Things to Do in Antalya

Antalya's atmospheric historic quarter is a maze of narrow cobbled lanes, restored Ottoman mansions, boutique hotels, and flower-draped courtyards. It is the heart of the city, perfect for wandering, browsing shops, and finding a terrace with a sea view.

This elegant triple-arched marble gateway was built in 130 AD to mark Emperor Hadrian's visit to the city. It forms the grand entrance into Kaleici and is one of Antalya's most photographed landmarks.

The picturesque Roman-era harbor sits below the old town, ringed with yachts, cafes, and waterfront restaurants. Coastal boat trips depart from here, and the harbor wall offers sweeping sea views that are especially lovely at sunset.

One of Turkey's finest museums, it displays exquisite Roman statues, sarcophagi, and artifacts gathered from nearby ancient cities such as Perge and Aspendos. It sits just west of the old town near Konyaalti Beach and gives essential context for the region's ruins.

Antalya has two dramatic falls: the Upper Duden sits in a leafy park where a path leads behind the cascade through a natural cave, while the Lower Duden plunges straight off a cliff into the sea. The lower falls are best seen from a clifftop viewing platform or from the water on a boat trip.

About 45 minutes east of the city stands one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world, still acoustically remarkable and used for concerts and festivals today. The wider site also includes an aqueduct and other Roman ruins worth a short walk.

Roughly 30 minutes east of Antalya, Perge spreads out with wide colonnaded streets, monumental gates, Roman baths, and a large stadium. Its scale and quiet setting make it easy to picture daily life in a thriving Greco-Roman city, and it pairs naturally with a visit to nearby Aspendos.

This long pebble beach stretches west of the city with the Beydaglari Mountains as a striking backdrop. A breezy promenade, cafes, and water sports make it a favorite for both swimming and sunset strolls.

This distinctive fluted brick minaret, raised in the 13th century under the Anatolian Seljuks, is an enduring symbol of Antalya and marks one of the city's oldest mosques. It rises above the old town near the clock tower and bazaar.

A stout Roman-era stone tower perched at the edge of Kaleici's Karaalioglu Park, overlooking the Mediterranean. It is a beloved spot to catch the sunset over the sea and the distant mountains.

Transformed into a clock tower in 1901, this stone landmark marks the historic entrance to the market district, where you can browse spices, sweets, carpets, and souvenirs. The surrounding streets buzz with cafes and local life just steps from the old town.

Boat tours from the old harbor glide along the cliff-backed shoreline toward the point where the Lower Duden river tumbles directly into the sea. Many trips include swimming stops in the clear Mediterranean and views of the coast you cannot get from land.