The museum holds a unique collection of sarcophagi that date back to the 2nd century AD, many of which remain remarkably intact.
The 'Hall of Gods' contains a collection of statues recovered from the stage building of the ancient theater in Perge.
It features a rare collection of coins representing the history of currency from the Lydian era to the Turkish Republic.
The museum was awarded the Council of Europe's Museum of the Year Prize in 1988 for its contributions to heritage conservation.
Excavations from the Karain Cave, which provide evidence of human habitation dating back 500,000 years, are housed within the prehistoric hall.
The Antalya Archaeology Museum is one of Turkey’s largest museums, housing a vast collection that spans from the Paleolithic era to the Ottoman Empire. It occupies 30,000 square meters of exhibition space divided into 13 halls and an open-air gallery. The museum is renowned for its collection of Roman-era sarcophagi, particularly those excavated from the ancient city of Perge. It features a dedicated Children’s Museum section designed for interactive historical education. The collection includes significant artifacts from Lycian, Pamphylian, and Pisidian civilizations. Specialized halls display ancient mosaics, silver coins, and bronze statues recovered from local archaeological sites. The site has remained consistently operational as a major cultural institution in the region as of mid-2026.
The central courtyard featuring the marble statues of the Olympian gods.
Allocate extra time for the Hall of Sarcophagi, which is arguably the most significant collection in the museum.
Use the museum’s audio guide to understand the specific archaeological context of the Perge excavations.
Visit the open-air gallery in the late afternoon to see the stone inscriptions and architectural fragments without harsh overhead light.
Avoid rushing through the museum; the collection is densely packed and requires focused viewing to appreciate the provenance of the individual artifacts.
Open daily; check for potential local holiday closures.
Maintain a quiet demeanor in the galleries; no flash photography is permitted inside the rooms housing sensitive mosaics and ancient textiles.
