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The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins · 2026

The Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins in Turkey

19 of the 100 sites in The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins 2026 are in Turkey. The highest placed is Sagalassos in Ağlasun, at number 16 in the world. Aphrodisias in Karacasu (number 20) and Termessos in Antalya (number 22) follow.

Sagalassos
N° 16 · Sagalassos, Ağlasun

The west

Ephesus near Selçuk is the most visited. Priene and the Temple of Apollo at Didyma are south of it, Aphrodisias, Sardis and Hierapolis at Pamukkale inland.

Antalya and the Lycian coast

Perge, Aspendos with its Roman theatre, and Termessos in the mountains are reached from Antalya. Phaselis and Olympos lie on the coast to the south-west, Patara, Tlos and Antiphellos in Kaş further along.

Inland and the east

Sagalassos and Kibyra are in the province of Burdur, Aizanoi near Kütahya. Mount Nemrut has the stone heads of a royal tomb at 2,100 metres. Ani is a ruined medieval city on the Armenian border.

Sites

97. Antiphellos 95. Priene 83. Patara 79. Tlos 70. Sardis 67. Ani 64. Phaselis 63. Mount Nemrut 60. Olympos 58. Aizanoi 56. Temple of Apollo at Didyma 48. Perge 47. Hierapolis 40. Ephesus 39. Kibyra 24. Aspendos Theatre 22. Termessos 20. Aphrodisias 16. Sagalassos
97. Antiphellos 95. Priene 83. Patara 79. Tlos 70. Sardis 67. Ani 64. Phaselis 63. Mount Nemrut 60. Olympos 58. Aizanoi 56. Temple of Apollo at Didyma 48. Perge 47. Hierapolis 40. Ephesus 39. Kibyra 24. Aspendos Theatre 22. Termessos 20. Aphrodisias 16. Sagalassos
  1. Sagalassos N° 16 Sagalassos Ağlasun Ancient city
  2. Aphrodisias N° 20 Aphrodisias Karacasu Ancient city
  3. Termessos N° 22 Termessos Antalya Ancient city
  4. Aspendos Theatre N° 24 Aspendos Theatre Serik Amphitheatre or theatre
  5. Kibyra N° 39 Kibyra Gölhisar Ancient city
  6. Ephesus N° 40 Ephesus Selçuk Ancient city
  7. Hierapolis N° 47 Hierapolis Pamukkale Ancient city
  8. Perge N° 48 Perge Antalya Ancient city
  9. Temple of Apollo at Didyma N° 56 Temple of Apollo at Didyma Didim Temple site
  10. Aizanoi N° 58 Aizanoi Çavdarhisar Ancient city
  11. Olympos N° 60 Olympos Kumluca Ancient city
  12. Mount Nemrut N° 63 Mount Nemrut Kahta Pyramid or tomb
  13. Phaselis N° 64 Phaselis Kemer Ancient city
  14. Ani N° 67 Ani Kars Ancient city
  15. Sardis N° 70 Sardis Salihli Ancient city
  16. Tlos N° 79 Tlos Seydikemer Ancient city
  17. Patara N° 83 Patara Kalkan Ancient city
  18. Priene N° 95 Priene Söke Ancient city
  19. Antiphellos N° 97 Antiphellos Kaş Amphitheatre or theatre

Best by region

  1. EuropeNuraghe Santu AntineTorralba, ItalyN° 8
  2. AsiaEllora CavesEllora, IndiaN° 6
  3. The Middle EastPetraWadi Musa, JordanN° 2
  4. North AmericaCalakmulCalakmul, MexicoN° 1
  5. Latin AmericaMachu PicchuAguas Calientes, PeruN° 3
  6. AfricaDouggaTéboursouk, TunisiaN° 5

Best by kind

  1. Ancient citiesCalakmulCalakmul, MexicoN° 1
  2. Temple sitesDendera TempleQena, EgyptN° 4
  3. Pyramids & TombsPyramids of GizaGiza, EgyptN° 17
  4. Amphitheatres & TheatresAmphitheatre of El JemEl Jem, TunisiaN° 23
  5. Rock-cut sitesEllora CavesEllora, IndiaN° 6

Best by country

  1. TurkeySagalassosAğlasunN° 16
  2. MexicoCalakmulCalakmulN° 1
  3. EgyptDendera TempleQenaN° 4
  4. IndiaEllora CavesElloraN° 6
  5. ItalyNuraghe Santu AntineTorralbaN° 8