Antalya

When looking for hotels in Antalya, it helps to consider the destination’s different highlights: the architectural history of Kaleiçi, museums and historic architecture, the marina, or swimming by the sea. This can help you decide first which experiences you would like to shape your stay.

Kaleiçi and the historic harbour

Kaleiçi can be reached on foot, by city bus from the eastern and western sides of Antalya, or by private car. The district is surrounded by horseshoe-shaped inner and outer walls; within the walls are about 3,000 houses with tiled roofs. The harbour also tells a story of the area’s long history: the semicircular natural harbour was established in the Hellenistic period and has a 110-metre-wide entrance. Today, the ancient harbour is used as a modern marina.

To find your way around Kaleiçi, the culture and tourism map offers three self-guided routes: the Long Tour, the Roman-Byzantine Tour and the Ottoman-Seljuk Tour. Their names offer an initial indication of their different historical focuses. Notable structures include Hadrian’s Gate, built in 130 AD in honour of Emperor Hadrian.

Discover museums and architecture

The Yivli Minaret complex brings together several buildings: the Yivli Minaret, Yivli Mosque, Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev Madrasa, Seljuk Madrasa, Mevlevihane and the Zincirkıran and Nigar Hatun mausoleums. The Yivli Minaret is 38 metres high and decorated with dark blue tiles. At the Mevlevihane Museum, information panels, displays, clothing and objects showcase the Mevlevi tradition.

Museums with very different collections offer further insights. The Antalya Toy Museum is located in the Kaleiçi marina and covers about 650 m². It houses around 3,000 toys from countries such as Germany, the USA, Russia, Japan and Turkey, displayed in ten sections. The Suna and İnan Kıraç Kaleiçi Museum is housed in two buildings listed as protected cultural assets.

The Antalya Marine Biology Museum in the marina displays about 500 species of marine animals from Turkish seas. The exhibits present biological diversity in an entertaining and memorable way. The Aya Yorgi Church in the museum garden is also part of the cultural offering: it serves as an exhibition space for cultural and artistic works and as a venue for concerts and cultural events.

Harbour, sea and viewpoints

Mermerli Beach is located in the Kaleiçi marina and offers swimming by the sea in the heart of Antalya city centre. The Historic Marina to the south of Kaleiçi is a different place: numerous excursion boats are moored there, offering day trips to nearby cliffs and waterfalls. As well as museums and buildings, maritime experiences are therefore another option to focus on.

For a view of the coast, Karaalioğlu Park offers a different perspective. It covers 140,000 m²; three roads running parallel to the sea end at three coastal viewing terraces. Hıdırlık Tower, built in the 2nd century, stands in the park. It is 14 metres high and combines a square lower section with a cylindrical upper section. The park thus combines a clearly described layout with a historic building, while the harbour area is shaped by its maritime use.

More destinations nearby

There are also historic destinations beyond the immediate city centre. The ancient city of Perge lies 18 km east of Antalya city centre. You can begin exploring along its monumental fortification walls, which are attributed to Alexander the Great. Termessos lies 30 km northwest of Antalya and is part of a national park thanks to its natural beauty and historical remains. These two places complement the city’s architecture with different historical and landscape perspectives.

These themes can offer a starting point when choosing between hotels in Antalya: Kaleiçi brings together walls, harbour and architectural history; the museums have their own cultural focus; and Karaalioğlu Park offers views of the coast. Deciding which of these aspects you would like to prioritise is a useful starting point for planning the rest of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Beldibi/Antalya, Kızılağaç Köyü, Göynük, Davazla, Ilıca, Gömbe, Avsallar, Küçükköy

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