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Antália · Turkey
Kaleiçi, Mediterranean beaches and ancient towns between the mountains and the sea of Antalya.
In the photo: Hadrian's Gate, Antália
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Antalya combines the old district of Kaleiçi, urban beaches and archaeological sites of Pamphylia.
On the Mediterranean coast of Anatolia, the destination stretches in two directions. Kemer and Çıralı lie to the west, between sea and mountains; Belek and Side lie to the east, along sandy stretches of coastline. Choosing a base according to the type of trip avoids crossing the whole region for every outing.
Perge shows streets with columns and baths; Aspendos has a Roman theatre that preserves the relationship between stage and seating. In Olympos, the ruins occupy a valley next to the beach. These are distinct visits that work better when spread over several days.
This destination brings together 5 cities: Antália, Kemer, Çıralı (Olympos), Belek, Side.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Limites: Natural Earth (domínio público). Ilhas do Mármara e dos Príncipes: geoBoundaries / © colaboradores do OpenStreetMap (CC BY-SA). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.
✈ Antalya Havalimanı (AYT), in Antália · 15 km to Antália
Air arrival is via Antalya Airport (AYT), with domestic and international connections. There is urban transport to Antalya; Kemer, Çıralı, Belek and Side require a second leg by road.
Suggested arrival point: Antália
Antalya (Antalya) is the gateway to the Turkish Riviera. Kaleiçi occupies the old core above the harbour; the modern city stretches along the cliffs and the Konyaaltı beach. Perge lies inland nearby and allows you to understand the layout of a Pamphylian city.
Kemer occupies a strip of coastline between the Mediterranean and the slopes of the Taurus Mountains. The town is a beach and accommodation base for visiting Phaselis, where ancient harbors, ruins and coves share the same stretch of coast.
Çıralı has a long beach at the foot of mountains, with accommodations scattered among orchards and local streets. Olympos lies at the southern end of the same coastal strip, while Yanartaş occupies the slope to the north. The village serves those who want to combine beach, hiking and archaeology.
Belek is arranged between the urban core, the golf courses and the beach strip with resorts. It is a seaside base for relaxation on the Mediterranean and a gateway to Aspendos, inland in Serik. Time is usually split between the coast and an archaeological outing.
Side occupies a peninsula where promenades and modern buildings coexist with ruins of Pamphylia. The columns of the Temple of Apollo stand by the sea. Accommodation also spreads along the beaches on both sides of the old town core.
The local experience
Columns of a Roman temple rise beside the Mediterranean, at the tip of Side’s peninsula.
Roman theatre with preserved seating and stage wall, inland in Serik, near Belek.
Streets of Ottoman houses, Hadrian's Gate and the descent to the old harbor among Antalya's cliffs.
Remains of a Lycian city occupy the banks of a valley that empties out by Çıralı beach.
Ruins of a port city among pines and coves, with an ancient avenue, a theatre and an aqueduct.
Gates, columned streets and baths reveal the organization of a city of Pamphylia in the Aksu sector.
The cable car links the area near Kemer’s coast to the mountain summit; the view depends on visibility conditions.
Small flames fed by gases emerge from fissures on a slope above Çıralı, reached by trail.
Pebble beach with an urban promenade and views toward the mountains, on Antalya's west side.
The lower fall of the Düden river at the Mediterranean cliffs, viewed from the coastal park toward Lara.
Theatre and other ruins of an ancient city occupy mountainous terrain, with pedestrian access after the road.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
In the Antalya region, May and June or September and October allow alternating ruins and coast with generally milder heat. July and August tend to be dry and hot; rainfall is concentrated more between November and March.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Allow five to seven days to combine Antalya with part of the coast. To include all five bases without rushed visits, plan eight to ten days with changes of accommodation.
Kaleiçi favors walking in the old centre. Konyaaltı combines beach and city; Lara concentrates accommodation near the coastline to the east. Kemer serves the mountainous coast, Çıralı has smaller lodgings, Belek is organized around resorts and Side lets you combine sand and ruins.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
It is a base for the centre and nearby sites, but the beaches are spread along a long stretch. Split your accommodation between the city and your chosen coastline to reduce travel.
Kemer sits between slopes and pebble beaches. Belek has sandy coastline, resorts and golf. The choice depends on the type of accommodation and the excursions you plan to take.
Five days allow two in the city of Antalya, one archaeological day and two in Side. Add nights for Kemer and Çıralı.
In the city, tram, bus and walking cover part of the visits. To connect archaeological sites and coastal bases, a car, transfers or excursions simplify the itinerary.
