ancient city of Ephesus

Ephesus, Atatürk Mh., Atatürk Mah, Uğur Mumcu Sevgi Yolu, 35920 Selçuk/İzmir, Turkey

Ancient city of Pergamon

Pergamon was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. Although it has been invaded and destroyed throughout its history, it has always been a strategic place for civilization. The city of Pergamon is the seat of the Traanus Temple built for the Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian. On the lower terrace on the south side of the temple, there is the famous Pergamon Library, which contains There are 200,000 books are dating back to the ancient Hellenistic period.

Ancient city of Pergamon
Ancient city of Pergamon

Pergamon, Zafer Mahallesi, 35700 Bergama / İzmir, Türkiye

Mount Nemrut

Mount Nemrut, from which you can admire one of the most beautiful views of the sunrise and sunset, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Mount Nemrut, which at an altitude of 2,206 meters has 5 meters high and 150 meters wide tumulus and gigantic structures belonging to the Kingdom of Commagene, is visited by thousands of tourists every year.

A personal funerary monument built by Antiochos I, the structures include large statues of the king, two lions, two eagles, and various gods.

Nemrut Dağı (Mt Nemrut) sits within Nemrut Dağı National Park.

Mount Nemrut
Mount Nemrut

Nemrut Dağı, 02400 Kayadibi Köyü / Kâhta / Adıyaman İli, Türkiye

Ancient city of Patara

Patara, one of the 16 cities of the ancient Lycian League that had the right to vote, is among the cities that were besieged by Alexander the Great. It is worth noting that Patara, which was an important trading center during Roman times, maintained its importance during Byzantine times. The Turkish government has declared 2020 as the year of Patara.

The remains of Patara extend 1.5 kilometers between the beach and the small village Gelemiş, 16 kilometers northwest of Kalkan. You can easily access it from Kalkan or Kaş.

Ancient city of Patara
Ancient city of Patara

Ancient city of Aphrodisias

The ancient aphrodisiac city in the Karacasu area of ​​Aydın, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, is one of the most famous cities dedicated to Aphrodite. It is known as The goddess of love and beauty. The city is famous for its well-preserved buildings.

As one of Turkey’s most important sites during Greek and Roman times, Aphrodisiac is located in a valley 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Izmir. The most famous building on the site is the stunning Sanctuary of Aphrodite.

Ancient city of Aphrodisias
Ancient city of Aphrodisias

Afrodisias, Geyre Mahallesi, 09385 Karacasu / Aydın İli, Türkiye , 

Related Articles

New fortification walls discovered in the ancient city of Pergamon

14 February 2022

14 February 2022

2,500-year-old fortification walls were found in the Ancient City of Pergamon (Bergama), which was included in the World Heritage List...

New fortifications unearthed in Porsuk Mound excavations

11 August 2021

11 August 2021

In the excavations of Porsuk Mound, which is an important Hittite settlement and where traces of settlement remains can be...

A female executive’s seal from 3000 years ago was discovered in Turkey

29 October 2021

29 October 2021

During the excavations carried out in southeastern Turkey’s Gaziantep’s Karkamış (Carchemish) Ancient City, seals and prints determined to belong to...

Urartian King Argishti’s shield reveals the name of an unknown country

30 January 2023

30 January 2023

The inscription on a bronze shield purchased by the Rezan Has Museum revealed the name of an unknown country. It...

Mosaics found in Türkiye’s Sinop belong to dining room of a wealthy family

24 June 2023

24 June 2023

The pebble mosaics unearthed during the excavation of a building complex in the province of Sinop on Turkey’s Black Sea...

“Land of the Thousand Temples” Kancheepuram in India

20 May 2021

20 May 2021

Kancheepuram, one of the most sacred and religious Hindu pilgrim centers in India is also called the ‘Land of the...

2,700-Year-Old Fragrance Containers Stretching From Egypt to Anatolia

27 April 2021

27 April 2021

The 2,700-year-old  fragrance containers reflecting the ancient Egyptian culture are exhibited for the first time in the private treasure room...

1650-Year-Old Earthen Grills Unearthed in Assos Excavations

14 August 2021

14 August 2021

Excavations continue in Assos Ancient City, a rich settlement of the period, which is located within the borders of Behramkale...

Central Turkey’s largest Byzantine mosaic structure found

28 October 2021

28 October 2021

A 300-square-meter (3,330 square feet) ​floor mosaic belonging to the Late Roman-Early Byzantine period was discovered during excavation work in...

Two Archaic Sculptures was Unearthed in Milas Euromos 2021 Excavations

2 July 2021

2 July 2021

Milas Euromos 2021 archaeological excavations continue. During the excavations of Milas Euromos 2021, archaeologists unearthed two archaic period statues (kuros)...

Digs at Turkey’s Seyitömer mound reveals thousands of artworks

20 March 2022

20 March 2022

Approximately 14,500 artifacts have been unearthed during rescue excavations carried out over 33 years at Seyitömer Mound in Turkey’s western...

Holy vessels of Anatolia in the Neolithic Age

17 October 2021

17 October 2021

Although it means Neolithic Age – New stone age – the developments in the Neolithic Age are much more than...

5,000-Year-Old “Küllüoba Bread” Discovered in Türkiye Reveals Ancient Baking and Fertility Rituals

30 May 2025

30 May 2025

5,000-year-old bread found in Küllüoba Höyük, Turkey reveals ancient baking methods and fertility rituals. Unique archaeological discovery with rich nutritional...

Turkey’s Urartian Altıntepe Castle transforms into open museum

25 May 2022

25 May 2022

Altıntepe Castle, one of the most important centers of the Urartians and the Eastern Roman Empire, is now set to...

7,800-year-old female figurine discovered in Ulucak Höyük in western Turkey

8 August 2022

8 August 2022

A 7,800-year-old female figurine was found in the Ulucak Höyük (Ulucak Mound) in the Kemalpaşa district of Izmir. It was...