Sprawling around a yacht-filled harbour, Antalya City Centre lies at the heart of one of Turkey’s most beloved resorts. In addition to serving as a gateway to sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches, it’s dotted with fascinating museums and Roman remains dating from its time as an ancient port.
Things to do in Antalya City Centre
Spend an afternoon exploring the historic streets of Antalya’s Old Town (also known as “Kaleiçi"), which is home to the Roman-built Hıdırlık Tower and Hadrian’s Gate. At the highest point is the Yivliminare Mosque, a magnificent 13th-century monument that exhibits decorative elements from the Seljuk period. A 37-metre-high fluted minaret rises above and can be climbed via a 90-step ladder.
Both young and old will love the Antalya Toy Museum, which houses more than 10,000 toys dating from the mid-19th century to the 1990s. In addition to vintage dolls and mechanical toys collected by Dr. Seyfi Özkan, it features interactive exhibits that promote the importance of play. The museum is a short walk from Antalya’s Roman Harbour where colourful gulet yachts dock.
If you’re interested in Antalya’s links to Turkey’s national hero, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, visit the Atatürk House & Museum. It occupies a two-storey building that replicates the residence he stayed in during official visits to Antalya in the 1930s. Browse the old photographs and documents that are on display, together with personal belongings of Atatürk. Also exhibited are banknotes, coins and postage stamps that have been issued since Turkish independence in 1923.
Getting around Antalya City Centre
Antalya Airport is around 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre and has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Both trams and buses travel through Antalya City Centre, although most of the area’s attractions can be accessed on foot.