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Antalya

Antalya

Turkey, Asia

A walled old town above a Roman harbour, long beaches either side, and some of Turkey's finest ancient sites within an hour's drive.

Quick decisions

How many days?

2 days: Kaleiçi, the cliffs and one beach. 3 to 4 days: add Aspendos and Perge, and a waterfall. 5 days or more: Side, Termessos, a boat day and time to do nothing by the sea.

Where should I stay?

Kaleiçi: small hotels in old stone houses, walkable, atmospheric. Konyaaltı: a long beach on the city's west side, better for families. Lara: big resort hotels close to the airport. More in our where to stay guide.

Do I need a car?

Not in the city. Trams, buses and taxis cover it. A car makes sense for Termessos and for linking several ancient sites in one day, which is hard on public transport.

Best for

Beach and history in one trip: few places do both this well. Families: yes, especially at Konyaaltı. Couples: stay in Kaleiçi. Budget travellers: easy, as long as you eat outside the old town.

Before you go

Antalya Museum: closed while it's rebuilt, so check the official museum site before planning around it. Summer heat: July and August regularly pass 35°C, with high humidity. Tickets: ancient sites price in euros and change yearly, so check before you go.

Getting around

From the airport: the AntRay tram runs into town, or take a Havaş bus or a taxi. In the city: tram, bus and your feet. Pay with an AntalyaKart. Details in our getting there guide.

Continue your trip

Kaş and the Lycian coast are about three and a half hours west by road. Pamukkale is a similar drive north through the mountains. Cappadocia is a long bus ride or a short domestic flight.

Overview

Most people land in Antalya on their way to an all-inclusive hotel and never see the city. That's a pity, because the city is the interesting part. Kaleiçi, the walled old town, sits on a cliff above a Roman harbour, with Ottoman houses, a Seljuk minaret and a triumphal gate built for the emperor Hadrian. Behind it, the Taurus Mountains rise straight out of the sea, and in spring they still have snow on top.

Give it at least three days, one of them for the ancient sites east of town. Aspendos has one of the best-preserved Roman theatres anywhere, and it's under an hour away. Our Antalya travel guide covers the practical side.

Getting there

Antalya Airport is one of the busiest in Turkey, with direct flights from much of Europe in summer and from Istanbul all year. It's about 13 km from the centre, linked by tram, Havaş bus and taxi. Our getting there guide compares them.

Where to stay

Kaleiçi is where to stay for atmosphere, Konyaaltı for a city beach with space for children, and Lara or Belek for a resort holiday. The right choice depends on how much of the city you want to see. Our where to stay guide goes through each area.

Things to do

Start with a slow walk through Kaleiçi, then pick a beach from our beaches guide. The big draw beyond the city is history: Aspendos, Perge, Side and Termessos are all covered in our day trips guide. The full list is on our things to do page.

Food and drink

Order Antalya piyaz, a white bean salad dressed with tahini, lemon and garlic, usually served next to grilled şiş köfte (meatballs on a skewer). Hibeş, a sharp tahini and cumin dip, is another local habit. Kaleiçi restaurants charge for the view. Walk ten minutes out to the Balbey or Haşimiye streets for everyday prices.

Culture

The city was founded as Attaleia by King Attalos II of Pergamon in the 2nd century BC. The Romans came next, then the Byzantines, then in the 13th century the Seljuk Turks, who left the Yivli Minare, the fluted brick minaret that is still the old town's landmark. In Kaleiçi you can walk past all of those periods in half an hour.

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