Ancient Side: Temple of Apollo, theatre and an evening walk
Updated October 8, 2026 · 4 min read
The route
Start at the monumental gate and follow the colonnaded route towards the theatre, agora bath museum and harbour. The remains also include the nymphaeum, commercial agora, temples of Dionysus, Apollo and Athena, basilica and episcopal complex.
Check the opening hours
The theatre and museum are controlled visitor sites, while ruins also appear through the modern town. Opening hours change seasonally, so check them with the Turkish Ministry of Culture on the day. Do not turn an old summer timetable into a promise.
The harbour temples in the evening
The harbour temples work well near sunset, but darkness makes uneven ancient paving harder to read. Visit the theatre and museum while they are open, then continue to Apollo and Athena by the sea.
Allow time
Allow time rather than distance: archaeology, crowds and photographs slow the walk. For most visitors, a self-guided late-afternoon route is better than a full-day excursion. Choose a guided ancient-sites tour if historical explanation matters more than flexibility. Anyone willing to spend a whole day can look at the Green Lake, waterfall and ancient city tour: it takes 7–8 hours, but it is a day excursion, not an evening walk.
