Antalya is not only one of the greatest cities in Turkey but also one of the most picturesque Mediterranean cities. This magnificent city is a fairyland in the country of Turkey with so many natural and historic attractions. Most of the Attractions of Antalya are historic and natural sites that are very important to the history of Turkey. You need at least 5 days to explore Antalya so bear that in mind when you are planning a trip to this glamorous city.
Top 20 Attractions of Antalya
We’ve made a pocket list of Antalya’s top 15 attractions in this article for you to help you in designing your itinerary for Antalya city. Keep reading to learn more about this fascinating province and city.
- Kaleiçi old city – Antalya
- Antalya Hadrian’s Gate
- Karain Cave
- Beach resorts of Antalya
- Antalya Aquarium
- Aspendos
- Antalya Museum
- Hidirlik Tower (Hıdırlık Kulesi)
- Perge Ancient city
- Düden Waterfalls
- Tekeli Mehmet Pasha Mosque
- Yivliminare Mosque
- Olympus and the Chimera
- Antalya Saat Kulesi
- Karst Springs
- Parks of Antalya
- Pamphylia
- Tunektepe Teleferik Tesisleri
- Damlataş Cave
- Alanya Harbour
Kaleiçi old city – Antalya
Kaleici is the old town center of Antalya city in Turkey. The historic old town of Antalya is called Kaleici and is one of the most popular attractions in this city. Kaleici in the Turkish language means inside the castle. This part of the city is confined to all the land area of Antalya city and this is the reason that they have chosen this name to call it.
the historic structure of the buildings in this part of the city is a reminder of the time that the Roman empire was controlling the city. Walking and strolling Kaleici’s old city of Antalya will take you back to the Roman time. Kaleici’s old city is not just a small landmark in Antalya. It is actually a neighborhood where you can find some of the main historic places of the city like Tekeli Mehmet Pasha Mosque and Kesik Minare.
Hadrian’s Gate
Another must-visit attraction in Antalya city is the Hadrian’s Gate which dates back to 130 BC. This gate was built in honor of the entrance of the Roman emperor of that time to the city. This was a two-floor gate that only the first floor has survived throughout centuries. Hadrian’s Gate has three charming arches and the structure is inspired by Roman architecture. Hadrian’s Gate is the entrance gate to the Kaleici old city.
Karain Cave
Karain Cave is another one of Antalya’s many attractions that you have to visit on your trip to this mysterious city. This cave is located 27 kilometers outside Antalya city at Yagca village. Karain Cave is located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey and dates back to the paleolithic times. This is one of the oldest places you can visit in Turkey.
Beach resorts of Antalya
Antalya city has a large area of coastline and a number of charming beaches that we take the courage to put on the list of Antalya’s greatest attractions. There are several beaches in Antalya city that every one of them should be considered as a distinct attraction but we named all of them as a group because we couldn’t choose one of them as a better attraction. The beaches of Antalya offer a pristine nature and a perfect place for spending a relaxing time.
Antalya Aquarium
Another place one of the best attractions on Antalya’s list is Antalya Aquarium. The fifth largest aquarium in the world and the second largest one in the Europe is Antalya Aquarium. This indoor place is a great place for spending quality time with your family because both adults and children enjoy strolling in Antalya Aquarium. Antalya Aquarium has 131 meters of walking road that is covered by a tunnel of aquariums that surrounds the corridors. Also, there are 40 themed aquariums that you can visit in Antalya Aquarium.
Aspendos
47 kilometers eastward from Antalya city you will get to one of the most beautiful attractions of the city, Aspendos amphitheater. Aspendos is a Roman Greece-style amphitheater with an outdoor area. there are numerous Roman amphitheaters in the world but Aspendos amphitheater in Antalya city is one of the most intact ones that you can see.
Another fact that makes this place special is the large land area compared to other Roman amphitheaters. Aspendos amphitheater had the capacity to host 15000 people as the audience for a theater or a show. Make sure you visit this spectacular landmark on your trip to Antalya.
Antalya Archeology Museum
Antalya archeology museum is another attraction in Antalya city that you have to visit. There are a number of great museums in Antalya and every one of them are focused on a subject. Antalya archeology museum showcasing most of the plastering that was found in the Perg ancient city. Despite that, you can see 5000 monuments in this museum found in Mediterranean land areas. This museum showcases a rich collection of monuments that amazes every person that is interested in the history and heritage of Turkey.
Hidirlik Tower (Hıdırlık Kulesi)
Another attraction in Antalya that you must visit on your trip to this city is Hidirli Tower. Hidirlik Tower is 14 meters in height tower in a cylinder shape that dates back to the 2nd century. This tower was made under the rule of a Roman emperor. This tower was supposed to be built in a cubicle shape but in the middle of building the tower, they changed the plat into a cylinder. This is one of the oldest towers in Antalya and Turkey so make sure that you visit this striking building.
Perge Ancient City
Perge Ancient City is a historic landmark 15 kilometers away from Antalya in the eastern part of the city. This historic site is another attraction in Antalya that is very popular among tourists and local people. Perge ancient city was a Greek city in Anatolia where some ruins of it have remained since. If you’re curious to see an ancient Greek city and learn about how it was, you have to visit Perge’s ancient city. Perge’s ancient city was a large and important city during the Roman Empire times.
Düden Waterfalls
Antalya has so many attractions that are divided into two groups; historic sites and natural scenery. One of the picturesque landscapes in Antalya is Duden Waterfalls which are a group of waterfalls located next to each other 12 kilometers out of the city on the northeast part. Duden Waterfalls drop directly into the Mediterranean Sea. At the entrance of Duden Waterfalls, there’s a park where you can relax and take a break. Bear in mind that when you are visiting Duden Waterfalls you have to bring hiking clothes and shoes, a cap, sunblock, etc.
Tekeli Mehmet Pasha Mosque
Tekeli Mehmet Pasha Mosque is a fascinating place in Antalya province and one of its many attractions. This mosque was built in the 18th century when the Ottoman Empire was in power in Turkey. Colorful tiles and glamorous architecture and interior design of Tekeli Mehmet Pasha mosque will show you the greatness and beauty of the Ottoman Empire and the influence that they had on the heritage of this land. Visiting Tekeli Mehmet Pasha is free and you don’t need to purchase a ticket but the visiting hours are limited.
Yivliminare Mosque
Yiviliminare Mosque or the Alaaddin Mosque is one of the main attractions in Antalya province that is fully recommended to visit on your trip to the city. The inauguration and the construction date go back to the early 13th century. This minaret was built by the order of Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubad and you can see the beauty of Seljuk architecture in this building. There’s a gallery on the last floor of this Minaret where you can also get a panoramic view of Antalya city.
Olympus and the Chimera
One of the most interesting attractions near Antalya city is a landmark that contains two villages named Olympus and Chimera. You will see a distinctive phenomenon in the Olympus and the Chimera villages that will amaze every visitor. These two villages share a common beach which is filled with ruins and vestiges from Olympus city in the Lycia time. The city was located on a river valley and the coastline of Antalya province.
Chimera is a mountain where flames of fire are coming out of the cracks between the rocks. This natural phenomenon is something that you won’t see in any other place on earth. The flames of fire coming out of nowhere between the rocks of the mountain are a jaw-dropping phenomenon that you may think that you’ve left the earth.
Antalya Saat Kulesi
Antalya Saat Kulesi is a tower in Antalya province and one of its numerous attractions that you must visit on your voyage to the city. Every day a large number of visitors come to see this magnificent landmark that is a relic from the 19th century.
Antalya Saat Kulesi means the clock tower of Antalya in the Turkish language and the name is inspired by the 4 clocks that are installed on the 4 sides of the walls of the tower. 80 towers were built at that time but the Antalya Saat Kulesi is the only one that has remained. Make sure you plan a short visit to this fascinating tower in Antalya.
Karst Springs
There’s a large limestone land area in the suburbs of Antalya city which is filled with kart springs. This landscape is one of the most scenic and picturesque areas of Antalya city which is very popular among tourists and local people for spending a pleasant day and enjoying the scenery.
The natural underground reservoirs in Karst Springs have shaped this landscape over a period of 1.5 or even 2 million years. There’s a green space that has surrounded this place which makes it even more charming and ideal for an excursion. This place is also filled with waterfalls.
Parks of Antalya
Antalya has the perfect climate and a lot of green space on its land and most of them are parks. There are several parks in Antalya that are very popular among local people and tourists and some of its best attractions.
Some of the most known and crowded parks of Antalya are Karaalioglu, Florya Atatürk Forest, Koprulu Canyon National Park, etc. If you are exhausted by the historic sites of the city and you want to enjoy a pleasant time with your friends and family you can visit the charming parks of Antalya city.
Pamphylia
Pamphylia region is one of the best attractions of Antalya and one of the main historic sites of Turkey. Pamphylia is an ancient region in the Mediterranean part of Turkey. The Pamphylia is a landmark full of ruins of an ancient region where the whole land is extended from the Mediterranean to the mountain belt of Turkey called Taurus.
The historic land of Pamphylia contains a number of Turkey’s cities like Antalya, and Alanya, and some of the ancient cities like Perge, Aspendos, and many other cities and villages in modern Turkey and old Turkey.
Tunektepe Teleferik Tesisleri
Tunektepe Teleferik Tesisleri is a recreation center near Antalya city and one of its most exciting attractions. This place has so many attractions that you need at least a whole day to explore them. You can either hike to this hill or use the cable car that takes you to the top and enjoy the glamorous views on your way.
Antalya has great nature with magnificent coastlines and mountains. At the Tunektepe Teleferik Tesisleri, you can get a perfect view over the Gulf of Antalya and go on top of the peaks of the Taurus mountain belt in this city.
Damlataş Cave
One of the greatest attractions near Antalya city that is very underrated in comparison to its beauty is Damlatas cave. Damlatas Cave is more than 15000 years old and the stalactite and stalagmite formations have shaped inside this cave over centuries.
If you are a picky traveler and you want to explore the less famous attractions of Antalya, make sure you visit this spectacular cave whenever you are in Antalya. You can also get a break from the heat of summer in this exciting place.
Dine at Alanya Harbour
This is one of the main lands of Antalya province and the whole land space of Antalya where constructed around this place. Nowadays this place is filled with restaurants and dining places where you can enjoy a pleasant meal as well as the perfect view and weather of this place.
You can also get boats at this place and visit the waterfalls located on the coastline.
Final words about the best attractions of Antalya
Antalya with its perfect climate, spectacular beaches, and landscapes, a large collection of vestiges and relics, numerous recreation centers, etc. was able to become one of the perfect destinations for tourists from all over the world. In this article, we named some of Antalya’s top attractions that you must visit on your trip to Antalya.