'''Bergama''' is a city in Turkey.
Understand
Bergama is located in north western Anatolia, 16 km from the Aegean Sea. It is a popular tourist destination due to its close proximity to the ruins of the ancient city of Pergamon, and has a population of around 60,000.
Get in
From the Bayrampasa Otogar in Istanbul, it's a 9 and a half hours trip. Some travelers use the modern city of Izmir (less than 2 hours by bus) as a base for exploring Bergama and other sites nearby (Ephesus, Pamukkale and Ce?me, among others) or the nearer town of Ayvalik (approx. 45 minutes).
The main bus terminal is in the city outskirt (about 7 kilometers away from the city center), so you can either take a taxi or the cheaper shuttle bus to get to the city centrum. But if you're coming from Istanbul and on a Metro Turizm bus, it goes to the city centrum (passing by the main bus terminal).
The Truva Bus Company runs busses from Canakkale which take five hours (many stops) but be aware - they drop you off on the highway from where you can walk to the Otogar (you can see it on the other side of the highway) or take a taxi which will no doubt arrive in the bus's wake - price negotiable (YTL 10 was the best we heard about)
Get around
See
Bergama merits at least two days, although all of the sites can be visited in one day with an early start.
The '''Akropol''', '''the Temple of Serapis''', the '''Asklepion''', The '''Allianoi''', the '''Red Basilica''' (Kizil Avlu), the mosques, the '''archaeology museum''', and inns should not be rushed.
If you take the time to wander the cobbled streets you'll feel that
every old home has a unique story to tell.
Do
Buy
If you traveling by car, Kozak is the richest village of Turkey because of the pinepistacho(cam fistigi). You may get nice homemade wines--really good and not made for tourists but for local people--so imagine how good! And in Bergama you may look for carpets without having a hassle!
Eat
'''Bergama Ticaret Odasi''', Ulucami Mahallesi, Buyuk Alan Mevkii. TEL:''+90 232'' 632- 9641 [http://www.berto.org.tr/berto_sosyal_tesis.asp].
Drink
There are several small restaurants-cum-bars across from the Bergama Museum that share a common garden with mature trees and pond. A good place to relax and watch the world go by.
Sleep
'''Odyssey Guesthouse''', Talatpasa Mahallesi, Abachihan Sokak -13, Tel:''+90 505'' 653-9189, E-mail: info@odysseyguesthouse.com, [http://www.odysseyguesthouse.com]. A lovely guesthouse in the old quarter - very reasonable rates, at the time of writing (mid July 2007) at dorm bed costs YTL 13/15, without and with breakfast respectively.
''' Gobi Pension''', Zafer mahallesi Ataturk Bulvar? no:18, Tel:''+90 232'' 633-2518, E-mail: gobipension@hotmail.com, [http://www.gobipension.com]. A friendly family pension is located in the heart of Bergama.
'''Athena Pension''', Barbaros Mah.imam cik. no:9, (Tel:''+90 232'' 633-3420, E-mail:aydinathena@hotmail.com, [http://www.athenapension.com]. `Not the best but trying to get there!`
Get out