Top 5 Places to See in Antalya

Antalya is the gateway to the Turkish Riviera. Most visitors head straight to resorts, but the city itself is worth two or three days: Roman ruins, a well-preserved old town and the Taurus Mountains rising behind the sea.

1. Kaleiçi (Old Town)

Kaleiçi means “inside the castle”: the walled old town above the harbor. Its narrow streets are lined with restored Ottoman houses, boutique hotels, courtyard restaurants and the slender Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret).

Tip: Stay in Kaleiçi for at least a night or two. Walk down to the old harbor in the evening, where boat trips leave along the coast.

More info

• Time needed: Half a day to wander, more if you stay overnight.
• Tickets: Free to walk around.
• Getting there: In the city center. Enter through Hadrian’s Gate or from Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı) above the harbor.
• Nearby: The old harbor and boat trips, Hıdırlık Tower, the Fluted Minaret (Yivli Minare), Karaalioğlu Park.
• Good to know: The streets are steep and cobbled, so wear proper shoes. Cars are restricted inside the old town, so check parking with your hotel.

2. Hadrian’s Gate

This triple-arched marble gate was built in 130 AD for a visit by the Roman emperor Hadrian, and it’s still one of the main ways into the old town. You can see the grooves worn into the stone road by carts almost 2,000 years ago.

Tip: It’s free and takes ten minutes. Combine it with a walk through Kaleiçi.

More info

• Time needed: 15 minutes.
• Tickets: Free.
• Getting there: On Atatürk Caddesi, at the edge of Kaleiçi. The historic tram stops nearby.
• Nearby: All of Kaleiçi, the Clock Tower (Saat Kulesi), Republic Square.
• Good to know: Look down for the ancient road surface with cart grooves, now under glass and visible from the walkway.

3. Antalya Museum

Statues, sarcophagi and mosaics from the ancient cities around Antalya (Perge, Side and Aspendos) fill one of the best archaeology museums in Turkey. The Hall of the Gods is the highlight.

Tip: Save it for the hottest part of the day. It’s a short tram ride or a pleasant walk west of the old town.

More info

• Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.
• Tickets: Paid.
• Getting there: About 2 km west of the old town on Konyaaltı Caddesi. Take the historic coastal tram to its western end, or a short taxi ride.
• Nearby: Konyaaltı Beach (a short walk downhill), the clifftop parks along the coast.
• Good to know: The museum is air-conditioned, which makes it the best plan for the hottest hours of a summer day.

4. Lower Düden Waterfall

The Düden River ends dramatically: it falls off the cliffs straight into the Mediterranean. There’s a park with viewing terraces at the top, but the best view is from below.

Tip: Many boat trips from the old harbor stop beneath the falls. The Upper Düden Waterfall, inland, is a separate, shady park.

More info

• Time needed: 30–45 minutes at the park, or see it as part of a boat trip.
• Tickets: The clifftop park is free to enter.
• Getting there: About 10 km east of the center, towards Lara. Take a taxi or city bus, or join a boat trip from the old harbor.
• Nearby: Lara Beach, the Upper Düden Waterfall park (a separate site inland).
• Good to know: The falls are strongest in winter and spring. From the cliff you look down on them; the full height is only visible from the sea.

5. Konyaaltı Beach

A long pebble beach west of the center, with clear water and the Taurus Mountains as a backdrop. A beachfront promenade runs most of its length, with cafés, parks and the Antalya Aquarium nearby.

Tip: Rent a sunbed at one of the beach clubs, and stay for sunset over the mountains.

More info

• Time needed: An afternoon, or a whole beach day.
• Tickets: The public beach is free; sunbeds and umbrellas at beach clubs are paid.
• Getting there: West of the city center. Take a city bus or taxi, or walk down from the Antalya Museum.
• Nearby: Antalya Aquarium, the beach parks along the promenade, the Antalya Museum.
• Good to know: The beach is pebbly and drops off quickly, so water shoes help. The water is usually calm and very clear.

Bonus: day trips

The theater at Aspendos, one of the best-preserved Roman theaters anywhere, and the ruins of Perge are both under an hour away, easy to combine in a day trip.

Getting around: the historic coastal tram runs from near the old town to the museum. Konyaaltı is a short bus or taxi ride further west. A taxi from the airport to Kaleiçi takes about 20–30 minutes.