Antalya: Turkey’s Turquoise Coast — Beaches, Old Town & Roman Gates
Antalya is the jewel of Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, a city where turquoise waters meet pine-covered mountains and ancient history blends with modern beach life. The old town, Kaleiçi, is a labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets lined with Ottoman-era houses, Roman gates, and the picturesque Old Harbour. Beyond the city, the Turkish Riviera stretches in both directions with pristine beaches, ancient cities like Phaselis and Olympos, and the stunning Düden Waterfalls cascading directly into the sea. Antalya is the perfect base for exploring the Lycian coast without sacrificing urban comforts and budget-friendly options.
A Brief History of Antalya
Founded by King Attalus II of Pergamon around 150 BCE, who declared it “a paradise on earth,” Antalya has been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years. It was an important Roman and Byzantine port, a Crusader stronghold in the Middle Ages, and remained under Ottoman rule for five centuries. The city’s old harbour was a vital stop on Mediterranean trade routes, and its strategic position at the crossroads of Asia Minor has left it with an extraordinary layered history visible in its architecture, from Hadrian’s Gate to the Yivli Minare Mosque.
Cost Breakdown: Visiting Antalya
Antalya offers excellent value, especially compared to European beach destinations. Off-season (October–April) prices are significantly lower.
Budget per person per day:
- Budget Traveller: €30–50
- Mid-Range: €60–90
- Comfort: €100–160
Sample Costs:
- Kaleiçi guesthouse double room: €25–55 per night
- Düden Waterfalls entrance: €3
- Tram from airport to Kaleiçi: €2
- Beachfront restaurant dinner: €8–15
- Day trip to Olympos/Çıralı: €15–25 inc. transport
- Antalya Museum entrance: €7
Top Attractions in Antalya
1. Kaleiçi — Antalya’s Old Town
Kaleiçi (literally “inside the castle”) is Antalya’s beautifully preserved historic quarter, a tangled network of narrow streets lined with traditional Ottoman houses, boutique hotels, and hidden courtyards. The old harbour at its base, with its tiny fishing boats and waterfront restaurants, is one of the most charming spots on the Mediterranean. Stroll through streets lined with bougainvillea, discover Roman ruins tucked between cafés, and watch the sunset from the old city walls.
Location: Between Cumhuriyet Square and the Old Harbour, extending to Karaalioğlu Park.
Highlights:
- Hesapçı Sokak and its surrounding lanes — the most picturesque streets
- The Old Harbour with its gulet boats and seafood restaurants
- Ottoman-era houses with wooden overhangs and colourful doors
- The Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret) — Antalya’s landmark Seljuk tower
- Sunset views from the Karaalioğlu Park cliffs
2. Hadrian’s Gate (Üçkapılar)
Hadrian’s Gate is a magnificent Roman triumphal arch built in 130 CE to honour Emperor Hadrian’s visit to Antalya. It’s the most well-preserved Roman monument in the city, with three arched passageways flanked by marble columns and intricate carved reliefs. The gate is still in active use — you walk straight through it to enter Kaleiçi from Atatürk Boulevard, just as Romans did nearly 1,900 years ago.
Location: At the entrance to Kaleiçi, where Atatürk Boulevard meets the old town.
Highlights:
- The three ornate arches with Corinthian columns
- Original architectural detail surviving from 130 CE
- The contrast of Roman stone against modern Antalya
- Free — it’s a public monument with no entrance fee
- Beautiful evening view when lit up
3. Düden Waterfalls
The Düden Waterfalls are Antalya’s most spectacular natural attraction — two separate cascades formed by the Düden River. The Upper Düden (Düdenbaşı) is a series of falls and pools in a beautiful park setting where you can walk behind the main cascade. The Lower Düden crashes dramatically from a cliff directly into the Mediterranean Sea, creating a breathtaking spectacle best seen from a boat or the seaside park lookout.
Location: Upper Düden is 10 km northeast; Lower Düden is at Lara Beach, 8 km east.
Highlights:
- The Lower Düden waterfall meeting the sea — a spectacular sight from the cliffside park
- Walking behind the Upper Düden waterfall into a cool, misty cave
- The park setting with tea gardens, picnic areas, and walking paths
- Rainbow effects in the spray on sunny days
- The dramatic sea cliff setting of the Lower Falls
4. Konyaaltı & Lara Beaches
Antalya has two main beaches, each with a completely different character. Konyaaltı Beach, west of the city centre, is a long pebble-and-sand beach backed by the dramatic Beydağları Mountains — popular with locals, with an excellent promenade, cafés, and volleyball courts. Lara Beach, to the east, is a sandy beach lined with hotels and resorts, and also home to the famous Lower Düden Waterfall. Both are free (public access) and offer a quintessential Mediterranean beach experience.
Location: Konyaaltı is 4 km west; Lara is 12 km east of Kaleiçi.
Highlights:
- Konyaaltı’s long promenade perfect for sunset walks
- Public access beaches — no hotel membership needed
- Crystal-clear turquoise water with mountain backdrop at Konyaaltı
- Lara’s fine golden sand beach
- Konyaaltı’s local vibe — mostly Turkish families and young people
5. Antalya Museum
The Antalya Museum is one of the most important archaeological museums in Turkey, housing an extraordinary collection of artefacts from the Pamphylian, Lycian, and Pisidian regions. The hall of statues from Perge is the museum’s highlight — an entire gallery of Roman marble figures found in the ancient city’s excavation, including the famous “Dancing Woman” and magnificent imperial statues. The museum won the European Council Museum of the Year award in 1988, and it’s easy to see why.
Location: Konyaaltı, a 20-minute walk from the beach tram stop.
Highlights:
- The Perge statue gallery — the finest Roman statuary in Turkey
- The Hall of Gods with marble figures of Zeus, Aphrodite, and Heracles
- The Sarcophagus Hall with intricate carvings from regional workshops
- The ethnographic section with Ottoman-era artefacts and carpets
- The coin collection spanning 2,500 years of Mediterranean history
6. Olympos & Çıralı Beach
Olympos is an ancient Lycian city set in a lush valley, with temples, baths, and gate structures half-swallowed by forest — and a beautiful beach right at its edge. Next door, Çıralı Beach is a pristine 3-km stretch of golden sand backed by the forested slopes of Mount Tahtalı. It’s also the nesting ground of the endangered loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). The combination of ancient ruins and undeveloped beach is one of the most magical along the Turkish coast.
Location: 80 km south of Antalya — 1.5 hours by dolmuş or bus.
Highlights:
- The forest-shrouded ruins of Olympos — Roman forum, baths, and artificial harbour
- The eternal flame of Chimera (Yanartaş) — natural gas vents burning for millennia
- Çıralı’s undeveloped beach with turtle nesting sites (May–October)
- Treehouse hostels in Olympos — a backpacker institution
- The coastal Lycian Way hiking trail passing through the site
7. Perge & Aspendos — Day Trip Options
Two of Turkey’s greatest ancient sites are within easy reach of Antalya. Perge, 18 km east, boasts one of the best-preserved Roman stadiums in the world, an enormous agora, and a colonnaded street stretching nearly a kilometre. Aspendos, 40 km east, has the best-preserved Roman theatre on earth — seating 12,000, still used for performances today, with acoustics so perfect you can hear a coin drop in the centre from the top row.
Location: Perge is near Aksu; Aspendos is near Belkıs — both on the Antalya–Alanya road.
Highlights:
- Aspendos Theatre — the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world
- Perge’s enormous stadium (12,000 seats) and colonnaded street
- Perge’s Roman baths — some of the largest found in Anatolia
- The Aspendos aqueduct bringing water from 20 km away
- The annual Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival in summer
Disclaimer: Prices are approximate and subject to change. Sea turtle nesting season (May–October) at Çıralı requires visitors to respect beach restrictions at night. Always check entrance hours for museums and archaeological sites.