Antalya (Mediterranean Region, Turkey)

Antalya Reviews

Antalya Photos

Property Rentals in Turkey

Antalya Information

Overview

Things to do

Country Info (Turkey)

Slideshow of Photos

Antalya is the main city on the Mediterranean coast and one of the most popular vacation spots, with an attractive harbour setting and the picturesque old quarter of Kaleiçi enclosed within ancient Roman walls.

Dominating the town is Antalya's symbol, the Yivli Minaret (Grooved Minaret) dating back to the 3rd century. The superb Archaeological Museum, housing one of the top collections in the country, is not to be missed. Known as the Turkish Riviera, the Antalya shoreline boasts secluded coves, ancient cities and harbours, seaside towns, sparkling seas and soaring cliffs. The city provides an excellent base for exploring the small towns nearby, as well as caves, waterfalls and Roman ruins, including Perge and the mountain-top remains of Termessos.

A 30-minute drive east of Antalya is Aspendos, boasting the finest example of a Roman theatre in the world. Built in the 2nd century AD, it is remarkably intact. In addition to the vast number of archaeological wonders, the area also has a wealth of outdoor activities. Antalya, lying at the foot of the Taurus Mountain range, is host to numerous sporting events throughout the year, including international beach volleyball, triathlons and canoeing competitions.

Locality:

Antalya is located near the midpoint of Turkey's S (Mediterranean) coast, with the international airport some 5 mls E of centre. Antalya is situated on an attractive bay where a flat agricultural plain gives way to the Taurus Mountains and some spectacular scenery.

Suggest a change to the Antalya Overview section (click to dropdown)

The old town appeals to cultural rather than beach holidaymakers; the latter are better catered for farther out. Antalya is a city first and resort second; it gives visitors a chance to sample some authentic aspects of contemporary Turkish life while providing a good standard of comfort.

West of the city is a long beach of sand mixed with pebbles; better ones, including deserted coves, are found farther W at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. To the E are Lara and other small beaches, which are fine, but suffer from aircraft noise in the high season.

Sightseeing and other attractions are generally centred around Yivli-Minare, a 13th-century Seljuk minaret; the streets of the old town with its Ottoman houses; Hadrian's Gate; the Kesik minaret; Ataturk Park; and a very good archaeological museum.

Local excursions tend to be centred around city and out-of-town beaches; Duden waterfalls; Taurus Mountains; the hidden gorge at Saklikent; national parks of Termessos (ruined city) and Duzlercami; Karain caves. Ruins of Aspendos, Perge and Side.

One of the biggest attractions to Antalya is Olympos and the Fires of Chimaera: The ancient site of Olympos dates back to Hellenistic times when it was an important Lycian city and became famous as a place of worship honouring Hephaestos or Vulcan, the God of Fire. Located on a beautiful sandy bay, the ruins are spread out on either side of the Ulupinar River and include a Byzantine bathhouse with mosaic floors, a marble temple entrance, a theatre, and some excavated tombs. The shoreline is also a major protected nesting site for sea turtles.

On the rocky slopes above the ancient city are a series of eternal flames issuing from cracks in the rock, caused by the combustion of natural gas seeping out of the mountain. It is possible to extinguish them briefly, but they will always re-ignite and are most impressive in the dark when at their most visible. The fire that comes out of the ground is said to be coming from the mouth of Chimaera, a mythical fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and a snake's tail, who was slain by the Lydian hero, Bellerophon on his winged horse, Pegasus. Address: Çirali; Transport: The bus from Antalya to Olympos takes 1.5 hours. In season minibuses travel to Çirali from where the eternal flames are less than a mile (1.5km) walk away.

Suggest a change to the Antalya Things to do section (click to dropdown)

Population: 69.660.600
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli, Azeri, Kabardi
Currency:
Local Times:

Country Dialling Code: +90
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Often described as the 'crossroads of Europe and Asia', Turkey is one an extremely popular holiday destination. It is a place of interwoven cultures, where eastern and western sensibilities happily co-exist. Turkey is a paradise where one can experience the four seasons simultaneously... Whether be fond of art, history, archeology or nature, you will feel the happiness beyond desires and hopes during your stay in Turkey. Surrounded by the crystal clear waters of a shinning sea at four directions, Turkey generously offers its 8000km long shores before your eyes.

Turkey is at the northeast end of the Mediterranean Sea in southeast Europe and southwest Asia. To the north is the Black Sea and to the west is the Aegean Sea. Its neighbours are Greece and Bulgaria to the west, Russia and Ukraine to the north (through the Black Sea), Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east, and Syria and Iraq to the south. The Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus divide the country.

Although Turkey is situated in large Mediterranean geographical location where climatic conditions are quite temperate, diverse nature of the landscape, and the existence in particular of the mountains that run parallel to the coasts, result in significant differences in climatic conditions from one region to the other. While the coastal areas enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolian plateau experiences extremes of hot summers and cold winters with limited rainfall.

The driest regions are the Karaman, Igdir and Sanliurfa, where annual rainfall frequently is less than 300 millimeters. The wettest regions are the Black Sea coastal region where annual rainfall can reach 2,200 millimeters annually, and the region receives rainfall throughout the year.

For those who travel to engage in culinary pursuits, the Turkish cuisine is worthy of exploration. The variety of dishes that make up the cuisine, the ways they all come together in feast-like meals, and the evident intricacy of each technique involved offer enough material for life-long study and enjoyment.

It is not easy to discern a basic element or a single dominant feature, like the Italian pasta or the French sauce. Whether in a humble home, at a famous restaurant, or at dinner in a Bey's mansion, familiar patterns of this rich and diverse cuisine are always present. It is a rare art which satisfies the senses while reconfirming the higher order of society, community and culture.

The skiing area of Uludag is 1750 2543 m high and covered with forests. The duration of skiing is 120 days a year. The most suitable skiing conditions are between 20 December and 20 March. The average snow fall is 3 m in winter. At the beginning of the season the type of snow is "powdery snow" and at the end of the season the snow characteristic is slightly "slushy."

With over 8,333 km of coastline along the four seas, Turkey is a treasure chest of coves, inlets, bays and beaches at which yachtsmen can choose a different, private anchorage each night. The sailing paradise of Turkey is also home to the Blue Voyage. This idyllic cruise means sailing with the winds, into coves and over the seas and becoming one with nature.

It is also an experience of the history of man from the perspective of the sea rather than from the land, a journey which carries you to the private beach of Cleopatra, the eternal fires of remains of ancient civilizations. For lovers of the active life, sailing in clear waters provides great opportunities for swimming, fishing, skiing, surfing and diving.