Side: Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival
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Key Activity Features
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Starting Location: Side
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Available Days:
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Total Duration (Including Transfers): 5 Hours
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Guiding & Support: English , Turkish , German , Russian
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Booking Confirmation: Immediate Approval.
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Voucher Type: Both Printed and Mobile Accepted.
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Accessibility: Wheelchair Friendly.
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Online Booking: Quick, Easy, and Secure.
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Cancellation policy: Flexible
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Fast-Track Entry: No Waiting in Line.
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Tour ID: 331
Why This Tour Is Worth Choosing
- Evening program of the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival from Side
- Free transfer from Side hotels to the Aspendos Festival
- Unforgettable opera and ballet night at the ancient Aspendos Theatre
- Aspendos experience with ticket and transfer included by Vigo Tours
- Cultural and artistic Aspendos tour from Side
What to Expect
International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival
Aspendos Ancient Theatre — Ballet Turkey — Opera Turkey
The International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival offers an extraordinary cultural experience in the unique setting of the 2,000-year-old Aspendos Ancient Theatre.
Hotel pickup and drop-off from all hotels is included in the price, allowing guests to enjoy the evening without any transportation concerns.
Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival — September Program
All performances take place at Aspendos Ancient Theatre and begin at 21:00.
Festival Performances
- Turandot — Opera
- Zorba — Ballet
- Swan Lake — Ballet
- Don Quixote — Ballet
- Tosca — Opera
- La Traviata — Opera
A Legendary Festival in a 2,000-Year-Old Theatre
First organized in 1994, the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival is held every September in the breathtaking atmosphere of the ancient Aspendos Theatre. This monumental Roman structure is considered one of the best-preserved ancient theatres in the world and is globally renowned for its exceptional acoustics.
Each year, approximately 100,000 art lovers from across the Antalya region attend the festival. A significant portion of the audience consists of foreign visitors who combine their holiday with an unforgettable cultural experience.
Aspendos Theatre — Opera Turkey — Ballet Turkey
The festival is organized by the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet under the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
It stands among the most prestigious opera and ballet festivals worldwide, both in artistic quality and historical setting.
World-Class Acoustics and Artistic Excellence
What makes the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival truly exceptional is the extraordinary acoustic quality of the ancient theatre. Classical music and vocal performances can be heard with the same clarity and depth from every seat, without artificial amplification.
This unique acoustic environment attracts internationally renowned conductors, choreographers, directors, and soloists, making the festival a focal point of global interest in the world of opera and ballet.
International Recognition and Cultural Prestige
The Aspendos Festival is a member of the European Festivals Association and is the first and only opera and ballet festival to receive the Best Quality Management Certificate.
As a true meeting point of civilizations, the festival has hosted countless Turkish and international artists, bringing together lovers of classical music, opera, and ballet in the magical setting of Aspendos.
An Unforgettable Cultural Experience
Watching timeless masterpieces of opera and ballet under the stars, surrounded by ancient stone walls that have stood for two millennia, creates an atmosphere unlike any other cultural event in the world.
The Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival is not just a performance — it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the performances take place
All performances are held at Aspendos Ancient Theatre.
Is hotel pickup and drop-off included
Yes — pickup and drop-off from all hotels is included in the price.
What time do the performances start
All performances start at 21:00.
What type of performances are included
The festival features world-famous operas and classical ballet productions performed by leading artists of Opera Turkey and Ballet Turkey.
Is the festival suitable for foreign visitors
Yes — the festival is highly popular among international guests, and the performances transcend language through music, movement, and visual storytelling.
Why is Aspendos Theatre so special
Aspendos Theatre is globally famous for its perfect natural acoustics and exceptional state of preservation, offering an unmatched opera and ballet experience.
What’s Included in the Price
- Pick up from hotels and drop off at hotels
- Entrance ticket (category 2)
- Food - Drinks and personal expenses
Pickup Information
Meeting Point
Important Information Before You Go
ASPENDOS OPERA AND BALLET FESTIVAL — IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION
The Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival is organized with pickup and drop-off included from all hotels in Side, Alanya, Antalya, Belek, and Kemer.
All performances start at 21:00.
Seating surface — concrete — stone — marble
Seating arrangement — unnumbered — free seating
As seating at the Aspendos Ancient Theatre is made of stone and marble, bringing a small cushion is recommended for your comfort.
Tour Program & Schedule
Tour Program — Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival
Pick-up and drop-off locations — all hotels in Side, Alanya, Antalya, Belek, and Kemer
Featured performances — Aida (Opera) — Swan Lake (Ballet)
Pick-up times may vary.
The exact pick-up time will be confirmed one day before the event and sent by e-mail.
Hotel pick-up times — approximate
Side — from 18:45
Alanya — from 17:30
Belek — from 19:30
Antalya — from 18:30
Kemer — from 17:30
Bus transfer to the Ancient Theatre of Aspendos
Entrance to the theatre — 20:30
Aspendos Opera and Ballet performance begins — 21:00
End of the event and return to hotels — between 23:30 and 00:00
Prices & Availability
WhatsApp?
Contact us quickly via WhatsApp!Have a question?
Hello, thank you for your inquiries about the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival. The program for 2024 has not been announced yet, but it is expected to be released in June. Please check our website for updates. The dates you mentioned typically mark the end of the opera festival, but we will have to wait and see the specifics of the 2024 program. Best regards, Vigo Tours.
Hello, thank you for inquiring about the Aspendos opera and ballet festival. The program you see on our website is for 2023. The program for 2024 has not been announced yet, but it will most likely be announced in June. AIDA will be part of the 2024 program, as it is every year, but we do not have the specific date yet. Please continue to check our website for updates. We would be delighted to assist you in obtaining tickets for the AIDA opera at the Aspendos ancient theater. Best regards, Vigo Tours.
Greetings, we appreciate your interest in the Aspendos opera and ballet festival. The schedule displayed on our website is for the year 2023. The program for 2024 has not yet been unveiled, but we anticipate it will be announced in June. AIDA is a staple of the festival's lineup each year, including in 2024, although the exact date has not been confirmed. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website regularly. We are happy to help you secure tickets for the AIDA opera at the historic Aspendos theater. Warm regards, Vigo Tours.
Owen Sheridan
(5.0)Assendon Opera & Ballet Festival
Having never been to an opera before, the opportunity to go to one and in such a spectacular setting, was too good to turn down. Easy to book, transfers arranged to and from hotel to and all on time. If you are in Side, Turkey during this festival, you have to go...you will not be disappointed. A truly great experience.
Julia Rześniowiecka
(4.8)Amazing experience
I had a great time at Aspendos Festival. Amazing performance in extraordinary place. Great organization, pickup directly from the hotel, great communication.
Helena Shaverdo
(5.0)Aida
Well-organised
Andreas Herrmann
(5.0)
Very good in Service and Organisation
Ulrike Löhnert
(5.0)
Excelente Service.
Shea Hudson
(5.0)
Absolutely fantastic service I cannot recommend highly enough, thanks guys.
Edward Walsh
(5.0)La traviata
Absolute superb preference of La Traviata, in an unbelievable venue. Aspendos is just stunning. The accustics were superb, to think the amphitheatre was build 2000 years ago is mind blowing. Would definitely recommend booking ( Would definitely go again)
Riet Heuts
(5.0)
Everything was well arranged.
James Goldie
(4.0)Good night out, but
The opera in an outdoor amphitheatre is amazing and something you should experience. The communication from the organisers was good, picked up within five minutes of the stated time. The bus has seen better days, one of the seats I sat in was moving back and forth when it should have been stationary. Be aware that the cost of. Tickets to the opera is 70tl each, which is an amazing price, but be aware of that when paying over 650tl each for the excursion. Be aware when walking around the amiphitheatre, the surface is rough and there are holes around the outside of the car park, it is very dark and can be dangerous. The theatre itself is an ancient style building and can also be dangerous. Top tip, take a cushion with you to sit in. The event was great, just be aware of the costs and the surrounds
Reply from Vigo Tours: Thank you very much for your review!
Thank you very much for your review, but we must emphasize that besides the Aspendos opera and ballet entrance ticket, touristic transportation costs are much more important. In other words, touristic transportation costs in Turkey are very expensive. You can do a little experiment to know about it. Best regards, Vigo Tours
ERIKA GRECHISHCHEVA
(4.5)Aspendos festival
The performance was great and wonderful. The driver came and picked me up near the hotel. He didn't speak english. He took tickets and we went for entry. No instructions about tickets and places. No instructions where should we find our bus after performance. But we found our bus on the parking. But everything is ok
Reply from Vigo Tours: Thank you very much for your review!
This year, we had problems at the Aspendos festival due to the organizational errors of the festival committee. Everyone experienced serious problems with the seating arrangement in the ancient theater. No audience could sit in the seats written on their tickets. We reported these problems, which were beyond our control, to the officials of the Turkish Ministry of Tourism. We hope that these problems will not occur next year. Best regards, Team Vigo Tour
27 Overall Rating
Total: (27 Review)
27 Review Summary
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