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Antalya may not primarily race to the top of your Turkey Vacation list, but it holds its own Charm of exploring the coastal side of the country. As the fifth most populated city in Turkey,We explored the best of Antalya in 24 hours. This south-west coastal city exquisitely melds together the best of both worlds with city and coastal appeal.
Lying on the Mediterranean coast, Antalya is a beautiful city with a wealth of things for you to see and do. No matter what type of vacation you want - sitting on the beach, plethora of historic ruins, experiencing magical waterfalls or nights out - you'll be able to find all kinds of things to do Best of Antalya in 24 Hours.
We spent 24 hours in Antalya after our stay in Izmir. we noticed that Antalya was much better than we had expected, but unfortunately, we had only a daytime to spend in this first class city. Here's our recommendations for you if you plan to spend a day in this beach town of Turkey.
Walk through Hadrian's Gate
This three-arched marble gateway is adorned with some rich intricate carvings is upraised in the honor of Roman Emperor Hadrian. It is also one of the main entrance gates into the Kaleiçi district. The sculptural decoration takes you through a journey of the old worlds of the Hellenistic and Romans.
The Hadrian gate also has a glass pathway which separates the old Kaleici (historic city center of Antalya) from the city. There are park benches outside the gate offering for a quiet retreat, while allowing you the time to observe locals and surroundings.
The gate is situated amidst shops so once you get free from your walk in the bazaar, you can visit the place to go back to old times and see the old architecture.
Explore Antalya's old City in 24 Hours - Kaleici
Kaleici is Antalya's most picturesque place when it comes to the city. As such, Kaleici is an absolute delight to wander around; its warren-like streets are the perfect place to get lost and simply enjoy all the sights and sounds of Antalya.
This part of city is glittered by pretty cafes, Plethora of boutique hotels, cobbled narrow streets, Ottoman mansions that take you to back to Byzantium times.
We loved just strolling around in Kaleici and indulging into the colorful vibes of the city. Probably It was the "Highlight" of our Antalya Trip. From all places to visit in Antalya, Old Town is one you can't afford to miss!
Visit Antalya Museum
Antalya's Archaeology Museum is such a museum that just cast a spell over you the very moment you set foot inside. This Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in the rich archaeological history of Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
Founded in 1922 by Süleyman Fikri Erten, a teacher who wanted to protect priceless artifacts rescued from the looting of the region in the south of Turkey after WWI, the museum was first housed in the Aladdin Mosque in the Kaleici. Since 1972, it's located in the current building in Konyaalti, right at the end of the tramline to the beach of the same name.
The museum comprises 14 exhibition halls and includes an open air gallery where the very best artifacts and statues from the ancient cultures of Lycia, Pamphylia, Psidia and Perge have found a home.
Explore Beaches of the town
Antalya being One of Turkey's most important summer resort towns, it houses plenty of beaches that range from tourist favorites to more local beaches with a cozy vibe. We explored Konyaalti beach and Lara Beach in our day tour Antalya.
Konyaalti beach is one of the Popular beaches in the city among the tourists. It is tucked between the cliffs and the Beydağları mountains, which means it's stunning, of course. You can Swim, water ski, and snorkel in the clear blue waters of Konyaalti Beach.
Rent a beach chair and umbrella and take in the views of the mountain range as you look over the blue waters. This beach has a long strip of pebbles and rough sand with a park at the back. Close to the beach there are many hotels and residential areas.
Next on the list was Lara Beach we went to. Lara Beach is another popular beach in Antalya. Since it is close to the city center, it is one of the most preferred beaches among local and international tourists. Lara Beach, a stripe of land which pulls out to the Gulf of Antalya.
All through the past years, tourists have learned that vacationing in Lara Beach always means keeping promises of trendy beaches, natural splendors and classy accommodation, and so, it wouldn't be wrong of you to expect the superlative of Turkey's Riviera.
Go Chasing Waterfalls
Chasing a number of waterfalls is a must when you decide to go to Antalya. There are Duden Falls, Kursunlu falls and Manavgat falls are must-do and we could cover all 3 of them during our trip and it was indeed a spell-bounded experience.
Duden Waterfalls: There are two falls, the upper which is 15kms outside of the city and the lower Duden falls which are in the suburb of Lara east of the Old Town and they can best be seen from a Goulet journey from the Port of Kaleici.
The Upper Duden Waterfall is amazing when you see it from the gorge. It's 15 meters high and 20 meters wide. The waterfall is set in a pretty valley where you can walk along boardwalks. So, you can admire the falls from different sides and angles. Behind the fall there is a natural cave where you can go in and watch the cascades. Amazing! From the cave, you get great photo opportunities.
Kursunlu Waterfalls - Kurşunlu Waterfall Nature Park is about 19 km away from Antalya, Turkey. The waterfall stems from one of the tributaries of the Aksu River, where the tributary slips from Antalya's plateau to the coastal plain.
Set amid pine forests, these waterfalls might not be as impressive or majestic as Duden Waterfalls on the beach, but its secluded and remote location gives it a unique charm.
Manavgat Waterfalls: Falling from the slopes of Tauros, All the streams in the Antalya region finally slip in the Mediterranean, but not before treating tourists with a spectacular sight.
There are more than twenty waterfalls and one of the most amazing waterfalls is Manavgat Waterfall. Manavgat city lies in between two cities―Antalya and Alanya―on the banks of the Manavgat River. Manavgat waterfalls are situated about 80 km away from Antalya.
Sunset at Old Marina
Antalya Marina is a commercial harbor that is located 30 km away from Antalya International Airport at a distance of only 10 km from Antalya City Centre.
Safe and peaceful, it has everything that a city can offer to its visitors and there is no fee for visiting.
The place welcomes you in its small cozy world where you will see splendid yachts and fishing boats side by side. This place is indeed beautiful to see the sun going down by the Mediterranean waters.
Antalya sounds like the name of a fairyland tucked away amidst blue waters and shimmering skies. This city is the eighth-most populous city in Turkey and fortunately very accessible for tourists! If you have more time in hand, you can choose to explore Perge and Aspendos as well. Since we had only 24 hours, we tried to explore the best of Antalya.
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