Antalya city is a Mediterranean must-see for any traveller coming to Turkey as it bears monuments from ancient Greek and Roman periods in every mountain and corner of the city. Antalya is the most visited city of Turkey with the longest beach of Turkey expanding from east to west with perfect nature for people all around the world. In this article we will list only a few of the city’s must see sites within limited time.
1 – Old Town (Kaleiçi – Antalya city center)
With its restored whitewashed and red-roofed Ottoman mansions, Antalya’s Old Town has been well-preserved by the Turkish authorities and makes for an excellent relaxed afternoon in the city.
2 – Waterfalls
City can be named as ‘City of Waterfalls’ as well because there are a lot of waterfalls in this city to see and enjoy the unique nature of the river that runs all the way from the Taurus Mountains to terminate in the Mediterranean Sea. Kursunlu Waterfall, Yukari Duden Waterfall, Asagi Duden / Karpuzkaldiran Waterfall (most famous one by the sea), Manavgat Waterfall, Degirmendere / Gizli Cennet Waterfall, Ucansu Waterfall, Sapadere Waterfall are seven most famous ones that worth visit by a tourist.
3 – Ancient City of Aspendos
Along with many other relics from ancient period, world wide famous Aspendos Theatre is here and still in service for some special concerts, dating back to 160-180 A.D. and best-preserved theatre of its kind in the world.
4 – Perge Ancient City
Perge is an amazing archaeological site that you just have to visit, the former capital of Pamphylia was founded around 1000 BC and there are a host of incredible ruins for you to explore; the stunning Roman theatre is the highlight of many people’s trips. The Roman baths, Hellenistic Gate, and Acropolis are all particularly interesting. Perge also has an amazing chariot racing stadium for you to check out; it used to be able to accommodate 15,000 spectators, approximately the size of Hippodrome Square in Istanbul.
5 – Termessos Ancient City
Mount Güllük – Termessos National Park is a must-visit for wildlife lovers with mountain goats and deer calling the preserve home. It’s forest expanse also boasts yet more ancient ruins: the wonderfully preserved city of Termessos. Relics of the ancient Pisidian site of Termessos are situated at an altitude of 1,000 meter, the unrestored city includes numerous stone structures and imposing walls. With the magnificent Taurus Mountains as a backdrop, the city’s ancient theatre offers the best view for citizens.
6 – Hadrian’s Gate
Hadrian’s Gate is a fantastic monument that was built to honor the Roman Emperor Hadrian who visited the city of Antalya in 130 AD. The triumphal arch is remarkably well preserved and still serves as one of the main entrance gates to the historical Kaleici neighborhood.
7 – Lycian Way
The Lycian Way, a 540km path that reaches all the way to Fethiye, a famous touristic town in the west along the coast, starts right outside of Antalya. Rituel of 29-day Lycian Way is the most adventurous method of exploring the Turkish Mediterranean coast and is often named one of the world’s most challenging long-distance hikes.
Of course these are not all sites but there is a lot more to discover during your city tour such as Olympos and the flames of Chimaera Mountain, abandoned Kayakoy Village, Lara Beach, Koprulu (Köprülü) Canyon National Park and Rafting, rich collection of Antalya Archaeological Museum and a lot more will be waiting for you to discover.
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