Mediterranean Coast
Antalya
Turquoise coast, Roman ruins & the Taurus Mountains
Antalya is the gateway to the Turkish Riviera, where the Taurus Mountains plunge into a 600 km coastline of pebble beaches, turquoise water and pine forest. Its Old Town (Kaleici) is a maze of Ottoman houses around a Roman harbor, while just outside the city you can climb the seats of the 2,000-year-old Aspendos theatre or hike the trails of Olympos and Phaselis.
Why come
Highlights of Antalya
- —Kaleici Old Town and Roman harbor
- —Aspendos Theatre (best preserved in the world)
- —Perge & Side ancient cities
- —Duden Waterfalls plunging into the sea
- —Olympos eternal flames at Chimaera
- —Beach days at Lara, Konyaalti or Cirali
What to do
Things to experience
01. Kaleici
Antalya's Ottoman old town inside Roman walls, with Hadrian's Gate, the fluted Yivli Minaret and dozens of boutique cave hotels.
02. Aspendos
A Roman theatre from 155 AD that still hosts opera every summer — acoustics so good you can hear a coin drop on stage from the top row.
03. Perge
A vast Greco-Roman city with a colonnaded street, stadium and Hellenistic gate — minutes from the airport.
04. Duden Falls
A two-tier waterfall, the lower one plunging directly off a cliff into the Mediterranean.
05. Chimaera Flames
Eternal natural flames burning out of bare rock since antiquity — reachable on a 30-minute hike near Olympos.
06. Phaselis
Three small harbors, a Roman aqueduct and the ruins where Alexander the Great wintered in 333 BC.
Local guide
Everything you need to know about Antalya
Why Antalya is more than a package-tour beach
Most travellers know Antalya as the all-inclusive resort capital of Turkey, and it absolutely delivers on that level: 300 kilometres of Mediterranean coast, four-and-five-star beach hotels at a fraction of European prices and one of the best climates in the region (300 sunny days a year). What the package brochures hide is the old town — Kaleici — a walled Ottoman quarter of cobbled lanes, boutique hotels in 200-year-old houses and harbour-side fish restaurants. Add the ancient cities of Aspendos, Perge and Termessos within an hour drive, plus the Duden waterfalls dropping straight into the sea, and Antalya becomes a real destination, not just an airport.
When is the best time to visit Antalya
May-June and September-October give you sea temperatures above 22 degrees Celsius, dry weather and prices that are still reasonable. July-August is peak summer — hot, busy and expensive but the sea is at its best. November-March is mild enough to visit the ancient cities comfortably but most beach resorts close from mid-November to early April.
How to get to Antalya
Antalya (AYT) airport is the third-busiest in Turkey and has direct flights from Istanbul (1h 10m), Ankara, Izmir and dozens of European cities. Most international travellers connect through Istanbul. Transfers from the airport to the resort areas (Lara, Belek, Kemer, Side) take 25-90 minutes depending on which strip of coast.
Where to stay around Antalya
Three zones cover most preferences. Kaleici (the old town) is for travellers who want to be in the historic walled quarter with boutique pensions and harbour restaurants. Lara is the city beach with the famous “themed” 5-star hotels (Titanic, Kremlin, Mardan Palace etc) ten minutes from the airport. Belek is the upscale resort strip 30 minutes east, focused on golf, spas and quieter all-inclusive families. Kas and Kalkan, 2-3 hours west, are for travellers who want the boutique coastal villages with a sailing or paragliding component.
What to do beyond the beach
Aspendos has the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world and still hosts the summer opera festival. Perge has the longest continuous Roman colonnaded street in Turkey. Termessos is a Pisidian mountain fortress that resisted Alexander the Great and rewards a moderate uphill walk. The Antalya Archaeological Museum is one of the top three in the country. For active travellers we add a half-day Saklikent canyon walk, a Goynuk canyon coasteering trip or a day-sail along the Lycian coast.
Combining Antalya with the rest of Turkey
Antalya is the natural “decompress” city at the end of a Turkey loop. Our 10-day extended itinerary goes Istanbul -> Cappadocia -> Ephesus -> Pamukkale -> Antalya, finishing with two or three beach nights and a direct flight home. For honeymooners we often add a private gulet day or a Kas / Kalkan extension.
When to go
May-June and September-October give the perfect combination of warm sea, dry weather and reasonable prices. July-August is peak season; winter is mild but resort hotels close.
Getting there
Fly to Antalya (AYT) direct from Istanbul (1h 10m) or from dozens of European cities seasonally. Resort transfers are 25-90 minutes.
Good to know
FAQs
Is Antalya just a beach resort?+
No — the city itself has world-class Roman sites within 45 minutes, plus a stunning old town. Stay 3+ nights to do both.
Best beach near Antalya?+
Cirali (quiet pebble + sea turtles), Konyaalti (urban + Taurus view), or Patara (longest sand beach in Turkey, 90 min west).
Can I combine Antalya with Cappadocia?+
Yes — there is a daily 1-hour flight, or a scenic 6-hour drive through the Taurus Mountains via Konya.
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