Sagalassos Ancient City Travel Guide: Explore Turkey’s Hidden Roman Site
Sagalassos, one of the most impressive ancient cities of Turkey, is waiting for its visitors as a unique archaeological treasure that offers history and nature together at the foot of the mountains rising on the borders of the Ağlasun district of Burdur. This city, which is the ancient capital of the Pisidian region, attracts attention with both the magnificent structures of the Roman period and the impressive ruins that have survived to the present day. If you are looking for places to visit, ancient cities, archaeological tourism or historical routes in Burdur, Sagalassos Ancient City will offer you an unforgettable discovery experience. In this guide, you can find every detail from the historical background of Sagalassos to transport information, from its prominent buildings to the places to visit around it.
Historical and Archaeological Importance of Sagalassos
Sagalassos was one of the most important cities of the ancient Pisidian region. The history of the city dates back to the 3rd millennium BC and became more visible on the stage of history, especially after Alexander the Great captured the region in 333 BC during his Anatolian campaign. The city, which showed great development during the Roman period, was declared the metropolis of Pisidia by the empire.
During the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD), the city received great investments and waterways, baths, theatres and fountains were built. The city was abandoned due to major earthquakes and Arab raids in the 7th century AD.
Cultural and Mythological Context
Sagalassos is a part of the Pisidian culture, which is mythologically associated with gods such as Apollo and Artemis. The temple ruins found in the city show that religious ceremonies were held here. It is also known that the locals regarded some mountains as sacred and made offerings to the mountain gods. The high altitude of Sagalassos made it one of the places where it was believed to be closer to the gods in ancient times.
The Main Structures You Can See in the Ancient City
Sagalassos has many structures that have survived impressively even today. Some important structures that should be noted during the visit are as follows:
Antonine Fountain: Dating back to the 2nd century AD, this magnificent fountain is one of the most well-known structures of the city. It was brought to its feet with excavations and restorations in the 1990s. Water is still flowing today.
Roman Bath: One of the largest buildings of the city, this bath was the centre of social life. It has classical Roman architecture with its coldness (frigidarium), warmth (tepidarium) and temperature (caldarium) sections.
Theatre: With a capacity of 9,000 people, the theatre reached gigantic dimensions and was the centre of cultural activities during the Roman period. Although it is partially ruined today, the seating rows can still be seen.
Library and Assembly Building (Bouleuterion): These buildings, which are an important part of public life in the city, show how developed the city had an administrative structure.
Lower and Upper Agora: The agoras, which had many functions from trade to public meetings, constituted the social heart of the city.
How to get to Sagalassos?
Sagalassos Ancient City is located within the borders of the Ağlasun district of Burdur. It is approximately 35 kilometres from Burdur city centre and approximately 120 kilometres from Antalya.
Transport by your own vehicle: You can reach Burdur by following the D650 motorway from Antalya, and from there you can reach the ancient city by turning towards Ağlasun. There are directional signs along the way.
Public transport: There are minibus services from Burdur Bus Station to Aglasun. However, since the ancient city is located about 7 km above the district centre, a private car or taxi is required.
Hiking and nature routes: Sagalassos also has a great hiking route for nature lovers. A path starting from Ağlasun allows you to reach the ancient city in about 1.5 hours.
Best Time to Visit
Due to its altitude, Sagalassos has cool summers and harsh winters. For this reason, the ideal visiting period is between April and October. In spring and autumn, the natural landscape and historical buildings combine to offer a unique atmosphere.
Entrance Information and Visiting Hours
The ancient city is open to visitors under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Museum Card is valid at the entrance. As of 2025, the current entrance fee is 150 TL (subject to change). It is open every day of the week and can be visited between 08:00 - 19:00 during the summer period.
Other Places to Visit Nearby
After your visit to Sagalassos, you can explore other historical and natural beauties in the region:
Insuyu Cave: Turkey's first cave opened to tourism. Insuyu is 13 km away from Burdur and attracts attention with its stalactite-stalagmite formations.
Lake Salda: Famous as 'Turkey's Maldives', Lake Salda is located within the borders of Burdur province and offers an impressive experience with its magnificent turquoise colour.
Burdur Archaeological Museum: Many artefacts excavated from Sagalassos are exhibited here. It is a stop that should not be passed without visiting.
Ağlasun Plateau: This plateau, which the local people prefer to cool off especially in summer, is suitable for nature walks and camping.
Accommodation and Dining Options
Although there are no big hotels near Sagalassos, there are local pensions and boutique hotels in Ağlasun. You can also choose hotels in the Burdur city centre. Accommodation facilities intertwined with nature such as Sagalassos Lodge & Spa are ideal in terms of both comfort and view.
In terms of food and drink, small restaurants are serving local flavours in Ağlasun. Traditional flavours such as pancakes, homemade yoghurt, local meat dishes and keşkek stand out.
An Ideal Location for Photography Enthusiasts
The high altitude of Sagalassos and its location surrounded by mountains offer impressive landscape shots. Especially photos taken in the early morning or at sunset can be mesmerising. The shots taken with the reflection of water in front of the Fountain of Antonines are very popular.
Things to Know Before Visiting
Since it is a high altitude and open area, it is recommended to have comfortable shoes, a hat, sun cream and water.
Since the area is large, it is more efficient to spread your trip over an average of 2-3 hours.
Participation in guided tours allows you to get more comprehensive information about the history of the region.
Families with children should be careful as the ground can be stony and uneven.
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