Aphrodisias is a heritage site in Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage site that preserves the remains of an ancient city dedicated to Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. It is a place for visitors interested in how Greek and Roman cities were planned, built and decorated.
What you will see
- The Temple of Aphrodite, the centre of the city's identity and the focus of the site.
- A stadium that is notably well preserved, giving a clear sense of the scale of public life in the city.
- An on-site museum holding intricate marble sculptures, which show the artistic skill for which the city is known.
Because the ruins are set out across the site, a walk through them lets you follow the layout of an ancient city rather than view isolated monuments.
Planning your visit
Allow time for both the open ruins and the museum, since the sculptures give useful context for what you see outdoors. The site is best approached as a full half-day or longer visit, with the museum as a place to pause and look closely at the carved marble.
Aphrodisias is worth the journey for anyone who wants to understand ancient Greek and Roman artistic achievement at first hand. Check current opening arrangements and access before you travel, as these are not covered here.