Are you going to travel to Turkey and visit the south coast? Discover our selection of essential things to do in Antalya!
Metropolis and seaside resort located on the western southern coast of Turkey Antalya is the tourist capital of the Turkish Mediterranean and one of the most frequented seaside cities in the world. With 2,328,555 inhabitants and 9 million visitors per year, Antalya is nicknamed the "Turkish Riviera". Founded by Attal II (King of Pergame) in 150 before our era, the city was in turn coveted and occupied by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Seldjoukides before falling into the skeleton of the Ottoman Empire (1299-1924). A rich past since the Roman era, Antalya has always played a leading role in the Eastern Mediterranean. What to do in Antalya? Most of the most interesting activities to visit Antalya are located along the coast: beaches, neighbourhoods and historical monuments, culinary specialties, cultural visits.
To help you in preparing your trip, you who are probably looking for a trip to Antalya since your flight ticket is booked, we have been looking for the things to do to visit Antalya.
1. Old town
Photo credit: Flickr – Orçun Edipoğlu
A flagship tourist destination of Mediterranean Turkey, Antalya also laughs with mass tourism and ostentatious consumption of wealthy and wealthy tourists. Despite everything, the city has kept its historical charm and authenticity. The old town of Antalya, in particular, has kept its letters of nobility. Named Kaleici, the old quarter is a maze of pedestrian and commercial streets. Kaleici is built on a rocky spur on the side of a steep cliff, below which is a former port, rehabilitated today in modern marina. It is obviously the uncontournable for everyone coming to visit Antalya.
In the historic centre, direction the clock tower (byagonal tower) and the marina, at the bottom of the marina. Along the pedestrian streets, discover the old Ottoman houses, the Mosque Yvliminare – an ancient Roman church transformed into a mosque -, an old hammam, a Roman tower, the gate of Hadrian and its three arched gates, the truncated mosque "Kesik Minare". Innumerable shops, art galleries and handicraft shops, small Turkish cafés and restaurant are the pavement of the old town.
2. Visit the Museums of Antalya
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons – User:E-92
What to do in Antalya, if not learn about Turkish history? At least five museums are among the impossible to do. The Antalya Museum is one of the largest in Turkey, it retraces the history of Anatolia. It would be a shame to visit Antalya without making the Atatürk Museum House, which is dedicated to him Mustafa Kemal Atatürk the first president of the Republic of Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman Empire from 1924 to 1938. If you come to visit Antalya with your children, the Toy Museum will fill these with characters and figures (Titi, Dalton).
3. The Antalya Museum
Photo credit: Flickr – jordan pickett
The Antalya Museum is the Antalya Archaeological Museum, one of the largest museums in Turkey. It is located in the Konyaaltı district, comprising 13 exhibition rooms, an outdoor gallery, covers an area of 7,000 m2 and houses more than 5,000 works of art. The visitor can see Gallo-Roman statues, pieces and objects excavated during archaeological excavations dating from the Neolithic, documents and pieces of the Ottoman Empire.
4. See the Porte d’Hadrien
The Gate of Hadrian – known as Üçkapılar – is a triumphal arc located in the Kaleici, built at the effigy of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (117-138). Made of three arches, it is considered the most beautiful gate of Pamphylia (an ancient name of the Antalya region) and attests to the power of the Roman Empire, yet so far from Turkey in the 2nd century of our era. It was unused – locked up by the outer walls of the old city – for many years, which may explain its incredible state of conservation.
5. Düden Falls
Photo credit: Flickr – Anton Fomkin
What to do in Antalya to escape the hordes of tourists who stop at the same tourist sites and take away the charm of a stay in the sun? The Düden Falls, 10 kilometers north of Antalya, will reconcile you with the region. Powered by the river Düden which takes its source in the mountains of Taurus, these waterfalls are one of the places not to be missed during a stay in southern Turkey to visit Antalya. Falls, about 20 metres tall, are surrounded by a nature conducive to hiking and strolling. Near the beach of Lara, west of the city, the Düden Falls are 40 meters high in the turquoise waters of the sea, offering a striking show .
6. The beaches of Antalya
Photo credit: Flickr – Miguel Discart
What do you do in Antalya when it's hot? We think of bathing, of course, but we will have to face the mass tourism that beats its full between June and August. The beaches of Antalya are very well known: Konyaalti Beach and Örnekköy Beach (hyper-fréquentées), Topcam Beach, Lara Beach, Marmara Beach, etc. Don't expect to find a desert sand cord where you'll be alone to pretense.
7. A boat ride
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Nejdet Duzen
To enjoy the swimming and beautiful views of the Mediterranean while avoiding the crowds of tourists, there is a must-see solution in Antalya: the boat ride! Indeed, by opting for the boat rental in Antalya , you offer a real opportunity to enjoy the Turkish coast in calm and serenity.
You can also plan multiple excursions, to discover Greek islands , or the beauties of the island of Cyprus . And if you don’t own the boat license, you can call a skipper: the skipper will take you to unrecognized places that you and your loved ones will never forget.
Find a boat for rent in Antalya
8. The canyon of Köprülü
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons – Ahmet Colakoglu
What to do in Antalya other than the beach and cultural visits? Sports is even possible! Go north to the city for descend the rapids of the Köprülü canyon and enjoy a beautiful climb of adrenaline in the agitated waters of the Köprüçay River. It will take a good day to fully enjoy the rafting and the site: the fat descent 14 kilometers long!
How to get to Antalya?
To go to Antalya, the plane is the best way to transport. Regular international flights arrive at Antalya Havalimanı Airport. Note that there are not many direct flights to Antalya and flights with stopover can be long, it will often be necessary to go through Istanbul. You can find a cheap flight on our partner's website Ulysses .
Where to stay in Antalya?
To stay and visit Antalya, we recommend you the old town of Kaleici unless you run the very tourist areas. It is a central area. Guests can also stay at the old port and Konyaalti (for beaches). For a hotel at the best price in Antalaya, don’t hesitate to take a look at this Compare hotels .
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