Antalya was founded as Attaleia by Attalos II of Pergamon in the 2nd century BC and was taken by the Seljuks in 1207, which explains the Roman gate, harbour and Seljuk minarets inside its walled old town, Kaleiçi. The city sits on travertine cliffs about 40 m high that run some 20 km from Konyaaltı to Lara, with waterfalls dropping straight into the sea. It is one of the world's most visited cities, ranked in Euromonitor's top 10 for international arrivals in 2025.
Must-see
The sights to fit in even on a short trip.
- 01Kaleiçi Old Town
- 02Hadrian's Gate
- 03Yivli Minaret Mosque
- 04Kaleiçi Old Harbour
- 05Hıdırlık Tower
- 06Kesik Minare (Korkut Mosque)
- 07Perge Ancient City
- 08Aspendos Theatre
- 09Lower Düden Falls
History & museums 32
- Aspendos Theatre
- Kaleiçi Old Town
- Termessos Ancient City
- Yivli Minaret Mosque
- Zincirkıran Mehmet Bey Tomb
- Hadrian's Gate
- Kaleiçi Old Harbour
- Kesik Minare (Korkut Mosque)
- Lower Düden Falls
- Mevlevi Lodge Museum (Mevlevihane)
- Perge Ancient City
- Aspendos Aqueduct
- Atatürk Culture Park
- Dokuma Park
- Hıdırlık Tower
- Kalekapısı Clock Tower
- Karaalioğlu Park
- Konyaaltı Beach
- Republic Square
- Trebenna Ancient City
- Upper Düden Falls
- Kurşunlu Waterfall Nature Park
- Lyrboton Kome
- Antalya Necropolis Museum
- Neapolis (Doyran) Ancient Site
- Sillyon Ancient City
- Kaleiçi Panoramic Lift
- Karain Cave and Museum
- Lara Public Beach
- Mermerli Beach
- Hesapçı Sokak
- Kaleiçi walls and Seljuk conquest inscriptions
Where to eat 65
- Giliğ Dondurma (Dokuma)
- Kahvaltı Noktası
- Kahvaltıcı Ömer Usta
- Kalamar Balık
- Tezgah Burger (Lara)
- Asil
- Bella Vita Bistro
- Göz Balık
- Paşa Bey Kebap
- Piyazcı Hüseyin
- Can Can Pide Yemek Salonu
- Chayote
- Coffee's (Beach Park)
- Dutlu Bahçe Köy Kahvaltısı
- Meşhur 18'in Bağaçaları
- NEMO Restaurant & Lounge
- Skull Street Food
- Tezgah Sokak Lezzetleri
- Vanilla Restaurant
- Antalya Balıkevi
- Burger Sound
- İskele Balık Pişiricisi
- Koç Cağ Kebap
- Mahalle Burger (Eski Lara)
- Paçacı Şaban
- Piyazcı Sami
- Pizza Argentina
- Serpme Balık Evi
- Şişçi İbo (Konyaaltı)
- Şişçi Ramazan (Uncalı)
- Sıralı Kebap
- Supla
- Arzum Döner
- Coffeetainer
- Du Bastion Fine Dining Restaurant
- Köfteci Cihat (Aksu)
- Parlak Restaurant
- Seraser Fine Dining Restaurant
- The Sudd Coffee Kaleiçi
- Urfa Sofrası (Uncalı)
- Zamora
- Balıkçı İrfan
- Barbaros Family Tea Garden
- Dönerci Hakkı Baba
- Lara Balık Evi
- Pablito
- Piyazcı Ahmet
- The Royal Castle Bistro
- Topçu Kebap
- 7 Mehmet
- Akdeniz Dondurma
- Asmani Restaurant
- Atatürk Park Social Facility (EKDAĞ)
- Dilara Yaşar Tatlı ve Dondurma
- Hasan Antalya
- il Vicino Pizzeria
- Kanatçı Ali Asker
- Orhan Ocakbaşı
- Paçacı Şemsi
- Paşa Kır Bahçesi Van Kahvaltısı
- Düden Fish Market (EKDAĞ)
- Sarı Demlik
- Sevgi Çiftliği
- Volkan Şişçi Kadir'in Yeri
- Çakırlar Village Breakfast Houses
Night out 31
- Balıkçı Meyhanesi Kaleiçi
- Antalya State Opera and Ballet (Haşim İşcan Culture Centre)
- Ayar Meyhanesi
- Karaf Bistro
- Laf Meze & Ara Sıcak
- Simurg Cafe & Bar
- Tipsy Old Town
- Antalya Atatürk Culture Centre (AKM)
- HayatPark open-air cinema and jazz nights
- Leyla Meyhanesi
- Nazım Hikmet Congress and Culture Centre (Konyaaltı)
- The Barrels Pub (Konyaaltı)
- Zaruri
- Antalya Open-Air Theatre
- Ayyaş Meyhane
- Dubh Linn Irish Pub
- Erdem Bayazıt Culture Centre (Kepez City Theatre)
- Glass Pyramid (Cam Piramit) Convention Centre
- Kaleiçi Meyhanesi
- Role Street
- Türkan Şoray Culture Centre
- Yemenli Meyhanesi
- Pio Gastro Bar & Bistro
- Taka Karadeniz Meyhanesi
- The 251 Soul
- Antalya City Theatres, Doğu Garajı stage
- Begonvil Meyhanesi
- Odin Pub
- Yenikapı Meyhanesi
- İsyan Meyhanesi
- Mono Terrace
Locals only 46
- Müsellim Mosque
- Ahi Yusuf Mosque and Tomb
- Karakaş Mosque
- Yenikapı Greek Orthodox Church (St Alypius)
- Anatolian Toy Museum
- Atatürk House Museum
- Balibey Mosque
- Konyaaltı Varyant viewing terrace
- Murat Paşa Mosque
- Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque
- Antalya Ethnography Museum
- Antalya Kültür Sanat (AKS) gallery
- Antalya Toy Museum
- Aspendos (Eurymedon) Seljuk Bridge
- Atatürk Park cliff-top viewpoint
- Erdal İnönü City Park
- İskele Mosque
- Pazar Hamamı (Çifte Hamam) arcade
- Sultan Alaaddin Mosque (former Panagia church)
- Tek Kapılı Han (One-Gate Inn)
- Antalya Science Centre
- Demirciler Çarşısı (Blacksmiths' and Coppersmiths' Bazaar)
- Erenkuş cliff beach
- Kepez City Forest
- Sefa Hamamı
- Suna & İnan Kıraç Kaleiçi Museum
- Tomb of Sheikh Şücaettin
- Antalya Natural Life Park (Zoo)
- Engelsiz Kafe (Barrier-Free Café)
- Konserve Koyu cliff beach
- Evdir Han caravanserai ruins
- Karatay Medrese
- Altınkum Friday Market
- Antalya Fish Market Hall (dawn auction)
- Sarısu Picnic Area and Beach
- Kırkgöz Han caravanserai
- Topçam Beach and Picnic Park
- Sarısu Women's Beach
- Tekelioğlu Provincial Public Library
- Cumhuriyet Hamamı (Bali Bey Bath)
- Tophane Tea Garden
- Balık Pazarı Hamamı
- Geyikbayırı climbing crags
- İki Kapılı Han (Two-Gate Inn)
- Şirinyalı Saturday Market
- Varlık Sunday Producers' Market
Walking routes 7
- 01Kaleiçi old town loopA loop through the walled old town: in through Hadrian's Gate, past the broken minaret and the Roman tower on the cliff, down to the old harbour and back up to the Yivli Minare and the Clock Tower.
- 02Old bazaar to Murat Paşa MosqueFrom the Clock Tower into the old bazaar streets north of Kaleiçi, past an old han and a market bath, and on to the 16th-century Murat Paşa Mosque.
- 03Karaalioğlu Park and the cliffsA gentle clifftop walk from the Roman tower through Karaalioğlu Park, past its monuments, to Işıklar Caddesi and the free Atatürk House Museum.
- 04Republic Square to Konyaaltı BeachHead west from Republic Square past the Antalya Museum and through Atatürk Culture Park to the long pebble beach at Konyaaltı.
- 05Lower Düden falls and the Lara cliffsFrom the Düden Park bus stop to the viewpoint where the Düden river drops off 40 m cliffs into the sea, then east along the cliff parks to Lara Beach.
- 06Perge: gates, colonnaded street and acropolisA walk through Perge from the Roman and Hellenistic gates up the colonnaded street to the acropolis hill, ending at the stadium. The theatre is closed for restoration. Open daily 08:00-19:00, last tickets 18:30.
- 07Termessos: up the mountain cityA steep climb from the car park through the lower walls and city gate to the theatre above the gulf, the cisterns and the tomb of Alketas. Open daily 08:00-19:00, last tickets 17:00. Wear proper shoes and carry water.