If you plan on visiting this city, here are a number of the best attractions you must put on your Antalya bucket list:
This ancient central district is the heart of the city. It’s filled with charming old Ottoman homes and stunning Roman and Byzantine monuments and architecture, many of which have been converted to hotels, bars, restaurants, cafés, and souvenir shops.
Walking around Kaleiçi is a true pleasure; its maze-like streets and narrow cobblestone alleys are perfect for wandering around and simply taking in all of Antalya’s sights and noises. If you visit the Kaleiçi district, don’t forget to pass under Hadrian’s Gate!
Hadrian’s Gate is a beautiful monument of white marble built to honor the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who visited Antalya in 130 AD.
On either side, two historic towers frame Hadrian’s Gate. It is believed that the gate had a second story once, which is now missing. Not much is known about that, but the gate still stands in full glory, almost 2000 years after being built.
The Düden Waterfalls are, in fact, two groups of waterfalls, one located inside the city (Upper Düden Waterfalls) and the other flowing directly into the Mediterranean (Lower Düden Waterfalls). With their breathtaking view, they are a favorite destination for both locals and visitors.
Situated around 40 kilometers east of Antalya and 7 kilometers northeast of Serik lies the ancient Greco-Roman city of Aspendos. Originally founded around the 4th century BC in the old province of Pamphylia, the ruins of this Roman city still dot the area and are one of the best-preserved – especially the Aspendos Theatre, the most intact structure in all of Roman Turkey.
The Aspendos Theatre is a sight to behold in and of itself. Designed by the Roman architect Zeno to honor emperor Marcus Aurelius, the theatre has excellent acoustics and can hold thousands of people. Performances and plays are still held today in this ancient theatre.
Perge, just east of Antalya, is another fascinating ancient city of the Greco-Roman period. Once Pamphylia’s capital, Perge, was founded more than a thousand years BC. There are many spectacular remains to explore in the city’s vicinities, including another stunning Roman theatre, an exceptionally well-preserved stadium, necropolis, ruins of the agora, gates, pillars, and walls, all of which take you on a trip back in time, to the ancient Rome.
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