Turkey
Antalya is where the Taurus Mountains meet the Mediterranean and where a walled Roman and Ottoman old town still tumbles down to a working harbour.
Kaleiçi, entered through Hadrian's Gate, is the atmospheric heart, a maze of restored timber houses, courtyard cafes and boutique hotels above a marina where boats set out beneath limestone cliffs. Around it lies one of the richest ancient coasts in Turkey: the almost complete Roman theatre at Aspendos, the colonnaded streets and stadium of Perge, and the Temple of Apollo beside the sea at Side. This guide books Antalya properly, from the Düden and Kurşunlu waterfalls and harbour cruises to the Olympos cable car that lifts you to 2,365 metres on Tahtalı Mountain and the long but unforgettable day trip to Pamukkale, and then matches you to the right hotel, from a beachfront five-star in Lara to boutique houses and a budget guesthouse inside the old town. Antalya's Archaeological Museum is closed for rebuilding, so the sites themselves carry the story.
Kaleiçi Old Town and Hadrian’s Gate
Antalya's walled old quarter, a maze of restored Ottoman houses, cobbled lanes and boutique hotels that tumbles down to a Roman-era harbour. Start at Hadrian's Gate, finish with sunset over the marina, and you have met the whole city in one free walk.
Aspendos Roman Theatre
The best-preserved Roman theatre in Anatolia, still standing almost complete with its stage building and extraordinary acoustics. About forty-five minutes from Antalya, it hosts operas and concerts and is the one ancient site most visitors say they would not skip.
Düden and Kurşunlu Waterfalls
Two waterfall stops close to Antalya: the Lower Düden Falls, where a river drops straight off the cliff into the Mediterranean, and the Kurşunlu Waterfall in a shady nature park. Easy, cool and ideal when the coast is baking.
Perge Ancient City
A grand Hellenistic and Roman city just east of Antalya, with a monumental gate, a long colonnaded street and one of the best-preserved stadiums in the region. Quieter than Aspendos and easy to fit into the same day.
FreeAntalya's walled old quarter, a maze of restored Ottoman houses, cobbled lanes and boutique hotels that tumbles down to a Roman-era harbour. Start at Hadrian's Gate, finish with sunset over the marina, and you have met the whole city in one free walk.
Two waterfall stops close to Antalya: the Lower Düden Falls, where a river drops straight off the cliff into the Mediterranean, and the Kurşunlu Waterfall in a shady nature park. Easy, cool and ideal when the coast is baking.
The best-preserved Roman theatre in Anatolia, still standing almost complete with its stage building and extraordinary acoustics. About forty-five minutes from Antalya, it hosts operas and concerts and is the one ancient site most visitors say they would not skip.
A grand Hellenistic and Roman city just east of Antalya, with a monumental gate, a long colonnaded street and one of the best-preserved stadiums in the region. Quieter than Aspendos and easy to fit into the same day.
A seaside peninsula where Roman columns rise beside the Mediterranean. The Temple of Apollo at sunset is Side's signature view, with a big theatre, old harbour and sandy beaches close by, about an hour east of Antalya.
A ten-minute cable car ride from the Kemer coast to the 2,365-metre summit of Tahtalı Mountain, with views over the Taurus peaks and the Mediterranean in one frame. A cool escape on hot days and a sunset favourite.
Short cruises from the old harbour sail beneath the Kaleiçi cliffs and past the Düden waterfalls, and longer day boats head along the coast. The easiest way to see Antalya's limestone shoreline and the Taurus Mountains behind.
The white travertine terraces and the ancient spa city of Hierapolis, UNESCO-listed and surreal. A long but rewarding day trip from Antalya, usually 10 to 11 hours with lunch, and an easy way to see one of Turkey's great natural wonders.
One of the largest aquariums in the region, with a glass tunnel, a snow world and hundreds of species. A reliable rainy-day or midday-heat choice for families, with Tiqets tickets sold as a bundle with the wax museum.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Lara
A 232-room five-star on the Lara coast with sea-view rooms, a spa, beachfront access and a seasonal pool. The splurge pick for a resort-style Antalya stay, about 25 minutes by car from the airport.
Rates on Expedia →
$$$Kaleiçi
A beloved boutique hotel of restored Ottoman houses in Kaleiçi, with a courtyard pool, three restaurants, a garden and library. Rated 9.0 by 843 Expedia guests, it is the classic old-town splurge-lite.
Rates on Expedia →
$$$Near Kaleiçi
A four-star boutique hotel near Hadrian's Gate with a seasonal pool, garden, Turkish restaurant and free breakfast. A calm, adult-oriented base with the Kaleiçi lanes on its doorstep.
Rates on Expedia →Kaleiçi Marina
A harbour-side hotel in Kaleiçi a minute from the marina, with a seasonal pool, spa, terrace and sea-view rooms. A romantic, characterful base for old-town living at a mid-range price.
Rates on Expedia →
$Kaleiçi
A small, long-running guesthouse on Hesapçı Sokağı in Kaleiçi, with economy rooms, free parking and an old-town address about seven minutes from Hadrian's Gate. The budget base for travellers who want to walk everywhere.
Rates on Expedia →A practical first-timer plan for Antalya: the day trips worth booking ahead, how to move around, how many days you need and where each headline sight fits.
Where to base yourself in Antalya: the old town of Kaleiçi for atmosphere, Lara for beaches and resorts, and five hotels at different budgets.
