By air
Antalya (AYT), ~13 km
Middle East · Türkiye
Antalya, Türkiye
A turquoise coast and a Roman old town
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to June and September to October — warm, calmer
Don't miss
Kaleiçi
Hadrian's Gate
Konyaaltı beach
The Aspendos theatre
Things to do
Kaleiçi old town
The beaches
A day trip to Aspendos
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Esginmurat · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear
A quieter corner
The Düden Waterfalls
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time for Antalya?
May to June or September to October, when it's warm but calmer. Pack your swimwear.
What should I do in Antalya?
Wander Kaleiçi old town and Hadrian's Gate, laze on Konyaaltı beach, and take a day trip to the Aspendos theatre.
Is there a hidden gem near Antalya?
The Düden Waterfalls — a change of pace from the beaches.
How far is the airport from Antalya?
Antalya (AYT) is about 13 km away. Once you land, piyaz and fresh fish are the first things to try.
About Antalya
- Coastal
Where it is
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of south-western Türkiye and the capital of Antalya Province, set on cliffs above the Gulf of Antalya with the Taurus Mountains rising to the west.
History
Attalus II of Pergamon founded the city in the 2nd century BC and named it Attaleia, and under Rome a triple-arched gate was raised in honour of the emperor Hadrian. It later belonged to the Byzantines and, from the 13th century, to the Seljuks, who built the Yivli Minaret, before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire. From the late 20th century tourism made it one of Türkiye's busiest resort cities.
People
Antalya's people speak Turkish, and the city has grown fast with newcomers from across Türkiye and residents from Russia, Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The surrounding plain grows citrus fruit and greenhouse vegetables, and piyaz, a white-bean salad dressed with tahini, is a local speciality.
Known for
- Kaleiçi, the walled old town
- Hadrian's Gate and the Yivli Minaret
- Konyaaltı and Lara beaches
- The Düden Waterfalls
- Day trips to Aspendos and Perge
Did you know?
The Roman theatre at nearby Aspendos, built in the 2nd century by the architect Zenon, is one of the best-preserved ancient theatres anywhere and still stages performances.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.