Is Antalya Worth Visiting?

Turkey’s resort city of Antalya is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country. Boasting over 300 sunny days a year on the Turquoise Coast, visitors can lounge on stunning beaches, visit several historical Roman sights, explore majestic waterfalls, stroll around a yacht-filled Old Harbor, get lost in the well-preserved old town, or simply enjoy the stunning landscapes with a cup of delicious Turkish coffee.

It boasts an impressive collection of luxurious hotels, stunning beaches, and important historical landmarks. Antalya is a popular travel destination all year round, with hot, sunny summers and mild winters. That’s why it’s a great place to visit this charming city on the breathtaking Turkish Riviera at any time.

We visited Antalya as part of our month-long road trip through Turkiye.

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Antalya at a Glance

Area: 547 mi²
Metro population: 2,619,832
Location: Turkish Riviera

Best Time to Visit Antalya

A lot of people visit during the summer because that’s what makes the most sense due to children out of school, company vacation closings, etc. But it is incredibly hot and very crowded during that time.

Most of the main tourist attractions close between November and April, so that may not be the best time to visit.

May and September seem to be the recommended months to visit. We visited Turkiye during the whole month of September and it was heavenly.

Is Antalya worth visiting? We emphatically say yes! Here are our 10 favorite places to visit in Antalya.

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10 Hammam

The view from our room included a 700-year-old hammam. A hammam is a traditional Turkish bath, so we decided to give it a try. Note, I did not get the body scrub with a kese (aka sandpaper!). I had one in Jordan, and one and done for me! However, I did enjoy the massage.

9 Düden Waterfalls

Located just outside the city of Antalya, Düden Waterfall offers a captivating view of Turkey’s stunning natural beauty, encompassing two big waterfalls formed on the Duden River. Upper Düden and Lower Düden are a few miles away from each other. Originating in the Taurus Mountains, the water runs its way through the karst countryside surrounding Antalya.

130 feet high, Lower Düden flows directly into the Mediterranean Sea and is best viewed onboard a ship. Upper Düden Falls is further north, set in a lush gorge; visitors can walk in the alleys and enter the caves formed behind the water pouring off the waterfall.

8 Nightlife

There’s lots of raucous nightlight in the middle of the old town, as well as in the heart of the city at Republic Square where you can find the famous pedestrian-only street Kazım Özalp Caddesi. The glitzy neon area is filled with restaurants, and shops selling everything from ice cream, coffee, Turkish Delight, and souvenirs.

7 Bazaar

You can’t miss the colorful Turkish bazaars, any time you’re in Turkey, so sharpen your haggling skills and head for the narrow alleys in Antalya’s old town. They are packed with all kinds of products, and you can find beautiful souvenirs, from food, jewelry, local textiles, art, and all sorts of spices. And best of all, yummy Turkish delight! All your senses will thank you.

6 Glass Elevator

On the far side of the bay, visitors can get stunning panoramic views of Antalya Harbor by riding to the top floor of the glass elevator. There’s an observation deck with a glass terrace at the top that offers a spectacular birds-eye panorama of the Old Port, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Taurus Mountains on the horizon.

5 Ottoman Hotel

After substantial difficulty finding a driving route into the old town, we checked into our delightful boutique Ottoman hotel smack in the middle of the ancient labyrinth. Our room on the top (4th) floor has a balcony with fabulous views over the old town and the mountains. I even got up early every morning because the sunrise was spectacular!

4 Aspendos

About 25 miles from Antalya city center, jaw-dropping Aspendos is a very well-preserved Greco-Roman theater dating to the 5th century B.C. The massive Roman theater, set into the side of the hill, is the highlight. The ancient theater was designed to accommodate 12,000 spectators who came to enjoy gladiator duels. It’s a not-to-be-missed experience to climb the stone steps to the top and look down to the bottom, imagining the events that transpired there in the past.

There are also a number of other ruins for you to explore, such as those of a basilica, aqueduct, and agora. The undoubted highlight is the marvelous theater that draws people from all around the world.

3 Old Marina

Located in a lovely little scenic cove with palm trees and backed by craggy cliffs, the Old Marina was the site of the first harbor in Antalya. The Roman harbor sits at the base of Kaleiçi’s (old town) slope and served as Antalya’s commercial center from the 2nd century BC until late in the 20th century. During the Byzantine period, Antalya was one of the most important port cities on the Mediterranean Sea. Today, it is still an active marina with fishing boats and yachts moored there, a promenade area, and several restaurants, and cafes.

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2 Mermerli Plaji

You can find long stretches of wide beaches in Antalya such as Lara Beach or Konyaalti Beach, but frankly, I wasn’t impressed with them. Perhaps I’m jaded as I’ve visited some of the most incredible beaches in the world, e.g. Bora Bora, Seychelles, Zanzibar, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Indeed, Kaputas Beach in nearby Kas is much prettier than Lara or Konyaalti.

However, Mermerli Beach Club was like nothing else I’ve been to…it was so much fun! A small, private beach at the edge of the old town, Mermerli Beach is accessible by rock steps leading down to the gorgeous turquoise Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded by enchanting views of rocky cliffs, lush vegetation, ancient castle walls, and the blue Mediterranean Sea.

1 Kaleici

My favorite pastime was wandering through the impossibly charming old town of Kaleici. Narrow, warren-like cobblestone streets wind past Byzantine, Greek, and Ottoman-era buildings with terracotta roofs, palm trees, ruins of fortified stone walls, picturesque squares, vivid bazaars, galleries, and boutique hotels.

Not to be missed is the iconic Hadrian’s Gate at the main entrance to Kaleici. A perfect Instagram photo op, this historic landmark was built in 130 A.D. to commemorate the visit of Emperor Hadrian. The triumphal arch is remarkably well preserved and consists of three marble carved arches with floral motifs, pillars, and three imposing towers are all that remain of the landmark.

What to Eat

Mediterranean Food is among the best in the world. Even a fussy eater like me loves it! I wrote a whole article about it – Famous Food to Eat in Turkey.

Antalya is definitely worth visiting. The Turkish Riviera is very popular because of its natural beauty and variety of things to do.

We spent three days in Antalya, which was just enough because we were also exploring other places along the Turkish Riviera, namely Alanya, Kas, Fethiye, and Oludeniz. I recommend 7 – 10 days on the Turkish Riviera.

Most photos by Kary Kern.

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.

Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.