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Te Travel Guide


Promotional Content • Saturday 21st March 2026


DOCKED BOATS AT THE KALEIÇI MARINA


The Turkish Riviera G


ateway to the Turkish Riviera, Antalya basks in the sunshine on the country’s southern


Mediterranean coast, hugging the gulf that bears its name. Modern but with a picturesque, ancient heart, the city centres around a Roman-era harbour and the lattice of cobblestone lanes that make up the old town Kaleiçi (meaning ‘within the castle’), which is dotted with centuries-old mosques and restored Ottoman houses. Much like Rome, this is a city


that wears its history on its sleeve, with stretches of 2,000-year-old walls, imposing gateways and historic mansions scattered liberally throughout its core. Te nearby ruins of the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos offer a glimpse of the power that this region commanded over the centuries — Perge, in particular, was one of the most important outposts of its era — while a vast necropolis, discovered by accident during the construction of a shopping mall, lies sandwiched between modern developments. Most travellers in search of a


classic beach break tend to head to the Lara neighbourhood, to the east, where dozens of gargantuan hotels and all-inclusive resorts loom over a five-mile-long stretch of sand.


Whatever time you visit, you’re


practically guaranteed to find warm sunshine, clear aquamarine seas and good food


You’re more likely to find locals in Konyaalti, to the west, home to another great swathe of beach but backed by low-rise apartments. Predominantly, Antalya has been seen as a summertime destination, with its sizeable student population lending it a young, buzzy feel that pairs well with its breezy beachside location. But in recent years, the city has begun to attract visitors year-round, even in winter when temperatures can still brush the low 20s and more hotels are keeping their doors open. Whatever time you visit, you’re practically guaranteed to find warm sunshine, clear aquamarine seas and good food.


What to see and do Hadrian’s Gate & the Kaleiçi: Start your exploration of Antalya’s picturesque old town at second- century Hadrian’s Gate, a trio of imposing arches set into the original outer walls of the city and built to celebrate the visit of Emperor Hadrian. Step through them and the modern city fades into a maze of streets flanked with historical Ottoman houses and carved wooden balconies, family-run restaurants and bars serving mezze and fresh fish. Some streets lead down to the Roman harbour, while others wind past minarets and ancient bakeries up to leafy squares overlooking the sea. Bay-hopping by gulet: Gulets — traditional wooden boats — sail from the Roman Harbour each morning, offering everything from two-hour drifts along Antalya’s spectacular coastline to full-day tours. It’s a scenic way to get your bearings, as well as snorkel in the quiet bays that fringe Suluada Island, at the westernmost end of the Gulf of Antalya. Choose your boat on the day (most depart around 10.30am).


Antalya has all the makings of a memorable break: an atmospheric old town, a Roman harbour and restaurants serving home-style cooking, all set beneath the Taurus Mountains. Words: Annabelle Thorpe. Photography: Aisha Nazar


Perge Ancient City: A 20-minute drive north east from Kaleiçi, first-century Perge is second only to Ephesus — Turkey’s most famous ancient site, near Izmir on the Aegean coast — in terms of size and scale. Allow at least a couple of hours to explore beneath the imposing Hadrianus Arch, walk between the colonnades and stand in the middle of the vast stadium, which feels straight out of the Gladiator film set. muze.gov.tr Antalya Museum: Before visiting Perge, it’s worth calling into the ancient city’s imposing museum, home to hundreds of marble statues of Roman deities taken from the site. Alongside the statues, the 13 galleries house Byzantine mosaics, intricately carved sarcophagi and Paleolithic relics. muze.gov.tr Upper Düden Waterfalls: While the Lower Düden Waterfalls cascade directly into the sea in the Lara district, nine miles upriver the Upper Falls tumble through tranquil, leafy parkland, only 20 minutes from the city centre. A walkway is carved into the rock face around and behind the falls, opening out into a waterside path that leads down to a clutch of restaurants with overwater terraces, perfect for a mezze lunch. dudenwaterfalls.com


Tis article first appeared in the Jul/Aug 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). nationalgeographic.com/travel


HOW TO DO IT


Fly direct to Antalya with SunExpress. Stay at the Tuvana boutique hotel, which has doubles from £98, B&B. sunexpress.com tuvanahotel.com


A LOCAL CARPET MAKER RESTORING A HANDMADE RUG IN KALEIÇI OLD TOWN


VIEW OF DÜDEN WATERFALLS FROM THE UPPER DÜDEN SECTION IN ANTALYA, TURKEY


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