I recently visited Antalya and was blown away by this gorgeous destination. It was actually my first time visiting Türkiye, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much there was to see and do and how much history it has. It was founded as late as the second century BC by Attalus II of Pergamon, and named Attaleia in his honour.
It boasts a stunning location, in the midst of the Turkish Riviera, making it an ideal destination for those who are looking to enjoy some time at the beach or if you love sightseeing, explore its rich history.
PS: If you are wondering why I keep spelling it as Türkiye, it is because this is now the official name.
When is the best time to visit Antalya
Antalya’s climate is great all year round so if you visited from Autumn onwards you would still get some moderately warm weather. Just be aware that around mid-November onwards it does get chilly at night so be sure to pack a light jacket, otherwise you will still have some gorgeous sunny days to enjoy – I roamed around in t-shirts and long skirts and was completely fine.
July and August are the hottest times of the year in Antalya with temperatures up to a scorching 40°C+ so I would recommend the shoulder season for sure when it is slightly cooler and quieter, unless you want to bask in the intense heat of course!
We visited in late November and it was the perfect dose of winter sun combined with an opportunity to dive deeper into the history of this fascinating town.
Getting to Antalya
Antalya is fairly easy to get to from the UK and you can find flights to Antalya with Jet2 directly from Manchester Airport to Antalya Airport. This terminal is where most flights to Antalya arrive from around the world.
You could fly indirect via Istanbul but to save time I recommend booking a direct flight where possible.
We were lucky enough to be given the VIP treatment on arrival, whisked to a private terminal for champagne and canapés, with the smoothest passport control I have ever experienced.
What is the local Currency?
The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira but you can pay by card practically everywhere in Turkey, and I recommend doing that.
In some cases they have a separate point of sale machine for foreign cards. If the payment machine shows a price in your local currency I advise you to ask to pay in Turkish Liras.
Useful Turkish Phrases
SomeTurkish phrases that will help you engage with the locals are:
Merhaba – Hello
Evet – Yes
Hayır – No
Things to do in Antalya
Wander around Kaleiçi
One of the top things to do whilst in Antalya is to wander through the cobbled streets of Kaleiçi (Pronounced Kah-Lay-Chi), the historic centre of Antalya. It is a beautiful port city on the Mediterranean with a rich history dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.
I am obsessed with Evil Eyes so it was amazing to see so many of them in various forms dotted around the old town. The term ‘evil eye’ quite literally refers to the universal curse of the malevolent glare of another, usually generated by envy and jealousy.
In jewellery and decorative pieces the symbol of the ‘evil eye’ is actually used to ward off the negative energy from such a stare.
It’s usually comprised of two primary colours, blue and light blue. Blue is the colour of protection, while either yellow or light blue is in the middle, the protector, mostly black, is centred on the blue background.
Turkiye is also well known for its carpets, and we saw lots hanging out whilst traversing through the bazaars.
The cobbled streets, quaint red-roofed houses, and winding alleyways are what make this part of the city so special. I recommend taking some time to browse through the markets, explore the bazaar (the scent of the spices is irresistible), or simply wander the streets and take in the lovely views all around. You may find some unusual souvenirs or gifts to take back home.
There are some lovely historic buildings that have been tastefully converted into restaurants, music venues and cosy boutique hotels. How cute is this setting below?
There are plenty of restaurants dotted around for you to grab lunch or dinner, or just to have a relaxing drink. You’ll find everything from seafood restaurants serving fresh fish and squid on the grill, to bars where you can chill out with friends and people watch.
Top tip: I highly recommend going to the rooftop restaurant and bar of The Tipsy Old Town to watch the sunset with a Turkish Coffee – sensational!
Just look at that incredible sunset!
The Old Harbour
The harbour is a great place to spend an afternoon wandering. It was originally an ancient Roman Harbour, which was the main artery from the second century BCE until the late 20th century.
Nowadays, the historic harbour is home to yachts and tour boats as well as cafes and bars. You can also take some boat trips from here.
Hadrian’s Gate
Hadrian’s Gate, called Üçkapılar in Turkish, is one of the best examples of Roman architecture. The stone archway was built in 130 CE to celebrate the visit of Emperor Hadrian and it is the only remaining entry gate to the ancient city of Antalya.
The gate has three arches, between which are four columns on each side and is flanked to the north and south by tough defensive towers, both of which have stood here in some form since Roman times.
It’s amazing to see how well preserved it is!
Aspendos Theatre
If you’re a fan of ancient theatres, you definitely won’t want to miss Aspendos.
The Aspendos Theater is one of the Roman Empire’s greatest remaining pieces of architecture and is absolutely incredible!
It was built in the 2nd century CE, during Marcus Aurelius’ reign, by an architect called Zenon and is widely considered the best-preserved ancient theater in the world.
The mammoth seating plan could fit an audience of between 15,000 and 20,000!
It has been thoroughly restored and is now used for music and drama festivals, including Turkiye’s famous annual Aspendos Opera Festival.
The acoustics are brilliant – go to the top and whisper and see if the rest of your group can hear you!
Yivili Minare
Yivili Minare is a 14th-century mosque located in Kaleiçi. It’s a beautiful structure and is one of over 80 mosques that can be found in Antalya today.
The Anatolian Seljuk Sultan, Kayqubad I ordered this mosque, which was then destroyed in the 14th century and reconstructed in the 1370s on the foundations of a Byzantine church.
An abiding part of the Kaleiçi cityscape is the 38-metre minaret, called the “fluted minaret” for the eight long grooves in its red brick shaft.
In the mosque’s heyday these flutes were clad with blue glazed tiles.
Today the Yivliminare Mosque is a functioning place of worship.
Land of Legends Theme Park
Combining a five-star hotel, waterpark and aquarium in one, this fairytale-inspired wonderland feels like it’s straight out of a storybook.
The gigantic magical castle that sits at its heart is most impressive too, both during the day and lit up at night!
If you are a thrill seeker there are plenty of adventures to be had on the various coasters, including a 43m-high Typhoon Coaster!
For dinner with a wow factor I recommend booking a table at NEMO Restaurant, where you will be dining in the presence of Sharks, swimming around in an underwater aquarium.
Day trip to Side
Side is one of Antalya’s neighbouring cities and it can be reached by road in just over an hour. It’s located along the seaside but has a perfect combination of culture, history and natural beauty.
For any history buffs you will be pleased to know that there are also some spectacular ancient e Roman and Hellenistic ruins here. This includes a theatre from Roman times, a castle that’s been well-preserved, and a beautiful temple that sits on the coast against an ocean backdrop.
You can easily spend an entire day visiting these attractions, shopping in the bazaar, or even taking a boat trip around Side for some truly stunning views of this historical city.
The Temple of Apollo, which looks even better at dusk, was built around 150 A.D. during the Pax Romana era, dedicated to Apollo, the Greek and Roman god of music, harmony and light.
Where to Stay
Titanic Deluxe Golf Belek
We stayed at the Titanic Deluxe Golf Belek, booked through Jet2holidays, which is a five-star, All Inclusive resort located in Belek. If you are looking for holidays inspiration for 2023, there are plenty of holidays to Turkey on Jet2holidays, including package holidays to Antalya.
Positioned by the Beşgöz River amongst pine forests, this luxurious resort offers three nine-hole golf courses, seven outdoor pools, two indoor pools (including heated ones), a great kids’ club and a full-service spa, fitness centre and lots of shops. It also has a private, sandy beach in a secluded area, which you can take either a boat or train ride to!
There is literally something for everyone in this massive resort and it is so beautiful. You might not ever want to leave!
If you are a golfer it is renowned for its golf courses!
There are 594 modern rooms across six floors in the main building. All rooms have a balcony with garden views, some overlooking the river. There’s also complimentary wireless internet access available and a fully stocked minibar.
I found the rooms to be really spacious, with everything you could possibly want, including a bathtub, shower and his and hers sinks in the bathroom!
I adored watching sunrise from the balcony! I’m an early riser so I soaked up an hour here with a mug of coffee, just taking in the fresh air and scenery.
There are also swim up Maldivian style rooms available if you fancy an upgrade! The resort is so expansive, beautiful and the food at the restaurants is excellent, especially the buffet (wait till you see the desserts).
On Jet2holidays you can find luxury holidays to many destinations so definitely have a look to see what they have available for 2023. I know I definitely want to return next year!
I was invited to Antalya by Jet2Holidays on a press trip but all views and photos are my own.
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