Antalya is the main and also the largest holiday town of the Turkish Riviera. To a large extent, this is where the development of tourism in this part of the country began, which over time resulted in the creation of numerous neighboring resorts and holiday resorts. It is a large, vibrant city with over 1.2 million inhabitants. This is where the best hotels and resorts, the most beautiful beaches and numerous bars and nightclubs are located. Both in the city itself and in its immediate vicinity, you will find monuments that testify to the rich history of this region. No wonder that it is one of the most interesting holiday destinations in Turkey, which attracts tourists from all over the world! Find out more about Antalya – what is worth seeing and what trips to plan during your longed-for holiday.
Turkey – Antalya and its charming views
Antalya is the capital of one of the Turkish provinces located in the southern part of the country – it has the same name as its main city. The village is located on a large and picturesque bay of the Levantine Sea (an integral part of the Mediterranean Sea). From the land side, it is surrounded by green Taurus Mountains, overgrown mainly with pine trees and olive groves – a mountain chain bordering the Anatolian Highlands, which stretches for about 1.5 thousand meters. km in the southern part of Turkey. The whole consists of numerous mountain ranges and plateaus descending towards the coastal lowlands and the Mediterranean coast itself. It is divided into three parts – western, central and eastern. Antalya in Turkey is located in the central part, where the mountain range is in the immediate vicinity of the coast, creating picturesque cliffs. And this is just one of the places you can go on an optional trip in Turkey. There are a lot of attractions, so it’s worth coming back and discovering the Turkish Riviera region anew!
Antalya – start your holiday with a journey into the past
The history of the city dates back to the 2nd century BC. and is associated with the Attalid dynasty, the rulers of Pergamon. In 150 B.C.E. Attalus II, the king of Pergamon, founded a city here, which he called Attalia, but already in 133 B.C.E. during the times of the next ruler of this dynasty – Attalos III, the town was dominated by the Romans, who significantly rebuilt it in the following centuries. After the division of the Roman Empire into eastern and western Antalya fell to the Byzantines. Under his rule, the city grew even more, as evidenced by the fact that there was, among others, seat of the bishopric. Christianity arrived here very early, mainly thanks to St. Paul of Tarsus, who – as described in the Acts of the Apostles – after teaching in Pisidia and Pamphylia (historical lands in the south of the Anatolian peninsula) sailed from here to Antioch.
In the 7th century, after the rise of Islam and its rapid takeover of the Middle East, Attalia suffered many times as a result of Arab invasions that came here from the Levant. The city, however, defended itself against the onslaught of the new religion for a long time and grew to a real power – there was a customs house where all ships sailing east had to pay.
In the 11th century, the city was taken over by the Seljuk Turks, the first Turkish dynasty that began to play a significant role in the entire peninsula, but the Byzantines soon managed to recapture these areas, mainly due to the First Crusade. During the Crusades, Antalya was briefly ruled by the Italians, but in 1207 the town came under the rule of the Sultanate of Rum (in Greek times Iconium, now – Konya). Although in the following years Antalya was still ruled by the Venetians and Genoese, it can be said that it was the period when Islam came here for good. Finally, in 1423, during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Murad II, the city was incorporated into Ottoman Turkey, and in 1923, after the revolution initiated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (including the abolition of the sultanate), it became part of the Turkish Republic.
Sights of Antalya – the biggest tourist attractions. What to visit?
It is best to start visiting Antalya from the oldest part of the old city. One of the most interesting monuments in Turkey is the so-called Hadrian’s Gate, which is actually a triumphal arch built in this city in 130 AD, on the occasion of the visit of the Roman emperor Hadrian. Originally, it was based on three arches and had two levels. However, it has not survived to our times in its entirety, and in the 1950s, when reconstruction and conservation was carried out, only its lower part was reconstructed, but its scale still makes a colossal impression. There is also a legend associated with the place, according to which the Queen of Sheba passed by the gate, who was going to rest in the neighboring Aspendos, during her journey to King Solomon. The symbol of Antalya, however, is the nearby Yivli Minaret, which is one of the first Muslim buildings in the city. It was erected next to the mosque that was built here in 1230 (the original mosque was destroyed, and in its place in 1373 a new temple was built). It is 38 meters high and is divided into eight fluted parts, hence it is commonly called the Fluted Minaret. There are 90 steps to the top (usually open to visitors). The Yivli minaret now belongs to the neighboring Ethnographic Museum, which you can also visit – there are many interesting objects depicting life in the old days.
When it comes to museums, it is definitely worth visiting the local Archaeological Museum, which has a somewhat deceptive Turkish name – Antalya Müzesi. It is one of the largest museums in Turkey, with 7,000 m² of space, over 5,000 sq.m. exhibits depicting the history of mainly the southern part of this country. The youngest will certainly be interested in the local Toy Museum (tr. Oyuncak Müzesi), where you can see a very rich collection of toys from around the world. Other interesting museum objects include the Stove Museum (tr. Soba Müzesi), which in turn has in its collection many specimens of stoves from Turkey and Europe. If you want to get to know the whole region better, check out our guide to the biggest attractions of the Turkish Riviera.
Other attractions of Antalya – what to see in your free time?
In the case of Turkey – Antalya or another popular tourist city – sightseeing can have a different character. This is the right region for people who want to experience historical and cultural curiosities at the same time. Trips can be more or less demanding, making it easy to balance your holiday on the Turkish Riviera in Antalya. What to see during free time? You certainly don’t have to stay in a hotel!
Antalya – sea attractions
The village has a very interesting port where many tourist boats are moored. They can take a cruise around the bay and to the Aqualand water amusement park, where, in addition to dozens of slides and other water attractions, there is also a dolphinarium. There is also a giant aquarium in Antalya, Turkey, which holds a total of 7 million liters of water, where you can see a lot of species of fish and marine animals. In total, there are as many as 40 aquariums divided thematically, and its main distinguishing feature is the over 130-meter aquarium tunnel (this place is advertised as the largest tunnel aquarium in the world).
Antalya – trips along the nature trail
The main natural attraction is undoubtedly the Düden waterfalls. One of them – Düden Şelalesi – is located slightly inland and is the highest in this region. The other falls directly into the sea! The Kapuz Canyon is also very interesting, located about 10 km north-west of the city center, which is a pleasant alternative for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. There are e.g. a natural pond where you can go boating. The city is also famous for its numerous parks. The most interesting of them – Karaalioglu Park – is located almost in the very center and offers an impressive view of the bay.
Antalya – holidays on the most beautiful beaches in Turkey
There are several well-known beaches in Antalya, Turkey, of which it is definitely worth recommending the famous Lara Beach, which is the longest sandy beach in the area (east of the center). It is also worth visiting the Mermerli beach – intimate and beautifully situated (in a small bay), located almost in the very center of the city. The Konyaalti beach located slightly to the west also looks similar.
Surroundings of Antalya – what to visit in Turkey?
Just 15 km north-east of the center of Antalya, there are the remains of the ancient city of Perge – the most important of the Pamphylian towns, where a beautiful Hellenistic gate deserves attention. Less than 10 km further north is the picturesque Kurşunlu Waterfall, located on one of the tributaries of the Aksu River. It is located in the middle of a pine forest and is one of Antalya’s favorite places for picnics.
Going the other way from the coast (north-west), after about 35 km you will reach the remains of Termessos – an ancient town that, thanks to its location high in the mountains and the bravery of its inhabitants, resisted Alexander the Great. It is worth going here, if only to see the ruins of Hadrian’s temple or the picturesquely situated theater.
