Best things to do in Bergama

Bergama Unmissables

Bergama showcases a continuous timeline from the Hellenistic period to the Ottoman era. The Pergamon Acropolis contains the world’s steepest ancient theatre and the foundations of the Great Altar of Zeus. Nearby, the Asclepion served as a renowned medical center of the Roman world, while the Red Basilica reflects monumental Roman architecture dedicated to Egyptian deities. In the lower town, the 14th-century Grand Mosque and the Arasta bazaar represent the city’s Ottoman heritage, complemented by local finds in the Archaeological Museum.

Bergama Unmissables — Map

Ingo Mehling / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Pergamon

Pergamon or Pergamum, also referred to by its modern Greek form Pergamos, was a rich and powerful ancient Greek city in Aeolis.

Karl Thomas Moore / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Pergamon Acropolis

The upper city of Pergamon sits on a high ridge, containing the remains of royal palaces, the Temple of Athena, and the foundations of the Great Altar.

Mr. Vehbi Moğol / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Asclepion

Bergama is a municipality and district of İzmir Province, Turkey. Its area is 1,544 km2, and its population is 105,754.

Michal Jack Mašek / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Red Basilica

The "Red Basilica", also called variously the Red Hall and Red Courtyard, is a monumental ruined temple in the ancient city of Pergamon,…

HALUK COMERTEL / CC BY 3.0

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Theatre

Built into a steep hillside during the Hellenistic period, this theatre has a 10,000-seat capacity and is recognized as the steepest ancient theatre in existence.

HALUK COMERTEL / CC BY 3.0

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Zeus Altar

The stone foundations of the 2nd-century BC Great Altar of Zeus; its famous Gigantomachy friezes are now housed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

Bohn, Richard / Public domain

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Library of Pergamon

The Library of Pergamum is an ancient Greek building in Pergamon, Anatolia, today located nearby the modern town of Bergama, in the İzmir…

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Bergama Archeological Museum

This museum displays what's been left from the excavations of the ancient city of Pergamon - the main highlights have been taken to Germany.

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Teleferik Hattı

A cable car system providing transport from the base of the hill in modern Bergama to the summit of the Pergamon Acropolis.

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Bergama Grand Mosque

An Ottoman mosque commissioned by Sultan Bayezid I in 1399, featuring traditional stone masonry and a large central dome.

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Arasta

A traditional Ottoman-era bazaar district featuring narrow streets lined with shops selling local crafts, textiles, and leather goods.