Antalya is set amid an amazing scenery of sharp contrasts: the pine clad Taurus Mountains sweep down to the sparkling clear sea, forming an irregular coastline of rocky headlands and secluded coves. The region, bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year, is a paradise of sunbathing, swimming, hunting, caving and of water sport activities. Important historical sites await your discovery amid a landscape of pine forests, olive and citrus groves, and palm, avocado and banana plantations.

Climate

Typically Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and mild winters. The minimum/maximum temperatures are:
Jan 42/59, Mar 46/64, May 59/77, July 77/104, Aug 73/97, Oct 59/81, Nov 51/70.

Sport Activities

Tennis, squash, mini golf, table tennis, riding, archery and beautiful golf grounds are offered by hotels and nearby complexes.

Water sports mean every possible activity: swimming, water-ski, jet ski, wind-surf, pedal boat, speedboat, fun articles like the banana boat...

In Antalya region, other very specialized sports are also practiced: trekking and rafting. The high mountains, plenty of rivers and changing natural beauty are the ideal setting for these activities.

A walk through the garden which has as many statutes as flowers, takes you already to the antiquity. The museum is beautifully planned, and displays invaluable findings from archeological excavations conducted in the area, ranging from the Paleolithic Ages to the Ottoman times.

Hadrian's Gate

When the Roman Emperor Hadrian visited Antalya in 130 A.D., a beautifully decorated three-arched gate was built into the city walls in his honor. The gate is incredibly well-preserved, and the two towers flanking it and some other sections of the wall also still stand.

Fluted Minaret (Yivli minare)

Now symbol of Antalya, the mosque with this elegant fluted minaret was built in 1230 by the Seljuks.It is decorated by dark blue tiles.

The Marina (Old Harbor)

The award-winning marina and leisure center is a lovely reconstruction of the ancient harbor, with yacht moorings, souvenir shops, restaurants and friendly cafes.

The Waterfalls

The region around Antalya offers astonishing natural beauty. You can walk behind the cascade, a thrilling experience, at the Upper Duden Waterfalls, 14 km (8.7 miles) northeast of Antalya.

On the Coastline
Perge

Originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 B.C., it became the principal city of Pamphylia during the Hellenistic times. St. Paul preached some of his sermons here. The stage of the theater has finely carved marble relief's. Other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium of equal capacity, one of the best preserved and biggest of the antiquity. But the most characteristic remains are the handsome city gate flanked by two lofty towers, the long colonnaded road once paved with mosaics and lined with shops, a large agora, the public baths and the gymnasium.

Aspendos

The best preserved theater of the Antiquity, from 2nd century. Still used today, the theater's galleries, stage decorations and acoustics all testify to the architect's skills. Although entirely built over barrel-vaulted substructure, the theater rests in part against a hillside, thus indicating the architect's desire to conform to the age-old Greek tradition of erecting a theater on the slopes of a hill. The horse-shoe shaped auditorium was also a Greek feature. In other respects the Aspendos theater is built in conformity with the principles of Roman architecture.

The city of Aspendos was founded by colonists from Argos, according to Greek tradition. From the city itself, only a few remains are visible, like the agora and the large aqueducts.

Side

A well-known classical site, an ancient harbor whose name meant pomegranate. Today a pretty resort town, its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches, many shops and restaurants make a very attractive combination. The magnificent theater is built on colonnaded arches. Among other monuments are the agora, the Apollo temple, the city gate, the latrines and a fountain ; the Roman bath, now a museum, houses one of Turkey's finest archeological collections.

Manavgat Waterfalls

This spot of natural beauty is a short distance from Side. Although the waterfalls are not high, milky white, foaming waters rush powerfully over the rocks. Next to the waterfalls, shady tea gardens and restaurants make the falls a pleasant, cool rest after a day of sightseeing. It is possible to take a delightful boat trip up the Manavgat river to explore further this lovely area.

Termessos

The ruins of Termessos owe much of their charm to their picturesque setting in dense woodland. It is situated on a 1050 meter (3,445 feet) high plateau on Mount Solymus (Gulluk Mountain). The first appearance of Termessos in history is in 334 B.C. when Alexander the Great passed through the region. Apparently the conqueror left these brave people unmolested in their stronghold. Termessos witnessed its first period of prosperity in the Hellenistic Age, and the second in Roman times. The buildings in the city center are for the most part well preserved and quite accessible: Agora, Stoa, Theatre, Odeon, Temple Zeus, Artemis Temple, Founder's House, Gymnasium, etc.

Olympus (Beydaglari) National Park and Olympus (Tahtali) Mountain

On the way from Antalya to Kemer, the 26 miles of road pass through spectacular mountain scenery. The mountains of the Taurus range rise up immediately behind the coast, the whole length of which is a national preserve. A little further, there is the ancient city of Olympus. Oleander and laurel bushes shade the Olympus Valley which you can approach by land and sea. North of Olympus, is Yanartas (The Burning Stone) at a height of 1000 feet, where, according to mythology, the hero Bellerophon, mounted on his winged horse Pegasus, slew the fire-breathing monster Chimaera.

Gas which seeps from the earth burns brightly at night at this sight which the Byzantines also considered a religious area.

Phaselis

9 miles south of Kemer, the three harbors of Phaselis were once a major commercial center. The ruins of aqueducts, agoras, baths, a theater, Hadrian's Gate, and an acropolis reveal the city's historical importance. From the south harbor there is a spectacular view of Mt. Tahtali. The sheltered sandy beaches make a superb playground and the waters are calm and safe for swimmers.

Kale (Demre)

Which stands where the Antique City of Myra was once located to see the best examples of Lycian Rock Tombs and the birthplace of St. Nicholas, the Saint who is referred to, as Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was born around AD 300 and was Bishop of Myra, where he died. The domed basilica of St. Nicholas in Kale is an outstanding building dating from the early Middle Ages.

Kekova

There are many ancient ruins on the extensive island of Kekova.

Kalkan

The town of Kalkan, much smaller than Kas, has also become increasingly popular in the recent years. The mosque in the harborfront has been converted from a Greek church. The waters around Kalkan are a favorite for spear fishermen and abound in natural fresh-water springs that make diving a fascinating experience.

Patara

The sandy beach of Patara is the longest and widest in Turkey and unlike much of the Mediterranean, has a tide, which allows body surfing. The theater, dating from the 2nd century BC is intact though filled with sand. The granary of Hadrian is a vast building standing to its full height save for its roof.

Alanya

Seventy miles east of Antalya lies Alanya, an elegant, broad- avenued town with a fine harbor, outdoor seafood restaurants and cafes and beaches. Alanya was always a popular place to live in, starting with the Greeks and continuing with Romans, Byzantines, Armenians, Seljuks and Ottomans all taking their turn. Alanya Castle stands perched 800 feet above the sea on one of the finest promontories of the Mediterranean with dizzying views to the sea on three sides, divides Alanya into two. Below the fortress, at the sea level, on one side is the famous Seljuk dockyard, unique in design and state of preservation. On the other side is the Damlatas Cave with exquisite dripping stalactites and stalagmites dating back 20,000 years. This is a site for respiratory ailments, especially asthma. Alanya's coast is lined with grottos and boat trips are made to Pirate's Cave, Lovers' Grotto, the Phosphorescent Cave, and the "Wishing Gate" which is an enormous natural hole in the rocks. The Red Tower, built by the famous architect Ebu Ali of Aleppo, is octogonal just under 40 ft long and 115 ft high.