Pergamon Tour from Izmir: Ancient Greek City & Asclepion

Walk the steepest theatre in the ancient world, then descend to where Galen pioneered medicine.

A full-day tour from Izmir to Pergamon in Bergama visits the Upper and Lower Acropolis ruins, the Library of Pergamon, and the Asclepion sanctuary dedicated to the god of health. Private transportation with an English, Spanish, Italian or French-speaking guide is included. The day runs eight hours with Turkish lunch and hotel pickup from Izmir.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore ancient Pergamon and Asclepion

• Depart from Izmir
• Visit Upper Acropolis ruins
• See Library of Pergamon
• Explore steep theatre and temples
• Tour Upper Agora and Roman Baths
• Visit Lower Acropolis sites
• See Gymnasiums and Temple of Demeter
• Explore House of Attalus and Lower Agora
• Enjoy Turkish specialties lunch
• Visit Archaeological Museum of Bergama
• Tour Asclepion Sanctuary
• Return to Izmir

The experience

Pergamon was briefly the capital of Roman Asia and one of the ancient world's greatest cultural centres. The tour starts in the Upper Acropolis, where you walk past the Library of Pergamon (which once held 200,000 manuscripts and rivalled Alexandria), and climb the steepest theatre ever built. You see the Temple of Dionysus, the Upper Agora, and Roman baths. The Lower Acropolis holds the Gymnasiums, Temple of Demeter, House of Attalus and Lower Agora. After lunch of Turkish specialties, you visit the Archaeological Museum of Bergama, then the Asclepion, a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepios, the god of health, where ancient physicians treated patients with sounds of water, mud and healing spring waters.

The Asclepion is where physician Galen, the father of pharmacology, practiced and shaped the history of medicine. The site sits southwest of the lower city and stands as one of the first psychological health centres in recorded history. Private transport with air conditioning, bottled water and WiFi on board is included throughout. Pickup happens from your Izmir hotel and the return follows the same route.

What’s included

• Private transportation with an air-conditioned vehicle and driver.
• pickup from your Izmir hotel.
• a live guide in your choice of five languages.
• entry to the Upper and Lower Acropolis, the Archaeological Museum of Bergama and the Asclepion.
• Turkish lunch.
• bottled water and soft drinks.
• WiFi on board.
• parking fees and fuel surcharge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Turkish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Halit Degerli

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're visiting from Izmir and want to see Pergamon's hilltop temples and theatre alongside the museum and Asclepion in one day, with hotel pickup included.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Turkish.

What exactly is the Library of Pergamon I'll see on the Acropolis?

The Library of Pergamon was one of the largest libraries in the ancient world, housing around 200,000 manuscripts during the city's brilliant phase in the third and second centuries BC. The ruins of its base remain on the Upper Acropolis. The superstructure was demolished in the late Ottoman era and is now displayed in Berlin.

How steep is the theatre, and can I walk it comfortably?

The theatre is the steepest ever built in the ancient world and is one of Pergamon's most impressive structures. The tour includes it in the Upper Acropolis visit. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness, as the site involves climbing and uneven terrain.

What happens at the Asclepion, and why is it important?

The Asclepion was a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepios, the god of health, and functioned as the first psychological health centre in history. Patients were treated with healing spring waters, mud and the sounds of water. The site is where physician Galen, the father of pharmacology, practiced and shaped ancient medicine.

Is lunch included, and what will I eat?

Yes, lunch of Turkish specialties is included in the tour price and happens after you visit the Archaeological Museum of Bergama, before the Asclepion.