Antalya is the capital of the Turkish Riviera: sunshine, superb beaches, ancient ruins and a charming old town. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it is the ideal place to combine culture and time by the sea. This guide covers the city itself and the best trips within easy reach of it.
Kaleiçi: the old town
Antalya's old walled quarter, Kaleiçi ("inside the castle"), is a maze of cobbled lanes, restored Ottoman houses and historic mosques that runs down to the Old Harbour and its wooden boats. Walking through Kaleiçi at sunset is one of the loveliest things you can do in the city. Don't miss:
- Hadrian's Gate: the Roman gate built in AD 130 for Emperor Hadrian's visit to the city.
- The Old Harbour: the ancient Roman harbour at the foot of the cliff, where boats leave for trips along the coast and to the Lower Düden Waterfalls.
- Yivli Minaret Mosque: its fluted 13th-century minaret is the symbol of Antalya.
- Clock Tower: on the edge of the old town, one of its best-known landmarks.
Antalya Archaeological Museum
One of the most important archaeological collections in Türkiye: Roman sarcophagi, sculptures from Perge, Byzantine icons and mosaics. Allow at least two hours. The museum is on Konyaaltı Avenue, on the way to the beach, and it is well worth seeing before you visit the ancient sites around the city.
The best beaches
- Konyaaltı: a 7 km pebble beach west of the centre, backed by the Taurus Mountains (snow-capped well into spring), with restaurants and beach bars right on the seafront. The heritage tram links it with Kaleiçi.
- Lara: a sandy beach east of the city, lined with luxury all-inclusive resorts.
- Kaputaş: one of the most photographed beaches in Türkiye, with turquoise water in a cove between high cliffs. It lies between Kaş and Kalkan, and Kaş is about 3.5 hours from Antalya by road, so Kaputaş fits better into a trip along the Lycian coast than into a day out from the city.
Ancient sites near Antalya
Antalya is surrounded by some of the finest ancient cities in the Mediterranean. Approximate driving times from the centre:
- Perge (about 25 minutes): a Greco-Roman city with a stadium for 12,000 spectators, a colonnaded street, baths and an agora.
- Termessos (about 30–40 minutes): ruins high in the Taurus Mountains, at 1,050 metres, surrounded by pine forest.
- Aspendos (about 45 minutes): one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world, still used for concerts.
- Side (about 1 h 15 min): the Temple of Apollo on the edge of the sea.
Perge and Aspendos fit easily into a single morning. For the sites and beaches further along the coast, read my guide to the Antalya coast.
Waterfalls and nature
The Düden Waterfalls come in two parts: the Upper Düden falls into a canyon surrounded by parkland, while the Lower Düden drops 40 metres from a cliff straight into the Mediterranean and is best seen from a boat. The Kurşunlu Waterfalls, in a nature park with walking trails, are another good choice. Either makes an easy half-day trip.
Antalya Aquarium
One of the largest aquariums in the world, with a 131-metre underwater tunnel billed as the longest of its kind. A good choice if you are travelling with children (more ideas in my guide to Türkiye with kids).
Practical information
- Getting there: Antalya Airport (AYT) has direct flights from many European cities, and the flight from Istanbul takes about 1 h 15 min. By road from Istanbul it is a long journey: the bus takes roughly 10–12 hours.
- Best time to go: April to June and September to November. In summer temperatures often go above 35 °C: perfect for the beach, but hot for sightseeing at the ruins.
- How many days: 2–3 days if you combine the city with trips to the nearby ancient sites.
How to include Antalya in your trip
Antalya works perfectly at the end of a tour of Türkiye: after Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus, you finish with a few relaxing days on the beach. It is also a good base for exploring the Lycian Way and the Turquoise Coast.
Take a look at my private Turquoise Coast tour, which includes Antalya, Kaş, Fethiye and more, or plan a tailor-made trip with as much time in Antalya as you like.