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    Antalya

    Turkey

    Antalya

    CityCultureBeach

    Antalya is the major city of the Turkish Riviera, with approximately 1.3 million inhabitants in its urban area.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Turkey
    7. The Turkish Riviera
    9. Antalya
    Antalya is the major city of the Turkish Riviera, with approximately 1.3 million inhabitants in its urban area. You come for the walled Old Town of Kaleiçi above the old harbour, the beaches of Konyaaltı and Lara, and the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos in the surrounding area. Konyaaltı is west, Lara east of the centre.

    Sights in Antalya

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Old Town Kaleiçi and Hadrian's Gate
    Attraction

    1Old Town Kaleiçi and Hadrian's Gate

    Kaleiçi is the walled old town above the old harbor, with cobblestone streets and restored Ottoman houses. One entrance is Hadrian's Gate, which was erected in honor of Emperor Hadrian after his visit in 130. At the edge of the old town stands the Yivli Minare, the Seljuk landmark of the city.
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    Konyaaltı Beach
    Attraction

    2Konyaaltı Beach

    The long city beach lies west of the center. In summer, DJs play at the beach clubs in Konyaaltı and Lara from June to September. In winter, the beach clubs are closed.
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    The Lower Düden Waterfall
    Attraction

    3The Lower Düden Waterfall

    The Düden plunges in the Lara district around 40 m over the cliffs directly into the Mediterranean Sea. From the park next to the falls, you have the best view. In the sun, a rainbow sometimes forms in the spray.
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    Hıdırlık Tower
    Castle

    4Hıdırlık Tower

    The round tower stands where Kaleiçi borders the Karaalioğlu Park. The Romans probably erected it in the 2nd century; whether as a tomb or a lighthouse is debated to this day.
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    Perge
    Historic Landmark

    5Perge

    The ancient city in Pamphylia is located approximately 15 km east of Antalya. Visible are a stadium, a large theater, and the South Gate with two three-story Hellenistic round towers. A water channel with small cascades ran along the main street. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul preached here.
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    Yivli Minare Mosque

    6Yivli Minare Mosque

    The fluted brick minaret, with remnants of blue tiles, is considered a landmark of Antalya, standing in Kaleiçi Old Town near Kalekapısı Square. The Seljuks built the first mosque around 1230 on the ruins of a Byzantine church, and the minaret is presumably attributed to Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I. In 1373, Mehmet Bey from the Hamidid dynasty had the prayer hall with six domes rebuilt. In the 20th century, the Antalya Museum was temporarily housed here.
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    Restaurants in Antalya

    1

    7 Mehmet

    Restaurant on a hill near the coast, west of the center. The menu includes fish, Tandır meat, stews, and Pilaw. For dessert, wood-fired pumpkin, made with pumpkins from Döşemealtı.
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    2

    Kadirşinas Ocakbaşı

    Grill restaurant with a charcoal fire. Serving Adana Kebap, fried beef tongue, and meze like baked hummus with Pastırma.
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    3

    Özgül Kebab Sisci Ibo

    Casual restaurant in the Elmalı district, specializing in the Antalya classics Tahinli piyaz and Şiş köfte.
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    4

    Seraser Fine Dining

    Gourmet restaurant at Hotel Tuvana in Kaleiçi with a small garden. Highlights include Filet Wellington.
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    Dining & Drinks

    Antalya is known for Tahin: in bean salad, meze, and sweets. Additionally, there's charcoal-grilled food and lamb from the clay oven.

    Tahinli piyaz

    White bean salad with plenty of tahini sauce. In Antalya, it's almost a main course and usually accompanies Şiş köfte.

    Şiş köfte

    Grilled minced meat skewers, served with flatbread and sumac onions.

    Hibeş

    A Meze of Tahini with lemon and garlic, seasoned with cumin or chili depending on the locale.

    Kabak tatlısı

    Pumpkin in sugar syrup, crowned with walnuts and tahini or cream. Döşemealtı pumpkins, north of the city, are well-known.

    Culture and History

    AttaleiaKing Attalos II of Pergamon founded the city as Attaleia in the 2nd century BC. Emperor Hadrian visited in AD 130, and Hadrian's Gate was built in his honour. The Hıdırlık Tower on the edge of the old town also dates from Roman times.Seljuks and OttomansThe Seljuks conquered Antalya in 1207 and, after a brief Byzantine reconquest, for good in 1216. The 38 m Yivli Minare, the fluted minaret with remains of turquoise and dark blue tiles, dates from their era. The old town of Kaleiçi, with its lanes and Ottoman-era houses, has been restored and is now home to guesthouses, bars and restaurants.Antalya MuseumThe archaeological museum has been closed since July 2025. Because of earthquake risk, the old building is being replaced by a new one on the same site, with completion announced for the end of 2026. Check the current status before your visit.

    Nightlife

    1

    Castle Café

    Quiet cafe-bar on Kaleiçi's castle wall near Hıdırlık Tower. An alternative to the louder bars in Kaleiçi, famed for its sunset views.
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    2

    Filika Café-Bar

    Café-bar in the heart of Kaleiçi Old Town. Evenings see live bands, mostly pop and rock, attracting a young, alternative crowd.
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    3

    Tipsy Old Town

    Rooftop bar in Kaleiçi with cocktails and sea views. Tables by the railing face the Hıdırlık Tower.
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    Arrival & On the Go

    Getting ThereAntalya Airport has two international terminals and one domestic terminal. The Antray light rail connects it to the city center since 2016.Getting AroundTram: A tram line has been running along the main boulevard from the Antalya Museum to Hotel Talya since 1999.On Foot: Kaleiçi is best explored on foot; the alleys are narrow and cobblestoned.Excursions: Perge is about 15 km, Aspendos about 45 km east of the city. Both can be combined in one day.TipThe Lower Düden Waterfall is best seen from the park on the cliffs in Lara. After heavy rain, the water is often brown; a clear day is more rewarding.

    Accommodations in Antalya

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    Campgrounds in Antalya

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      • 1Old Town Kaleiçi and Hadrian's Gate3 days
      • 2Konyaaltı Beach4 days
      • 3The Lower Düden Waterfall5 days
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    Nearby

    The Turkish Riviera

    The Turkish Riviera

    The Turkish Riviera is the coastal stretch of Antalya province between Olympos and Alanya, with Antalya at its center. Come for the long beaches, ancient Pamphylian cities (Perge, Aspendos, Side), and Seljuk architecture in Antalya and Alanya. Kemer, Belek, Side, and Alanya are the well-known resorts.
    Olympos & Çıralı

    Olympos & Çıralı

    Olympos and Çıralı lie in a bay on the coast southwest of Antalya. You come for the ancient city of Olympos in the river valley, the eternal flames of the Chimaira, and the long beach where sea turtles nest. Çıralı is a village with guesthouses behind the beach; the ruins lie in a river valley close to the beach.
    Side

    Side

    Side is a beach resort on a small peninsula, about 78 km east of Antalya. You come for the ancient ruins in the middle of town: the theatre, agora and Temple of Apollo stand among hotels, shops and restaurants. Side belongs to the district of Manavgat; the old town lies on the peninsula.
    Lycian Coast

    Lycian Coast

    The Lycian Coast is the mountainous coastal stretch between the Gulf of Fethiye and the Gulf of Antalya in southwestern Turkey. You come for the rock-cut tombs and ancient cities of the Lycians, the bays, and the Lycian Way. Fethiye, Kaş and Dalyan are the main locations.
    Alanya

    Alanya

    Alanya is a seaside resort on the eastern Turkish Riviera, approximately 133 km east of Antalya. You come for the Seljuk Castle on the promontory above the sea, the Red Tower at the harbor, and Cleopatra Beach. The district has approximately 360,000 inhabitants, with the old town and castle situated on a rocky peninsula.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI