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King Attalos II established the city in the
second century BC. Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans all
conquered the city during their times. In the picturesque Old
City, Kaleici, traditional wooden houses line the narrow streets
and old people sit outside their houses drinking tea. Kaleici
harbour is one of the most beautiful harbours in Turkey with
romantic restaurants, souvenir shops and colourful boats. In the
evenings the lightened old city walls create a timeless
atmosphere. Konyaalti beach locates west from the city centre
and you can take a small tram there. The beach is popular among
local people as well. Lara beach is located on the eastern side
of the city centre.
All kinds of water activities are available;
aqua park, banana boats, pedal boats and paragliding. Or you can
just relax in the sun. International boutiques, banks and
jewellery shops are located mainly on Atatürk and Cumhuriyet
Streets. Saklikent winter sports centre is situated 50
kilometres from Antalya. During the period between March - April
you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon. Excursions
are available, in addition to nearby destinations, also to
Pamukkale and
Cappadocia.
ASPENDOS
The ancient city, 48 km east of Antalya, is famous for its
theatre, probably the best preserved in Asia Minor. It is still
in use today, and stages the annual Aspendos Opera and Ballet
Festival every summer. It was the scene of a huge bloody battle
between the Persians and the Greeks in 469 BC, and then ruled by
the Spartans 120 years later. The city became part of the
Seleucid kingdom after the death of Alexander the Great, and
then became part of the Roman province of Asia in 133 BC. The
famous theatre was built in the 2nd century AD, using a Roman
design, and it is still intact. Ataturk was responsible for much
of the restoration, who after visiting it declared that it
should be used as a theatre rather than simply a museum. In
addition to the theatre, there is and acropolis on a hilltop, of
which the nymshaeum and basilica are still fairly intact.
Opening Hours: Summer 08.00 - 19.00; Winter 08.00 - 17.30.
KAS
Narrow cobble lanes packed with shops spilling out their
merchandise of trinkets and carpets are a delightful feature of
Kas. Even during the hottest part of the day the old Turkish
houses, their rickety wooden balconies overhanging with bushes
of flowering bougainvillaea, provide shade enough to browse. The
busy harbour is lined with restaurants, and the ancient stone
sarcophagus tucked in a quiet backstreet is both a delightful
discovery and a reminder of Kas's rich history. Kas, or
Antiphellus as it was then called, was known to the ancients as
the 'sponge capital of the world' and, in fact, the discovery of
the oldest shipwreck known to man, lying deeply off a cape east
of Kas, is attributed to a local sponge diver. Throughout the
ages the existence of this date-palmed, sun-drenched
mountain-framed village has been recorded so perhaps it was
pre-ordained that a Turkish journalist should acquire land on
the rugged, westward-pointing Kas Peninsula to use as a retreat.
A narrow country road encircling the promontory leads to hidden
homes. Easily reached by car and taxi, the villas, kilometres
away from the town centre, are tucked away from the hustle and
bustle of Kas. You can look over the sea to the many little
islets and the large island of Meis Adasi, or Costellarizo,
which belongs to Greece and is worth a boat ride to visit. The
view brings to mind Jason and his Argonauts, the wily Odysseus
seeking Ithaca and home after the Trojan War, and angry Poseidon
rising from the foam…it is a classical view, no doubt about it!
The village has a timeless character.
Kas itself is home to one
of the finest diving schools in the Mediterranean. Here diving
specialists will introduce you to cave diving, sponge diving,
the fabulous amphora field and even some fascinating shipwrecks.
You also have a wide choice of water sports. Water taxis can
take you out to the beach at Limanagzi where the water sports
centre offers water skiing, parasailing, banana rides and a host
of other marine entertainments. You can also choose from several
other beaches scattered around the bay. But there is still more
to delight those privileged to stay in Kas, because some of
Turkey's most beautiful sights and historic sites are within
comfortable reach of the village. To the west lie all the
destinations close to Kalkan, including Xanthos, the Hidden
Canyon and Patara Beach. To those you can also add Pinara. There
you will see some particularly well-preserved burial chambers,
honeycombing the cliff face, as well as a superbly preserved
Hellenistic theatre. Also nearby are Letoon, with its eerie
sunken Temple of Leto, and Tlos with its imposing Crusader
castle and Roman city. From here, it is a short drive to
Yakapark, where you can actually take lunch on the rushing
waterfalls. To the east, a wealth of additional treasures lie
waiting to be discovered. Arycanda is set in the hills of Lycia.
From the ancient city you can look out across the deep green
valley for one of the most spectacular views in southern Turkey.
Here the Romans built a city complete with a stadium, baths, two
agoras, an Odeon and a temple. There is also an amphitheatre,
which is remarkably well-preserved. Arycanda is still little
known, lying as an undiscovered gem amid some of the world's
finest treasures. Olympus boasts one of the finest beaches in
Turkey. Phaselis is where Alexander the great received a golden
crown and spent the first winter of his all-conquering campaign.
You can follow in the footsteps of the Emperor Hadrian as you
enter the ancient setting through a triumphal archway.
Ucagiz was formerly Teimiussa, once an important centre of trade
with the Middle East. The ancient town at the water's edge has
one of the best-preserved and most evocative of Lycian burial
grounds.
Myria, with its stunning Cliffside of rock tombs and splendid
amphitheatre, and the mystical sunken city of Kekova are also
within reach of Kas.
KALKAN
A small peaceful Mediterranean resort and fishing
town on the beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey, Kalkan has not
been touched by mass tourism. More sophisticated than the usual
resort town, Kalkan appeals to travellers looking for more than
a 'sun and sea' holiday. Because of its great charm, Kalkan has
a growing number of perennial visitors who say the town is the
only holiday destination they would choose to visit repeatedly.
There is simply no other town quite like Kalkan along Turkey's
coast. Kalkan curls snugly around an ancient harbour sheltered
at the foot of the towering Taurus Mountains. The town overlooks
a beautiful bay in which islands seem to magically float upon
the shimmering sea. Narrow streets twist down to the harbour
through the historic town and are lined with listed whitewashed
villas with shuttered windows situated alongside small local
specialty shops and restaurants. Overhead hang original ornately
carved Ottoman timber balconies garlanded with brilliantly
coloured bougainvillea cascading to the streets below. It is a
very special place. Not only is Kalkan beautiful, but unlike
other Turkish coastal resort towns Kalkan's main economy is
tourism and therefore its citizens put much pride and effort
into the town's historic preservation. Because of this Kalkan
has retained the texture of its history with its distinctive
Greek architecture (it was once a Greek and Turkish fishing
village). Very strict building codes keep the town small and
architecturally blended with the historic heart of the town
known as 'Old Kalkan'. Besides the famous 'Kalkan Style'
historic architecture, the many excellent restaurants of Kalkan
contribute to the special atmosphere of the resort. Good dining
has always been the way of life in Kalkan. In fact, Kalkan is
said to have the highest number of restaurants and bars per
inhabitant or square metre on the Turkish coast. Additionally,
Kalkan is especially renowned for its numerous roof-top terrace
restaurants and bars which offer a wonderful view of the town,
sea and stars. You can also sit at one of the many fine harbour-side
restaurants and watch the fishermen leave early in the morning
as you tuck in your breakfast, or see them return with the day's
catch in the evening. Kalkan is a small town (of only a few
thousand) and this creates a wonderful intimate feeling. But do
not let its size to mislead you! There is plenty to do in and
around Kalkan. During the day the town is surprisingly empty as
most guests choose to swim or explore the multitude of beautiful
ancient Lycian and natural sites of the area. However,
everything changes in the evening when Kalkan bursts alive for a
long, festive night. Kalkan has many special qualities, but
without a doubt it is the people of the resort who make the town
extra special. The people of Kalkan happily welcome you, and you
may at first be surprised by the universal friendliness within
the town. It is absolutely genuine. Warm Turkish hospitality and
friendliness is the basis of life here and the people of Kalkan
sincerely enjoy getting to know their guests. So do not hesitate
to accept one of the many tulip-shaped glasses of 'cay' (tea)
you will be offered while you amble along Kalkan's winding
streets. You will not be hassled while you are a guest of Kalkan
- the town is hassle free and is proud to be so. You will find a
mixed population here, consisting mainly of locals, some
Istanbul Turks who own businesses, as well as a small number of
well-educated foreigners who have settled in the town.
BELEK
If you are a golf player choose Belek for your
holiday destination. The area consists of five 18-36-hole golf
courses of international standards. Belek is located 30
kilometres east from Antalya on the Mediterranean coast and it
is a special world with its pine trees. Belek is designed for
holidaymakers who want the best. The area consists of 30 four or
five star hotels with their own tennis courses, swimming pools,
athletic clubs and conference facilities. You can taste the
finest Turkish cuisine in Belek and enjoy the high standard
night shows under the stars. You can swim in the Mediterranean,
lie on the soft sandy beaches and of course play golf.
Historical sights are also close, like Perge antique city,
Aspendos amphitheatre, Roman city of Side and Manavgat
waterfalls. Antalya has plenty of shops and boutiques, a
beautiful harbour and an attractive old city called Kaleici.
KEMER
Kemer holiday village is situated 42 kilometres
west from Antalya. The road goes through beautiful mountains.
Kemer is a splendid holiday resort and its beaches have Blue
Flags granted by the EU for their cleanness and safety. All
kinds of water sports are available in Kemer and different kinds
of entertainment are available under the pine trees. Beldibi
north and Tekirova south of Kemer are also nice holiday villages
surrounded by pine trees. You can take a boat trip from Kemer
until Kekova Island via Demre and Myra. On the way you see St.
Nicholaus Church in Demre and you can swim in the crystal waters
of the Kekova Bay. You can take a shopping trip to Antalya,
visit Aspendos Opera Festival or Manavgat Water Falls in the
east.
SIDE
Side is one of the well-known ancient Turkish
cities. It was an ancient harbour town and the name Side means
pomegranate. Now it is an attractive small town. Its ruins,
beaches, shops and good hotels attract tourists from all over
the world. Town centre is closed to car traffic and everything
is within walking distance. On the narrow streets the shops sell
carpets, leather articles and jewellery. Cosy restaurants and
cafes on the seaside offer Turkish delicacies. Huge ancient
amphitheatre in Side is the biggest in that region. Also Agora
spring, Necropolis and the Temple of Apollo are worth seeing. A
great Roman spa has been converted into a museum and there you
can see one of the finest archaeological collections of Turkey
on display. OTHER CITIES
 Alanya
Ankara
Ayvalik
Bodrum
Cappadocia
Cesme
Dydma
Ephesus
Fethiye
Gallipoli
Istanbul
Izmir
Kusadasi
Marmaris
Pamukkale
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