You can see Bergama in a single day: the Acropolis, the Asclepion and the Red Basilica fit comfortably into one day at the end of a roughly 2-hour drive from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. The remains of ancient Pergamon were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014, and with the theatre, library and healing centre left from a Hellenistic royal capital, Bergama is the strongest history stop in the North Aegean.
What Is There to See in Bergama?
The three main sites to see in Bergama are the Acropolis, the Asclepion and the Red Basilica. They lie in separate parts of town, so you move between them by car or by cable car.
- Acropolis: the steep hill with the theatre, the library and the temples.
- Asclepion: an important healing centre and medical school of the ancient world.
- Red Basilica: the red-brick Temple of Serapis in the town centre.
What Is on the Bergama Acropolis?
The Bergama Acropolis was built on a steep hill about 300 metres high and is the most impressive part of the ancient city. The theatre set into the hillside held about 10,000 people, and the view from its seats over the Bakırçay plain is the moment most visitors remember.
The library on the Acropolis is known to have held around 200,000 books written on parchment. The word parchment itself comes from the Latin pergamena, meaning "paper of Pergamon". The famous Altar of Zeus was taken to Germany in 1897 and placed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
You can reach the Acropolis by cable car, by taxi or on foot. The cable car line is about 700 metres long and is the easiest way up on a hot day.
Why Is the Bergama Asclepion Important?
The Bergama Asclepion was one of the important healing centres of the ancient world, and besides treatment it also worked as a medical school where research and experiments took place. Galen, one of the best-known physicians of antiquity, was born in Pergamon in AD 129 and as a young man trained at the Asclepion for four years.
The Asclepion lies apart from the Acropolis, on the other side of town. It is a calmer and flatter site, so it makes a restful second stop after the busier Acropolis.
What Is the Red Basilica?
The Red Basilica (Kızıl Avlu) is the large Temple of Serapis in the centre of Bergama, named after its red-brick walls. Unlike the Acropolis and the Asclepion it stands inside the town, so you can see it on a short stop at the start or end of the day.
How Long Does It Take to Visit Bergama?
Allow at least half a day for the Acropolis, the Asclepion and the Red Basilica; a full day is more comfortable if you also want to see the museum without rushing. When planning, keep these in mind:
- In summer there is little shade on the Acropolis; choose early morning or late afternoon.
- Wear closed, non-slip shoes for the stone ground and steps.
- Bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
- Visiting hours and entry conditions can change, so check the Ministry of Culture and Tourism museum page before you set off.
How Do You Get from the Airport to Bergama?
By road, Bergama is about 140 km from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport and the drive takes about 2 hours on average. Because the Acropolis, the Asclepion and the Red Basilica are far apart, a car that waits for you all day makes moving between the sites easy and the drive back less tiring.
If you are planning a day with a private guide, arrange the guide separately; for the car and driver you can get a quote on our Izmir Airport to Bergama transfer page.
Who Is Bergama Suitable For?
Bergama is a good day trip for history and archaeology lovers, photographers and families with school-age children. The theatre steps on the Acropolis are steep, so for older relatives who find walking difficult the cable car and a shorter tour work better. Getting around the Acropolis with a pushchair is hard. For travellers who only want the sea and rest, Bergama makes sense when it is combined with a stop on the coast rather than on its own.
What Can You Combine Bergama With?
Bergama is a natural stop on a North Aegean trip and combines easily with the coastal towns:
- Bergama and Kozak: for the villages among the pine forests, see our Kozak Plateau guide.
- Bergama and the sea: spend the afternoon on the beaches of Dikili or Çandarlı.
- Bergama and Ayvalık: if you want to spend the night further north, Ayvalık and Cunda is a good next stop.
- If you also want to see Ephesus: Ephesus lies south of Izmir, so leave the Ancient City of Ephesus for another day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Bergama from Izmir?
Bergama is about 100 km north of Izmir. From Izmir Airport the road is about 140 km and takes about 2 hours on average.
Can you take a cable car up to the Bergama Acropolis?
Yes. A cable car line of about 700 metres runs up to the Acropolis; you can also go up by taxi or on foot.
When did Bergama become a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Bergama was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
Is the Altar of Zeus in Bergama?
No. The Altar of Zeus was taken to Germany in 1897 and placed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
Can you visit Bergama with children?
School-age children manage it easily; pick the morning hours on hot days. A pushchair struggles on the stone ground of the Acropolis, so a baby carrier is more practical.