The paradise on earth, the pearl city of the Mediterranean, and the Turkish Riviera…
With its history, natural beauty and a rich variety of local life style, the city hosts more than 11 million foreign guests, from all over the world on a yearly basis. Antalya is one of the world’s foremost tourism destinations, offers you a peerless experience.
As a typical Mediterranean city combining ancient cities whispering tales of history, myth and legend, emerald green forests and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, Antalya is full of places that are all wonders of the regions historical background and nature.
The city has many well preserved historical sites and ancient settlements dating back thousands of years. These historical structures give you a number of options for daily activities. There is history, natural beauty and a rich variety of local life style to be discovered.
You may feel the breath of Mediterranean during your stay!
To have more detailed information about Antalya, you can visit Tourism and Travel Guide to Antalya of Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Tourism
Antalya province has Mediterranean climate with hot summers and moderately warm and rainy winters. During November average temperature is around 16 °C and the maximum temperature is around 20 °C
The maze-like Kaleiçi neighborhood was made for strolling. Perfectly restored whitewashed and red-roofed Ottoman mansions line the cobblestone streets, now home to a plethora of boutique hotels, souvenir shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Although it’s more a place to simply breathe in the old-world ambience, there are also plenty of small tourist attractions for those who want to sightsee. The main square (Kale Kapısı) has a fortress gate and stone-clad clock tower, while the 18th-century Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque is worth a look just for its stunning interior tile work. Along Hesapçı Sokak, you’ll find the graceful Kesik Minare (truncated minaret). Destroyed by fire in the 19th century, this is all that is left of a building that started its life as a Roman temple, was converted into a Byzantine church, and finally became a mosque.
If you’re at all interested in Turkish history don’t miss this excellent museum. The dazzling exhibits here showcase all the best finds from excavation sites across the Turkish coast. Even better, the collection is displayed in exemplary fashion, making Türkiye’s rich (and rather complicated) history easy to understand. The large archaeological section offers displays from the Bronze Age to Byzantium, with a particular emphasis on ruins in the nearby area. If you’re short on time make a beeline for the galleries containing the mosaics from Seleukeia, silver hoard display from Aspendos, and divinity statues from Perge.
Hadrian’s Gate is one of the main (and the most dramatic) entrance gates into the Kaleiçi district. Considerable stretches of the Hellenistic and Roman town walls on the eastern side of the old town have been preserved, and Hadrian’s Gate is the most notable of these sections. Erected in honor of the AD 130 visit by Emperor Hadrian himself, this imposing three-arched marble gateway, flanked by imposing towers, is decorated with rich sculptural decorations. As you walk through the arches look up at the ceiling to view the best preserved carvings.
The main reason history-buffs visit Antalya is to make the day trip to Aspendos. This archaeological site is home to a Roman theater commonly thought to be the best preserved in the world and one of the top tourist attractions in Türkiye. The glory days of this dazzling, ancient town were during the 2nd and 3rd centuries, when most of the ruins that can be seen today were built. Apart from the theater, which has been fully restored and can seat 15,000 people, much of the rest of the site still lies in ruins and is probably only interesting to the most enthusiastic sightseer.
Perge’s vast and rubble-filled stadium, half-destroyed temples, and huge colonnaded agora are imbued with an atmosphere of past glory. This was once the capital of ancient Pamphylia, which blossomed under first Greek and then Roman rule. The ruins here are not as well-preserved as others on Türkiye’s Turquoise Coast, but this also means they attract fewer crowds, leaving visitors able to explore the long colonnaded streets and half-collapsed temples in peace. The Roman baths, Hellenistic Gate, and Acropolis are all particularly interesting.
St. Nicholas House an ancient East Roman basilica church in the ancient city of Myra, now a museum located in modern Demre. It was built above theburial place of St Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop of Myra, an important religious figure for Eastern Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics and the historical inspiration for Santa Claus. Its use dated from its 6th century construction for thestate church of the Roman Empire by Justinian the Great. The basilica is on UNESCO’s tentative list to become aWorld Heritage Site.
Antalya’s old town and bustling commercial zone
Kaleiçi is Antalya’s old and historic heart, and the steady influx of foreigners has seen scores of stalls spring up to meet demand throughout the area. While it can feel a tad touKaleiçi is the old and historic heart of Antalya. A steady influx of foreigners has seen scores of stalls spring up to meet demand throughout the area. While it can feel a tad touristy at times (especially during the peak summer season), there are plenty of artisanal wares worth browsing.
Bustling tourist-orientated bazaar in Antalya’s old town
The Old Bazaar is a great place to shop ff-brand apparel, handicrafts, and aromatic Turkish foodstuffs in Antalya. Located between the fluted minaret and the marina in central Kaleiçi, the bazaar attracts a decent stream of tourists everyday. Therefore, don’t expect a bargain from the get-go – you’ll need to negotiate to snag a decent deal.
Upscale retail district
The Land of Legends is a kid-friendly theme park and upmarket shopping district a 30-minute drive east of Antalya City. At its ritzy Shopping Avenue, you’ll find the best selection of high-end stores in the province. The mall has plenty of well-known international brands like Armani Exchange, Bluemint, Cacharel, Calvin Klein Jeans, Calzedonia, Gant, Giovane Gentile, Nautica, Nocturne and Tommy Hilfiger.
One of the biggest malls in the Mediterranean region
The Mall of Antalya is one of the largest shopping centres in the Mediterranean. At least 144 stores trade in the 2-floor retail mall, where an arched glass roof atrium lets in ample sunlight. You’ll find an impressive range of local and global brands, including the region’s biggest outlets of some brands. The Mall of Antalya is around 4 km west of the Antalya Airport and 9 km northeast of Antalya city centre.
The massive upscale mall hosts plenty of well-known international outlets, including Levis, DeFacto, H&M, Koton, FLO and Waikiki. Some 155 brands, both Turkish and foreign, ply their trade – variety is a strong point here.