Antalya: The Hub of the Turkish Riviera
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean coast, Antalya is among the most beautiful cities in the world. A historically-steeped yet modern city, Antalya is the hub of the Turkish Riviera and is Turkey’s most visited tourist centre. The city’s history dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times, evidences of which are literally littered all over the city. The city’s coastline is dominated by clean wind-swept beaches and old historic harbours and monuments, which also double up as the most famous Antalya tourist attractions.
Places to Visit in Antalya
Some of Turkey’s best tourist attractions, both natural and man-made, are located in or around Antalya. Other than the many wonderful beaches, some of the more prominent Antalya tourist sights include Kaleici (the historical centre of the city which is enclosed by the old and magnificent City Walls, and which includes the old harbour (Yat Limani) which has now been converted into a posh marina), the old Ottoman area of the city (with narrow alleys, private gardens and timber houses), Hıdırlık Tower, Hadrian’s Gate (also known as Triple Gate), Clock Tower, Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret), Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret), Manavgat water falls, the nearby ancient sites of Aspendos, Perge, Phaselis, Manavgat, Side and Termessos, etc.
Antalya: Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine
Antalya is very safe for tourists; nevertheless, it is advisable that certain rather necessary precautions be taken including avoiding certain areas after dark, keeping valuables out of sight, etc. Antalya is beautiful and the city is full of hidden alleys and walkways that can rightfully be confused with time warps. Besides having some of the best beaches in the world, Antalya also boasts a very vibrant and very good nightlife. The city is home to a multitude of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, bars, discos, etc.
Antalya is also home to many casinos and some of the best malls and resorts in the country. English is widely spoken in Antalya along with Turkish. The local currency is Turkish lira (TRY). The local cuisine is rich and has its own unique and distinct flavour. What’s more, it freely is available at very affordable prices. Antalya has a large number of eateries catering to all types of cuisines and suited to all types of budgets; it is also home to some of the country’s best and most prolific restaurants.
Best time to visit Antalya
Being on the Mediterranean coast, Antalya experiences the Mediterranean climate, and as such, is best for a visit all year around.
Best way to reach Antalya
- By Air: Antalya is one of the region’s most important travel hubs, and is connected to most major destinations in the world via regular flights.
- By Rail: Antalya is not connected to the Turkish rail network. However, both a rail connection and an intra-city light rail network are under consideration.
- By Road: Antalya is well connected to all national and regional destinations and popular attractions. Further, Antalya is also one of the centres of Turkey’s road transport system and as such offers comfortable transport options for almost all of the nearby Turkey attractions. The road network within the city is decent.
Accommodation
The Antalya accommodation scene is very active and wide enough to cater to all budgets and needs. Antalya is home of some of the finest hotels in the continent. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Antalya vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Antalya tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does. One might even miss out on the many hidden attractions this Mediterranean resort may hold.