Termessos Antalya: Ancient Ruins & Mountain Hike from City

Three Hours in a Pisidian City 1,000 Meters Up

You get picked up from Antalya's city center, driven to the 1,665-meter Termessos ruins, and spend three hours walking through temples, tombs, and mountain forest where wild animals roam. Entrance fees and transport are included. The tour ends with a waterfall stop before returning you to the city by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Termessos ancient city and nature

• Travel from Antalya city center
• Walk in Termessos nature for three hours
• Visit ancient buildings and temples
• See aqueducts, baths, and historical streets
• Observe wild animals like squirrels and mountain goats
• Explore large cemeteries and decorated tombs
• Learn about the Dog Tomb at Antalya Museum
• Visit Düden Waterfall

The experience

You've just landed in Antalya, or maybe you have an afternoon free. Either way, the Termessos day tour picks you up from the city center and drives 30 kilometers northwest into the Taurus mountains. The site sits at 1,665 meters on Gulluk Dagi: high enough that the travertine peaks around it drop to 200 meters, so you feel the altitude the moment you step out of the air-conditioned vehicle. This is not a museum walk. You're about to spend three hours moving through an actual mountain, where the ruins are half-buried in wild plants and dense pine forest, and the city itself (built by Pisidians over 2,000 years ago) has stayed mostly untouched.

The Termessos tour takes you through temples, aqueducts, baths, and the streets where people lived. What catches you off guard is how much is still standing, and how quiet it is. You'll see the monumental tombs scattered across the cemetery area (some decorated with shield motifs and warrior carvings), and if you're lucky, mountain goats, rabbits, or partridges moving through the scrub. The tomb of Alketas, one of Alexander the Great's commanders from 319 BC, is there too. The entrance fee is included, so you don't stop to buy a ticket. You just walk straight into the forest and start climbing.

After the three-hour hike, the tour includes a stop at Düden waterfall before returning you to Antalya. The whole day is built around the fact that you don't have to arrange transport, navigate the mountain roads yourself, or figure out which ruins matter. The driver and the route do that. Infant seats are available if you're traveling with small children, and the itinerary suits most fitness levels, though the terrain is uneven and the altitude is real.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or city-center pickup in Antalya, the drive to Termessos, entrance fee to the ancient site, three hours of guided walking through ruins, temples, aqueducts, baths, and the cemetery with its monumental tombs, a stop at Düden waterfall, and return transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. Infant seats are available on request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by kapadokya seyahat acentası turizm ve otelcilik işlt. ltd.şti.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see a major Pisidian ruin without renting a car or navigating mountain roads yourself: the pickup and entrance fee included mean you arrive ready to walk, not ready to negotiate.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Antalya to Termessos?

About 30 kilometers northwest from the city center. The drive takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.

What's included in the Termessos tour?

Entrance fee to the site, air-conditioned vehicle transport from Antalya, and the three-hour guided walk through the ruins. A stop at Düden waterfall is also included.

How much time do you spend hiking at Termessos?

Approximately three hours of nature walking through the ancient city, temples, tombs, and forest paths.

Can you see wildlife at Termessos?

Yes. The site is in a protected national park, and you may spot mountain goats, rabbits, squirrels, and partridges among the wild plants and pine forest.

Is the hike difficult?

The terrain is uneven and the altitude is 1,665 meters, so it's moderately demanding. The tour suits most fitness levels, but the mountain paths are not flat.

What's the best time to visit Termessos?

Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for a three-hour mountain walk. Summer heat at that altitude can be intense.

Are infant seats available?

Yes, specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle if you're traveling with small children.

What should I wear to Termessos?

Comfortable hiking shoes, layers (it's cooler at 1,665 meters), sunscreen, and a hat. The formal dress code mentioned applies to the vehicle, but wear practical clothes for the walk.