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Antalya, another ancient city on the coast of Turkey, spent most of the past few centuries as a provincial harbour town. In the 1970s, however, Antalya was transformed into a tourist mecca, and still attracts millions of European travelers every year. Tourists come from the cold North of Europe to enjoy balmy weather and wide, beautiful beaches.
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Most of Antalya’s tourism is focused on its beaches, and all-inclusive resorts sprawl along the two main beaches for kilometers. The beaches here certainly are beautiful, blessed as they are with a scenic backdrop of tall mountains. The Mediterranean is warm (for Europeans) for most of the year. However, some of Antalya’s incredible history is put to the wayside in favor of surf and sun package tours. Those who can break through the allure of the water can discover a remarkable history dating back to the Roman era and beyond.
To be perfectly honest, most of Antalya is quite ugly. A modern, sprawling, concrete mess of cheap dentist offices and shops, a large bulk of the city is largely devoid of culture or uniqueness. Fortunately, the historic center of Antalya, and the adjacent Konyaalti Beach area, are more than beautiful enough to make up for the rest of the city’s ugliness.
Getting In
Antalya Airport is a large complex, made up of Terminal 1/Domestic Terminal and Terminal 2. Dozens of carriers fly to Antalya from all over Europe. Even small cities in Europe are served by small charter flights in summer. Keep an eye out if you’re a plane spotter-you might catch sight of a carrier you’ve never seen before. In addition to all these international flights, there are also tons of domestic flights from major Turkish cities like Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara. This is a major vacation destination for locals too, after all.
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Terminals 1 and 2 are separated by a long (1+ mile) walk. There is no shuttle, and taxis are often dishonest. This is as inconvenient as it sounds, so I strongly advise that you know which terminal you need before you arrive. AntRay tram goes from Terminal 1 to the city center, and Public Buses 600 and 800 leave from each terminal into town. If you choose to take a taxi, prebook online to avoid scams.
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Antalya Bus Terminal is 6km away from the center, but there is a tram connection. The terminal building is very large and served by many operators. Sample destinations include Denizli (3.5 hours, transfer to dolmus for Pamukkale) and Konya (5 hours), as well as service to other coastal destinations.
Getting Around
Antalya is served by an extensive public bus network, two tram lines, dolmus (private vans), and taxis. Visitors need an AntalyaKart to use public transport; purchase at big stations, kiosks, or bus/station airport ticket counters. You can only purchase and recharge the plastic, reusable card with cash.
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Alternatively, you can use a contactless credit card on all trams and buses in Antalya. Just tap the card at the reader or turnstile. Buses are modern, and some have AC, but they get uncomfortably crowded throughout the day. Worse, roads are so overcrowded that it takes longer to get across town than it should. Bus fares are cheap, at least. Also, Google Maps can plan routes, but it doesn’t show when the next bus will arrive at a stop. Expect buses to arrive late.
There are taxi stands all over the city. Ask drivers to use the meters and look out for scams. Uber doesn’t operate in Antalya so consider pre-booking a taxi online or over the phone.
Where to Stay
Antalya is a huge city, so there are naturally many neighborhoods to stay in. The three main areas for tourists to stay are Old Town, Konyaalti Beach, and Lara Beach. Each has its own pros and cons, so consider these before deciding on a place to stay.
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Old Town, also called the Kaleiçi district, is right in the middle of Antalya. Kaleiçi is the most atmospheric part of town, with a history going back well beyond 2,000 years. As an added bonus, accommodation in the Old Town is among the cheapest in Antalya. Check reviews first, but there is some great value to be had here. Also keep in mind that some locations don’t have an online presence.
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Konyaalti Beach, adjacent to the Old Town and Harbour, is home to a string of fancy beachfront hotels. Konyaalti is more centrally located than Lara Beach, and the beach is better too. There aren’t as many all-inclusive resorts here, but the hotels are more luxurious than those found elsewhere in Antalya.
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Lara Beach is located east of town and extends along the coast for kilometres. Lara is home to tons of all-inclusive package resorts. These can be of great value, but most of the resorts are far away from the city center. If you’re renting a car, or don’t plan on going far from the resort, Lara Beach is a great option.
Old Town
Antalya’s beautiful ancient quarter is enclosed within the remnants of Roman walls. Inside, winding narrow streets wind their way down to the Old Harbour. Small shops, bars, and restaurants add to the atmosphere of the cobbled streets.
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Old Town makes up one end of the tourist strip, and is separated from the ugly, modern concrete city by a tram line. There are multiple entrances to the Old Town; the most scenic is from Karaalioğlu Park with its cliffside promenade and crumbling Roman fortress. The cliffs are particularly high here, and the views of Konyaalti Beach and the mountains are especially beautiful.
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Hadrian’s Gate
Another entrance into the Old Town is through Hadrian’s Gate, the best-preserved remaining structure from Antalya’s Roman heritage. Built in 130 AD in honor of Emperor Hadrian, the three-arched gateway is ornamented with decorative columns between each arch. Hadrian’s Gate is free to visit; stop to take pictures and walk right underneath and deeper into the Old Town. While you do so, however, consider the size of the Roman Empire, that this very arch was named for the same emperor as the famous Wall in the North of England-at the other end of Europe.
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Yivli Minare
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One of Antalya Old Town’s most important attractions is Yivli Minare, a 13th century Seljuk-era minaret designed in a unique fluted style. The minaret, which rises above the Ottoman tiled roofs of the Old Town, adds a level of verticality to the district. It is attached to a 14th century mosque, which is open to visitors outside of prayer times. The inside of the mosque is interesting, but there isn’t much to captivate non-Muslim travelers. Still, it is worth popping in if you’ve never been in a mosque before.
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Old Harbour
The streets of Antalya Old Town wind their way down to the Old Harbour, a bowl-shaped space nestled within a section of the city’s famous cliffs. The Old Harbour is Antalya’s most famous attraction after its beaches, and for good reason. The views of the old town, the quays, and the boats in the water are iconic.
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Restaurants and cafes perched on terraces overlook the rooftops and boats in the harbour. Go at sunset for an especially beautiful view. When the sun begins to descend below the horizon, the Ottoman roof tiles of town reflect the red light.
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Many boats depart from Old Harbour for various excursions. There are swimming cruises, snorkeling cruises, sunset cruises, dinner cruises, and more. You can book excursions online in many cases, and your hotel/resort should be able to help you book others.
Konyaalti Beach
Konyaalti Beach is one of Antalya’s main strands. It stretches west out of town from the Old Harbour at the point where the cliffs level out. The beach has an incredible backdrop in the Taurus Mountains. Konyaalti features a pebble beach, green lawns, and a paved sidewalk promenade.
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Konyaalti has great infrastructure and is very accessible for tourists. The palm tree-lined promenade is beautiful for strolling and taking in the sea breeze. There are a ton of shops and restaurants just steps from the water. Walk over from the Old Harbour for an incredible view of the entire beach and the mountains in the distance.
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Lara Beach
Lara Beach is Antalya’s other main beach. It is very popular in summer, and very quiet in winter. Konyaalti is a bit livelier in winter, but by much. In season, you can rent chairs and umbrellas and lounge on the beach. There are also a ton of water sport rental stands during the summer. You can rent all the usual equipment like jetskis, kayaks, and join parasailing tours from these.
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Lara extends eastward out of the city and further from the Old Town and other main attractions. Most of the all-inclusives are several kilometers out of town along the beach. Stray dogs are a bit of a problem closer to town, but they usually stick to themselves.
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Lower Duden Falls is near Lara Beach, and definitely worth the side trip. The falls dramatically cascade of a cliff straight into the sea. There is a lovely park around the falls that attracts locals and tourists alike. Bus lines KL08, KL09, or KL10 all go to Lower Duden Park from Lara Beach or from the city center.
Antalya Museum
Antalya has one of the best-and largest-museums in Turkey. The Antalya Museum is filled to the brim with Greek and Roman artifacts discovered in the surrounding area. Breeze through the underwhelming Bronze Age Hall, it transitions into the incredible hall of statuary. This hall showcases the museum’s remarkable collection of statues of deities, emperors, and the wealthy.
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The outdoor space behind the museum shows off more artifacts, mainly stone architectural remnants. Antalya Museum is nearby Konyaalti Beach, so it makes a good break from swimming or lounging. It might be hard to tear yourself away from the beach but believe me: this museum is worth it.
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Entry is 90 lira, but the museum accepts the Turkish Museum Pass, which covers archeological sites and museums all around the country. Opening hours are 8:30am to 8pm. Hours are shorter from October to April.
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Antalya Aquarium
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Make some room in your vacation schedule to visit the Antalya Aquarium, the second largest aquarium in Europe. Some 40 themed aquariums hold hundreds of species of fish-and that’s only half of your visit: the Antalya Aquarium is home to the world’s tunnel aquarium. The famous tunnel is 151 meters long and passes through a huge tank full of sharks and rays.
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Aquarium tickets cost $35, or $50 combo ticket with the attached Snow World. There are a few other experiences onsite as well. The aquarium is open 9am to 11pm. Antalya Aquarium is easily walkable from Konyaalti Beach. Otherwise, bus KL08 stops in front of the 5M Migros Shopping Center, which is behind the aquarium.
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Other Things to Do
Antalya has a ton of stuff to do outside the city, as well. Here are just a few day trip ideas.
- Aspendos Ancient Theatre-day tours available.
- Side Roman Ruins-day tours available.
- Perge Roman Ruins-take Tram Line 2 to Aksu stop, then walk to entrance.
Final Thoughts
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Antalya is one of Turkey’s most visited destinations, and for good reason. Its beaches, mountain backdrop, charming old town, and Roman heritage combine to create a tourism juggernaut. While most visitors never leave its beaches or all-inclusive resorts, it would be a shame for you to do the same. Drag yourself away from the incredible coastal scenery and explore the Old Town, browse the Antalya Museum, and say hi to the fish at the Antalya Aquarium. These will turn your standard beach vacation into something to remember for a long time.