Top 25 Antalya Attractions, Turkey

Antalya is modern hotels, magnificent beaches and exciting sea voyages, nightlife of bars and discos. But a beach-relaxed type of holiday is far from all that the main resort of Turkey is rich in. The age of Antalya is more than 2 thousand years. She saw Hellenes, Romans, Byzantines, Alexander the Great, Seljuks and Ottomans. She has something to surprise.

The unique appearance of the city is given by the historical district of Kaleiçi, the romantic sea harbor, the majestic Hadrian's Gate and the Hydirlik Tower, which remembers the Roman emperors, minarets and mosques of the Ottoman times. Getting acquainted with the past of Antalya, it is worth visiting the city's archaeological museum. Many of his artifacts were found during excavations of ancient settlements - Perge, Aspendos, Termessos. Their ruins are located in the vicinity of Antalya.

What to see and where to go in Antalya?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Kaleichi area

The very heart of the city, its centuries-old history. At every step there are ancient houses, temples, buildings, inherited from different eras and empires. The district consists of 4 quarters. Compact, covers an area of ​​35 hectares, but it has hundreds of winding streets, among which it is easy to get lost. The pride of Kaleiçi is the ancient sea harbor, from which the history of Antalya began 2 thousand years ago. Today it is filled with tourist boats and yachts.

Hadrian's Gate

The only well-preserved gates of the city walls from the time of Roman domination, reminiscent of a triumphal arch. They were built in 130 AD. e. in honor of Emperor Hadrian. Decorated with marble columns. Because of the three arches, the Turks call the gate Uch Kapilar, i.e. "Three Gates". Serrated observation towers made of stone rise on the sides. Today, the ancient Hadrian's Gate separates modern Antalya from the historic district of Kaleiçi.

Clock tower

It was erected at the beginning of the last century. Retained its original appearance almost unchanged. It is called Saat Kulesi. Decorated with a clock presented to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire by the German Emperor. It is located on the central square, near the entrance to the Old Town. Consists of two different tiers. The lower one is pentagonal, made of unhewn stones. The upper one is quadrangular, made of smooth stone, with teeth on top. The total height of the building is 14 meters.

Hidirlik Tower

A grandiose building of the Roman period. Built in the 2nd century AD. e. It is located on the embankment of the Kaleiçi district, next to the Karaalioglu park area. Whether the tower served as a lighthouse, a defensive fortress or a tomb, there is still no consensus about its true purpose. It is built from large stone blocks. Height - 14 meters. The cylindrical part of the building stands on a square base. At the top is an observation deck, which is reached by a steep staircase.

Yivli Minaret

Erected at the beginning of the XIII century at the direction of the Seljuk Sultan in honor of his victories in the conquest of coastal lands. For 8 centuries, it has not changed much. It has a height of 38 meters, visible from anywhere in Antalya. Inside there is a staircase of 90 steps leading to a balcony. The structure has an unusual, corrugated shape - it consists of 8 half-cylinders standing on a square pedestal. It is crowned with a conical lead roof. There is a mosque nearby.

Ancient city of Aspendos

The ruins are located 35 km from Antalya. Presumably, the city was founded in the 5th century BC. e. It reached its peak in the II-III centuries. n. e. — during the Roman period. After the conquest by the Seljuks, by the XIV century, ceased to exist. Tourists are shown the Acropolis, Agora, the stadium, the remains of the gate, the Roman aqueduct, the basilica. The best preserved theater of the II century AD. e. It is famous for its excellent acoustics. Nowadays, concerts and festivals are held on its stage, in particular, "Fires of Anatolia".

The ancient city of Termessos

Located 34 km from Antalya, on a mountain plateau 1 km high. Formed in the 6th century BC. e. It was impregnable for enemies due to natural barriers and its defensive structures. Many interesting objects have been preserved since those times: a theater carved into the rocks, the ruins of a gymnasium, the Odeon, 6 temples, a market square, an underground reservoir, an ancient Necropolis. The city ceased to exist after several earthquakes in the 9th century AD. e.

Ruins of Perge

An ancient settlement, the capital of the coastal region of Pamphylia. Combines elements of Roman and Hellenistic culture and architecture. Approximate date of foundation - XII-X century BC. e. It is located 18 km from Antalya. Fragments of towers and gates, a Roman bath, the main street with columns, the Agora, an amphitheater, a stadium, several temples and residential buildings have been preserved. During the Byzantine Empire, and then the capture of the Seljuks, the city began to decline and gradually ceased to exist.

Archaeological Museum of Antalya

, consists of 13 rooms. Located in Konyaalti. 5 thousand exhibits are presented to the attention of visitors. But most of them, about 25-30 thousand units, are stored in storerooms, because there is not enough free space to accommodate them. Among the most interesting halls are the Prehistoric, Children's, Halls of gods, emperors, mosaics, and the Hall of burial culture.

Museum of Kaleiçi Suna and Inan Kıraç

The expositions are housed in two mansions of the historical Kaleici district. In the 1990s, Suna and Inan Kıraç bought and restored these buildings. The exhibitions in the first of them give an idea of ​​the daily life and life of the townspeople during the Ottoman Empire, as well as ancient Turkish ceremonies and rituals. The second building, a former Orthodox church, houses a collection of art from the collections of Inan and Suna Kırač.

House Museum of Ataturk

The two-storey mansion near the sea was presented by the local authorities to the first president of Turkey, who earned the honorary title of "Father of the Turks". Kemal Ataturk appeared here only a couple of times, and in 1986 his museum was opened in the building. It was possible to preserve the interior of the 30s - furniture, carpets, household items. Personal belongings, photographs, manuscripts of the great Turk are presented. Of considerable interest is the collection of coins, banknotes and postage stamps depicting the first president.

Toy Museum

Amusing expositions of the museum will be of interest to visitors of any age, but first of all, to children. Here are collected toys from different countries, peoples, cultures and eras, starting from the 19th century. Lots of Turkish toys. Separate rooms are dedicated to the legendary Barbie doll, heroes of popular cartoons. There are workshops for drawing, making dolls, origami, and painting wooden toys. The museum has been open since 2011 in the historical part of the city of Kaleici, in the port area.

"Museum of Sand Sculptures"

, in the open air, dozens of real masterpieces are created from sand. Exhibition topics are constantly changing - Hollywood films, Empires of different times, Heroes of myths and legends. They build figures only from river sand and water. Their lifespan is several months. In the evening they are beautifully illuminated.

Antalya Zoo

Date of foundation - 1989. The area is about 330 hectares. Located in a protected area, 13 km from the center of Antalya, at the foot of the mountain. About 90 species of animals from different parts of the world live here. All of them are kept in spacious enclosures with excellent conditions, as close as possible to the natural environment. There is a mini zoo for children. The whole territory resembles an ennobled forest; in addition to the enclosures, there are many places for recreation and picnics, sports and children's playgrounds.

Amusement park "Aktur Park"

Great place to have fun. There are more than 40 attractions here. For the most part, they are designed for a children's audience, but there are also extreme entertainments for adults. The entrance to the amusement park is decorated in the form of a stone castle with towers. Figures of pirates, Vikings and other characters are placed throughout the territory. The park has a 5D cinema, a shooting gallery, a restaurant, a cafe. Nice music sounds. Aktur Park is located in the Konyaalti region.

Water park and dolphinarium "Aqualand"

. Designed for 1500 visitors. It contains more than 10 slides, a children's pool, a pool with artificial waves, a cafe, areas for relaxation and sunbathing. The dolphinarium hosts fascinating performances every day with the participation of marine animals. After the show, you can take a picture, swim with them in the pool, buy a painting painted by a dolphin.

Antalya Oceanarium

. There are 40 thematic zones - in accordance with different ecosystems of the planet. About 10 thousand species of marine life are represented. Underwater panoramic tunnel - the longest in Europe - 131 meters. The scenery for it was made by an Italian sculptor. There are other areas in the aquarium: a cinema, a terrarium, a paintball, a snow room, an outdoor pool.

cable car

Leads to Mount Tyunektepe on the outskirts of Antalya. Here is one of the best viewing platforms in the city. The cable car opened in 2017. It consists of 36 panoramic booths in a cheerful orange color. The maximum capacity is 8 people. The total length of the road is a little over 1700 meters, the height of the mountain is 605 meters. Travel time is about 10 minutes. In addition to observation platforms, there are several cafes with very affordable prices.

Antalya Panoramic Elevator

A convenient modern lift connects the central Republic Square with the Old Town, in particular, with the seaport. Was built in 2014. The elevator cabin can accommodate up to 15 people. The glass walls allow you to admire the surrounding landscapes. The floor is frosted glass. Lifting height - 30 meters. There are wheelchair ramps. The lift is free. Nearby there is an observation deck with excellent panoramic views.

Mermerli beach

Not very popular among visitors to the city. Although it is located in the very center, in the historical part of Kaleici. One of the oldest beaches in Antalya. Small, narrow, equipped with old breakwaters. The entire coast lined with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers. All inventory is in excellent condition. There is a shop and a small cafe. The descent into the water is gentle. On the border of the beach, a rock rises from which an icy spring with drinking water beats. Entrance fee, through the restaurant.

Lara beach

It is located in the eponymous district of the city, in its eastern part, 12 km from the center. It is a 10-kilometer coastline, equipped for recreation. The beach cover is sandy, the descent into the water is comfortable, gently sloping. It has the Blue Flag of Quality for cleanliness and developed infrastructure. Plots with free accommodation are interspersed with paid ones. Venue for the annual sand sculpture competition. Nearby is Lara Kent Park with equipped picnic areas.

Konyaalti beach

One of the best beaches in the city. It is located in the western part, in the district of the same name. Length - 8 km, width - about 50 meters. Coverage - sand and pebbles. It is divided into "civilized" and "wild" parts. For cleanliness and livability, he was awarded the Blue Flag. The water is clear, colder than in other areas due to underground sources. The descent is gentle, but the depth begins immediately. A cozy promenade stretches along the beach, framed by low palm trees.

Karaalioglu Park

Located in the city center, in the picturesque area of ​​Kilicharsan, along a rocky cliff. Opened in 1943. A popular recreation area with citrus trees, exotic palms, colorful flowers, sculptures, fountains and ancient monuments. The main attractions are the Hidirlik Tower, the Ataturk Museum, the Municipality and the City Theatre. There are many cafes, restaurants, tea establishments. A staircase leads down to the sea coast.

Kursunlu waterfall

It is located 18 km from Antalya, on the territory of the national park. Formed by a tributary of the Aksu River. Especially full-flowing after rains. Height - about 18 meters. It is better to admire the views from the bottom of the gorge. Here is a bowl of a waterfall with turquoise water. There are a lot of fish in it, ducks swim. Swimming is prohibited. But you can go behind the falling stream of water and make a wish - this is a local tradition. In the vicinity - fabulous nature, there are places for picnics, a restaurant, souvenir shops.

Duden waterfalls

The most famous waterfalls in Antalya. Located on the river Duden. There are more than two dozen of them, but the largest ones are Upper and Lower, they are separated by 14 km within the city. Lower Duden falls directly into the sea from a height of 40 meters. It is best to admire its views from a boat or yacht. There is a national park nearby. The upper waterfall is also located on the territory of the park of the same name. It falls in two streams into the bowl of the lake. Directly behind him, in the rock, is a cave.