Kaleiçi
First-timersThe walled old town.
Antalya city guide
Antalya Travel Guide
A big Mediterranean city with a walled old town around a Roman harbour, waterfalls that drop into the sea, and the best Roman theatre in the world an hour away.
23
Hostels in the city
7.7
Average, from 5,749 reviews
AD 130
Hadrian's Gate
1 h
To Aspendos
300
Days of sun a year
The Turkish Riviera's city
Antalya is the capital of the Turkish Riviera, a big modern city with an ancient heart. Kaleiçi, the old town, is a maze of Ottoman houses inside Roman and Byzantine walls, sloping down to the old harbour. Hadrian's Gate, built for the emperor's visit in AD 130, still leads into it.
Around the city, the mountains rise straight from the coast, with long beaches on either side. The Roman theatre at Aspendos, Perge and the mountain city of Termessos are all within an hour.
Antalya has one of the busiest airports in Turkey and is the gateway to the south coast and the Lycian Way. Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
Stay in Kaleiçi, the old town, or near Konyaaltı beach.
Konyaaltı
BeachThe long beach west of town.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Antalya
Walk Kaleiçi's lanes, through Hadrian's Gate and past the fluted Yivli Minaret, down to the old harbour.
Swim at Konyaaltı beach, a long pebble beach under the mountains, or Lara beach on the other side of the city. The Lower Düden Waterfalls drop straight off a cliff into the sea.
Aspendos, an hour east, has the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world, still used for performances. Perge has a Roman stadium and colonnaded streets, and Termessos is a ruined city high in the mountains.
The Lycian Way, the coastal trail, runs west from near Antalya.
More on things to do in Antalya
Free things
Free things to do in Antalya
Kaleiçi, the harbour, Hadrian's Gate and the beaches are free. The Düden Waterfalls parks charge a small fee.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Antalya
Piyaz, a white bean salad with tahini, is the Antalya speciality, eaten with şiş köfte. Seafood is everywhere along the harbour.
A lokanta meal is €5 to €8; the old town's restaurants charge more.
Nightlife
Going out in Antalya
Kaleiçi has bars and live music in old courtyards, and the harbour is busy in summer.
A beer is €4 to €6.
Getting around
Getting around Antalya
Kaleiçi is walkable. Trams run to the airport and along the coast. Buses reach Kaş, Fethiye and Göreme.
For Aspendos, Perge and Termessos, a car or tour is easiest.
Costs
What Antalya costs
Antalya is mid-priced for Turkey. Dorms start around €12. A careful day is €35 to €50.
The currency is the Turkish lira, and prices change quickly with inflation; these are euro equivalents. Cards work widely, bank ATMs are best, and always pay in lira rather than accepting a conversion.
Safety
Staying safe in Antalya
Antalya is safe.
The summer heat is intense; visit ancient sites early in the day.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Antalya
Roman cities and the coast.
Aspendos
The best-preserved Roman theatre in the world.
Perge
A Roman city with a stadium.
Termessos
A ruined city in the mountains.
Olympos
Ruins, a beach and the burning rocks of the Chimaera.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Opera in a Roman theatre at Aspendos.
Staff pick
15–30 November
International Antalya Piano Festival
The International Antalya Piano Festival in Antalya, Turkey, is a celebrated event that brings together acclaimed pianists and orchestras from around the world. Hosted…
21 November
Suat Suna
Suat Suna takes the stage with his one-man show "Were Songs Better Before?", drawing on 35 years of performance experience to revisit Turkish pop…
27 November
Yedinci Ev
Yedinci Ev brings their Turkish rock sound to THE BAR, a trio that has been making waves since 2011 with emotionally charged tracks like…
25–27 December
Ultra Marathon
The Antalya Ultra Marathon offers a range of distances from 5 km to 57 km, taking you from the Mediterranean coast to snowy mountain…
Hostels
Where to stay in Antalya
The top-rated places to stay in Antalya right now, live from Hostelworld.
Sabah Pansiyon
Rooms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Be Bold Hostel
Dorms from €15 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Flaneur Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Gold Coast Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Role Street
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
Exporoyal Hotel
Rooms from €1 a night
See dates and book
White Garden Hotel
Rooms from €45 a night
See dates and book
When to go
April to June and September to November. Summers are very hot.
Jan
Mild
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Good
May
Excellent
Jun
Busy
Jul
Very hot
Aug
Very hot
Sep
Aspendos festival
Oct
Film festival
Nov
Good
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are euro equivalents and move quickly with lira inflation.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Antalya travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Antalya worth visiting?
Yes, for Kaleiçi, the beaches and the Roman sites nearby.
How far is Aspendos?
About an hour by car.
How do I get from the airport?
By tram, about forty-five minutes.
Is Antalya hot in summer?
Very.
Where does the Lycian Way go?
West along the coast towards Fethiye.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to November.
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