Antalya, Turkey Top 5 Amazing Places To See

Bordering the spectacular turquoise Mediterranean Sea, Antalya is among the most popular Turkish tourist destinations. It is a dynamic destination that offers numerous sights and attractions to visitors ranging from archeological sites to sandy beaches. Given the fact there is much to do and see, finding yourself stuck on what direction to take when planning for your Antalya tour may be challenging. To help you make the most of your time, here are the top 5 amazing places you absolutely must see when visiting Antalya: To help you make the most of your time, here are the top 5 amazing places you absolutely must see when visiting Antalya:

1. Old Town Kaleiçi

The Kaleiçi district that forms the core of Old Antalya, with its narrow stone paved streets, must be visited. Originally established as a Greek and Roman commercial port in the 2nd century BCE, this historical district is one of the most important in the Mediterranean and the world. Today guests can enjoy the atmosphere of the old Ottoman city where today’s Old Town offers a magnificent view of well-restored and renovated buildings that now accommodate unique hotels, cozy cafes, exquisite restaurants, and fashionable shops.

2. Antalya Museum

As one of the most significant and comprehensive museums of Turkey, Antalya Museum gives a general glimpse of the great historical past of the area. It contains more than five thousand artifacts from the Paleolithic to Ottoman eras.

These include the large souvenir marble and bronze statues from the ancient Lycian city of Perge which was a seaport. Roman-age mosaic floors showing gods, goddesses, and other mythological figures and creatures are exceptionally elaborate. This is complemented by another hall presenting artifacts recovered from sunken ships off the Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas. Don’t fail to visit and marvel at the Hall of Sarcophagi where one can find very well-preserved tombs from the 2nd century with ornate carvings on the lid. The Childhood and Mother Goddess Hall has more touching grave items such as toys and little shoes put inside the children’s tombs. Nearby, walk through the beautiful Mediterranean garden next to the remnants of the ancient harbor’s defenses.

3. Beaches

One of the top destinations for tourists due to its beautiful coastline, Antalya presents an incredible variety of beautiful beaches, ranging from dynamic with adventurous water activities to serene with tender, rhythmic waves. Konyaalti Beach is located only 10 minutes away from the city’s center; it has become very popular among the residents as well as tourists because of the vibrant pedestrian zone with fish restaurants, ice cream parlors, and clubs that play modern music on the beach. Its blue flag-certified beaches are clean and the shore is very ideal for swimming and waterskiing. Lara Beach is some distance in the west and for the best in comfort and style, you can always opt for one of the fantastic 5-star resort hotels. Lara Beach is enriched with a beautiful marina harbor and yachts in the sea proving to be a good snorkeling site and maintaining a serene ambiance. It’s looking for hidden local gems. Enjoy secluded pebble bays with turquoise waters that are virtually begging for attention around Kaş and even further south around Kemer.

4. Day Trip to Perge

With the help of a favorable and abundant water source of the Aksu River, Perge developed into one of the wealthiest and most important areas of the Pamphylia region. At present, visitors get the opportunity to explore almost completely preserved ruins of the ancient city of Perge which allows them to learn more about Roman and Greek approaches to city planning. When you pass through the Doric columned entrance a street with a few remaining marvelous marble columns will be the first view, which will remind you about the greatness of this city. Deeper into the site is the enormous Theater that has a sitting capacity of fifteen thousand people, Theater was used for play performances and musical concerts. Go up to the rooftops of the theater to get a view of the entire archeological park. Some of the notable features were sophisticated hydraulic techniques used to supply hot water on demand in the complex frigidarium, tepidarium, caldarium, and exercise facilities in the Roman Bath located in Turkey ranked second largest. In front of it lies the Agora whose architectural design is made of Ionic-columned to house politicians who used to engage in discussions of the rules governing economics and politics. Stadium, gymnasium, fountains, nymphaeum, temples, and the colonnaded walkway just provide the finishing touches to your tour through the highpoint of Roman civilization in the 2nd century CE.

5. Saklıkent National Park

Saklıkent National Park located 50km to the east of Antalya offers spectacular views of the natural beauty, especially with the 18 km deep gorge cragged by high forested cliffs. Saklıkent Canyon translates to Buried City and the view that strikes the eye is one of the grandiosity of the site nestled in a setting of calm forests. The freezing mountain river gushing through the narrow ravine offers a refreshing experience from the hot and humid summer of Antalya. For the adventurous, there exist whitewater rafting rides that provide navigation of the canyon with the thrilling falls and rapids. Several trails have been marked well and the hiking options range from the easy ones that are valley-based to the tough ones that involve steep climbs to get to the valley's top viewpoints. It is recommended to wear swimwear so that one can take a refreshing bath in the existing natural pools in the center of the canyon or the sidebrief gorges. Take a break in one of the few restaurants located on a wooden structure and taste some of the regional Turkish cuisines while listening to the water falling from the glacier-fed streams below the platform.

Read More:

Antalya, Turkey Top 5 Amazing Places to See

Unique 9 Things to Do in Sapporo for First Time Visitors

Top 15 Must-Visit Destinations of Beijing

Top 13 Free + Paid Things to Do in Busan Korea

6 Amazing Things to Do in Fukuoka!

5 Spots You Must Visit on Your Trip to Edinburgh

Top 10 Places to Visit in Porto - From Great Views to Tasty Port Wine