A Helpful Guide to Aphrodisias (2025)

Aphrodisias, located in southwestern Turkey, is an ancient city known for its stunning ruins and marble sculptures. It is named after its patron goddess – Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, whose cult image “Aphrodite of Aphrodisias” was once housed in the Sanctuary of Aphrodite.

In this guide, we will cover how to get to Aphrodisias, history of Aphrodisias, Entrance Fees and Opening Hours, things to see in Aphrodisias and also cover tips and FAQs about this lovely city.

Aphrodisias is around 100km from Pamukkale and is mostly only visited by those who have their own private transportation. Hence, it’s a site usually skipped by most tourists and what a shame that is! We did this as part of our road trip around Turkey, and visited it en route from Pamukkale to Alaçati.

Denizli is the nearest airport to Aphrodisias. You can easily catch a flight, a bus or a train from Istanbul or other cities to Denizli. From Denizli, you will need to continue your journey to Pamukkale and then to Aphrodisias by bus or taxi.

How to get to Aphrodisias from Pamukkale:

• By Car: If you have your own private transport, Aphrodisias takes roughly 1hr from Pamukkale. This is the easiest and most convenient option. You can also hire a taxi from Denizli/Pamukkale to take you to Aphrodisias.
• By Private tours: There are private tours available which offer to take you to Aphrodisias.

Ancient Times:

• Foundation: The city of Aphrodisias was originally founded around the 5th century BCE by settlers from Leleges and Carians. It was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
• Hellenistic Period: Aphrodisias prospered under Hellenistic rule and became a center for the worship of Aphrodite. The city grew in importance as a cultural and religious center, known for its sanctuary dedicated to the goddess.

Roman Era:

• Imperial Support: During the Roman Empire, especially under the rule of Emperor Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE) and his successors, Aphrodisias received imperial patronage and flourished as a prominent city in the region.
• Architectural Development: The city underwent significant architectural development during the Roman period. Many of its impressive structures, such as the Temple of Aphrodite, the Theater, the Sebasteion (a temple complex dedicated to the cult of the emperors), and the Agora, date from this era.
• Sculpture: Aphrodisias was renowned for its marble sculpture workshops, producing some of the finest marble artworks in the Roman world. Sculptors from Aphrodisias were highly regarded, and their works can be found in many Roman cities across the empire. You can guess why once you look at all the structures around Aphrodisias.

Late Antiquity and Byzantine Period:

• Christianization: In the late Roman and early Byzantine periods (4th-6th centuries CE), Aphrodisias underwent Christianization. The Temple of Aphrodite was converted into a Christian basilica, reflecting the changing religious landscape.

Decline:

• Abandonment: Aphrodisias began to decline in significance in the 7th century CE due to a combination of factors, including changes in trade routes, political instability, and natural disasters. The city was eventually abandoned by the medieval period.

Rediscovery and Archaeological Excavations:

• Rediscovery: In the 18th and 19th centuries, European travelers and archaeologists rediscovered the ancient ruins of Aphrodisias. Excavations began in the mid-20th century and continue to this day, revealing the city’s impressive architecture, sculptures, and urban layout.

Modern Day:

• Archaeological Site: Today, Aphrodisias is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major archaeological attraction in Turkey. Excavations were begun by New York University in 1961.

The archeological site consists of several well-preserved structures like the grand theater, Tetrapylon, Temple of Aphrodite and a massive stadium.

Apart from the main site, the city also consists of a marble quarry located in the northeast part of the city. The proximity of the marble quarries to the city was a major reason why Aphrodisias became a high-quality production centre for marble sculptures.

Aphrodisias is a huge site covering a lot of historical monuments, roman amphitheatre and even a stadium! Here’s a list of everything you should definitely check out while you are here. Keep aside 1.5 – 2 hours to explore the site fully.

The reason I decided to visit Aphrodisias in the first place, the Tetrapylon, is a majestic testament to the artistry of the renowned marble sculptors this city was famous for.

The Tetrapylon was the monumental gateway to the Sanctuary of Aphrodite built in AD 200. Over 85% of its original marble blocks survive – which made it possible for it to be scientifically reconstructed in 1991.

As soon as you enter the site, you can follow the signs on the right to head towards the Tetrapylon. The calm surroundings and the lack of people around make this is a great alternative to the very famous (and the very crowded) Library of Celsus, with its white marble facade and the intricate carvings.

The Temple of Aphrodite was famous for housing the cult image of Aphrodite, the patron goddess of Aphrodisias. It was constructed in the late first century BC, however the ionic columns were later added in the first century AD. The temple was then enclosed in an elaborate court or sanctuary area in the 2nd century AD.

The temple was later converted to a church in 500AD when a lot of the columns and inner temple complex were dismantled. The church was set on fire during a raid in 1200AD and the ruins we see today are essentially what is left after that episode. 

The best preserved stadium in all of ancient Greek stadia, this place is truly a marvel. You don’t see a lot of stadiums in these ancient cities found in Turkey and to see this here was truly a surprise. The size of it is astounding – with a capacity of 30000 people and a length of 270m – no wonder it’s one of the largest ancient stadia in the world.

When you enter the arena, you can almost imagine gladiators emerging from the tunnel to the roar of a 30000 spectators. Almost.

The Theater, used for public performances and meetings, could house around 7000 people. It consists of a storied stage building and the auditorium. Only the first story of the stage building has been reconstructed today. During the excavation of the Theater in the 1970s, a lot of the statues decorating the building were recovered intact, which are all currently housed in the Aphrodisias Museum. 

The amphitheater, while not as huge as the one in Pamukkale, is still worth a visit.

The Agora –  large public square enclosed by colonnaded porticos on all sides – was used as the main place of gathering in the city. It has a 170m pool in the middle and excavations have revealed that it was surrounded by ionic columns and rows of date palms all around. Some of the porticos still stand today.

 The Agora Project which was started in 2012 to excavate this place, is still ongoing today.

Sebasteion is a complex meant to worship the early Roman emperors. It’s a place I almost missed after passing by the mask and garland frieze, so keep an eye out for a sign post and don’t miss it on your visit.

This three storied building contains life-size relief panels – the third storey depicting the exploits of the Roman emperors and the second storey depicting scenes from Greek mythology. Many of the original reliefs are kept inside the Aphrodisias Museum.

Before you leave Aphrodisias, make sure to drop by the Aphrodisias Museum which houses many of the original statues and reliefs found during the excavations.

Outside the museum you can also see a large number of sarcophagi on display. In fact, more than 700 fragments and lids from sarcophagi were found during the excavations with many of them still intact. Their detailed inscriptions describe who commissioned and who owned the sarcophagi and who had the right to be buried in them.

Wait, there are more ruins to discover. Be sure to check out the Hadrian Baths, an important part of city life where citizens went for bathing and relaxation. Pass by the city center and marvel at the various stone sculptures laid out around the city.

If you are driving your own car, I would say a resounding YES. Aphrodisias is such a well-preserved site that any history buff would love to visit and due to its relatively less popularity, it’s not that crowded as Pamukkale’s Hierapolis or Ephesus. You can take your time roaming the ruins without having to compete with a bunch of people crowding the site.

If you don’t have your own transport but have some time to spare, it’s definitely worth booking a tour from Pamukkale.

Personally, I fell in love with Aphrodisias and would definitely want to go back there one day.