Sagalassos Ancient City

This is an absolutely must-see, rarely visited site (judging only from our visit when just a handful of people were there). The central square is magnificent and still has running water. It's a marvel that this city was built so high up in the mountains. The mountain vistas are incredible as you wander around the city. There is posted information in Turkish and English.

One of the best ancient cities in Turkey. We drove there from Isparta. When you get closer, the road isn’t that good. So be careful while driving. It was free with the museum card. Definitely recommend. Special thanks to the Catholic University of Leuven. Well preserved and observed by the authorities. Of course we have some idiots throwing their trash and trying to climb on the ancient ruins. But I was super happy to see that the security saw one of them on CCTV and came in person to warn one of those persons even though it is common sense not to do so and there should be no need to warn. Please do not visit these places if you do not have the basic understanding of respect for the history and nature and do not ruin it for everyone.

Amazing historical remains to see..
I love Ephesus but after visiting it Sagalassos became also one of my favorite places..

As of today (July, 2023) fee for enterence is 75 TL for adults.. kids and 65+ free

Wonderful place. It was amazing to see Dionysus is awaiting for the visitors at the fountain. There are many things to talk about... my instagram account @historyanatolia

Personally I find this one of the best archeological sites of turkey due to its sublime and scenic location high in the mountains and its high degree of preservation and conservation. Not so crowded!

Interesting archeological site. Entry was free for whatever reason but would have been 75₺/person otherwise.

We spend 3 hrs onsite to have a look at most of the ruins and didn’t regret the 2 hour trip from Antalya

Sagalassos, also known as Selgessos is an archaeological site in southwestern Turkey.

The ancient ruins of Sagalassos are 7 km from Ağlasun (as well as being its namesake) in the province of Burdur, on Mount Akdağ, in the Western Taurus mountains range, at an altitude of 1450–1700 metres. In Roman Imperial times, the town was known as the "first city of Pisidia", a region in the western Taurus mountains, currently known as the Turkish Lakes Region. During the Hellenistic period it was already one of the major Pisidian towns.

From 1990 Sagalassos, a major tourist site, has become a major excavation project led by Marc Waelkens of the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. The monumental city center is now exposed; four major restoration projects are (nearly) completed. The project also undertakes an intensive urban and geophysical survey, excavations in the domestic and industrial areas, and an intensive survey of the territory. The first survey documents a thousand years of occupation—from Alexander the Great to the seventh century—while the latter has established the changing settlement patterns, the vegetation history and farming practices, the landscape formation and climatic changes during the last 10,000 years.

National Museum card is valid at this unrevealed ancient civilization.

The entire site can be covered in a two-hour tour. For a thorough walkthrough you might need more. The site is kept very clean, tidy, organized, and the displays and infographics were very informative and enough to discover the historic development of the site.

The entrance fee is very reasonable, there is enough parking for visitors. It was low season around mid October 2022 when we visited the site. The weather was so fresh due high altitude, you might need a raincoat, or a sweatshirt in the fall.

Breathtaking place!
The tours don't go here yet, so it's not crowded at all. Come here to feel the ancient times and let your thoughts flow with the silence

Türkiye never falls to amaze. The sheer number of sites to explore will blow you away, but this one is well worth your time. There has been some renovation carried out, and the site is better for it. It's spread over a wide area and the signs give you the option to follow a short, medium or long route depending on how long you have. Wear at least trainers.

Parking is a little constrained but probably enough. Toilets exist and are clean. Free if you have the tourist pass.

Wear comfortable shoes as most points of interest and sights in Sagalassos involve climbing and walking over rough terrain.

Bring water and snacks as there are limited opportunities to buy them in Sagalassos.

Visit the Archaeological Museum of Sagalassos located near the ancient city which displays artifacts from Roman times.

The ancient city is located on the slopes of the Western Taurus mountain range and is one of the most stunning archaeological sites in Southwestern Turkey.

The remaining ruins are wonderfully preserved and easily accessible due to recent, extensive archaeological projects.

Traveling to Ağlasun where Sagalassos is located by public transport is close to impossible, so it’s best to rent a car or join a tour.

This was possibly my favorite ancient city we’ve visited in Turkey, and we’ve seen lots! The setting is absolutely amazing - surrounded by mountains, and it is huuuge. There’s so much to see. The fountain is unbelievable. We visited mid-June, and the weather was still very nice + there were wildflowers everywhere. Other details:
-They are working to have detailed plaques everywhere with information in Turkish, German, and English about different aspects of the city.
-A lot of the city could be accessed with a stroller (not all). There are lots of gravel paths throughout, so it could easily be enjoyed by kids or older individuals.
-There are clean and well-maintained bathrooms at the entrance!
-There is a small gift shop and snack area and a place to take pictures that overlooks the valley below.
-There’s a building built over a huge mosaic floor (on the way to the theatre). Make sure you don’t miss it. It was closed when we visited, but we were able to peek in and see a lot.
-Not sure about rules on food, but lots of people had food inside.
-The parking lot was very small, but we had no problem parking on the road.
-It was very busy on a Sunday afternoon - but still plenty of space because the city is very very big and spread out.

Gorgeous location for off the beaten path wanderings. Beautiful drive to and from. If you see a tour bus, it's very easy to avoid the tourists. They head straight for the upper agora and then leave. Maps are in Turkiah, English and Dutch. Descriptions are in Turkish and English. Lots of local flowers, plants, and butterflies to see. Recommend 2-4 hours to explore the entire site. Bring water or buy some at the cafe. Entry fee 17.50TL.

Really beautiful ancient city. If you come during winter, the fog will make the place look like something truly magical, but you will also be freezing

It was very hot in August but it was worth the short climb. It is amazing to think of this civilisation surviving for millenia high up in the mountains.

Amazing view and also amazing ancient city. There are multiple routes for convenience. Great example of an amphitheatre. Worth the climb. (There are also places to see that doesn't require climbing for unable)

best wonderful amazing place please must go👍👍👍 must be seen 👌

A shining white city in the mountains visited by Alexandra the great, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. The working fountains bring this place to life, it's just an astonishing site. The bath house, the upper agora, the theater make it his place special. To get the best from the place do a little homework or get a guide. Best enjoyed early in the morning. Top tip, the sagalassos hotel and spa lets you buy a day pass for its gym and pool for about £8 and the food there is good. It's about a mile down the hill. Enjoy! ( If you found this post useful th n please like)

Highly recommend important historical place.

Very Beautiful site! Everything is very clear the info on the boards, etc... The view is amazing! En only for 10TL entrance! Everybody has to do this once! It's only a 1.30h-1.45h drive from Antalya downtown!

It is incredible peace of magic... Ancient history speak with you...Hellenics, Romans, Byzantines... here they are in every stone, fragments of columns, in the scraps... You will never feel satisfied with Ancient History if you don't visit Sagalassos😊