Termessos National Park/Milli Parki breathtaking ruins

 April 26, 2026  

Nestled in mountains Termessos's theater is unforgettable 

 Breathtaking in more ways than the steep climb up to the site. We arrived at 8:30am and we were 4th car in the lot. When we left at noon, there were too many cars to count and a big bus as well as smaller ones. We headed to the theater figuring it would become the most crowded destination in the complex. We enjoyed it to ourselves for at least 45 minutes. There’s still snow on April 26 in the higher mountains that provide a dramatic backdrop. The views down the valleys are, you guessed it, breathtaking.  I forgot to turn AllTrails at the beginning so I don’t know elevation gain, but downloaded trail says 810ft.  I used my trek poles, it’s a rocky trail. 

The theater is in remarkable condition. It doesn't appear to be rebuilt falsely like so many others

 

 

Common bugloss or Narrow-leaved lungwort grew in gaps in the stone 

 From the theater, it was informative to look out and detect many remaining structures in Termessos. 

Walked along well signed trails to the tomb of Alcetas where I almost overlooked a great horse and rider relief.  

The woods were not the pine forests we first traversed as we climbed the mountain, but more of a chaparral with oak and madrone trees and a feast of new flowers. 

 

 

lower elevation pines 

 

oak tree 

Madrone tree 

 

I walked up to the temple of Artemis. Just walls, but in awe of how well the stones have stayed in place over the centuries. Even the steps were in perfect condition between the two buildings.  

 

 

 

amazing quality step up to Artemis Temple 
 

ever present mountain vistas from Artemis temple 

 

 

There are many beautiful ruins to admire and I'm awed at the quality of buildings

 

Beautiful trails, plentiful flowers 

orange tip butterflies (Apple ID) 

 

 The trails are shaded past 11am when it was warming up. It was 20C in the valley where we stayed and 12C when we arrived at 8:30 up here at 5,463ft.  We left and I was wishing I were in shorts!  Interesting, the dress of women here is completely less Muslim than what I witnessed between here and Cappadocia on our many stops. The local women were out and visiting the sites, but they were traditionnly attired. Sagalassos was the beginning of the change in women’s dress and Termessos was definitely more Western/European with skin exposure and  even tattoos likely on tourists. Don't hear American English and very few from British Isles. 

Park entry fee was covered by our Museum Pass Turkiye. 

 

Resources

 

Wiki info: 

Termessos is one of the best preserved of the ancient cities in Turkey. The city was founded by the Solymi, who were mentioned by Homer in the Iliad in connection with the legend of Bellerophon.^[3] Originally a Pisidian settlement, it integrated into the Greek world after Alexander the Great's conquests. By the turn of the second and third centuries CE, under Imperial Romanrule, it had become a thriving provincial city.^[2]

Termessos has never been formally excavated but has been explored and surveyed, leading to extensive publications of over a thousand inscriptions.^[2] Because of its natural and historical riches, the city is included in the Mount Güllük-Termessos National Park.^[4]

Great blog: https://www.johnzada.com/blog/a-short-guide-to-visiting-termessos-turkey/ 

 

We stopped at Yenbahar Firin pasta restaurant for lunch Minutes from Termessos.  My pide’s minced meat had a raw texture and I couldn’t eat it from worry. John’s meat kabob was excellent and it was plenty for both of us to share. Shout out for the bread accompanied it, it was new and fantastic. Toilets are squatty and very wet and muddy—memories of India.