Antalya Holidays

Antalya’s eight-kilometre-long pebble/shingle Konyaalti Beach is the star of the show; located west of the city centre, it’s perfect for lazy days sunbathing and swimming and water sports like parasailing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, and jet skiing. Meander through Kaleici Old Town’s narrow cobbled streets with its old Ottoman houses, Hadrian’s Gate, Kesik Minaret, and Clock Tower. Relax with a coffee by the old harbour and step aboard a boat to see the beautiful Antalya coastline from the water. Hop on the bus up to the 13th-century Alanya Fortress, get up close to marine life at Antalya Aquarium, and explore the Roman and Ottoman relics at Antalya Museum. Relish the water slides and pools at Antalya Aqualand Waterpark or combine slides and rides on a day trip to The Land of Legends Theme Park. For a change of scenery; stroll to Damlatas Caves to admire the stalactites and stalagmites, indulge in retail therapy at the famous-name stores at Migros Mall and TerraCity, and travel to Upper and Lower Duden Waterfalls to gaze in awe at the teeming waters.

Antalya is also a prime base from which to experience some of Turkey’s sights and attractions. Gaze in wonder at Olympos’ famous Chaimaera Flames that flicker out of the rocky cliff and Manavgat Waterfall’s teeming waters. Keep your camera ready to capture the panoramic vistas on a bucket-list hot-air balloon ride in Cappadocia. Venture to Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, to explore Hagia Sophia Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. Step back to ancient times at Ephesus’s Library of Celsus and the Great Theater and Side’s Temple of Apollo, Amphitheater, and Nymphaeum. Go hiking or white-water rafting in Koprulu Canyon National Park and sail down the Dalyan River to catch sight of preserved tombs and endangered loggerhead turtles. Embark a sightseeing cruise on the Bosporous to see Ottoman palaces, Rumeli Fortress, and Anadolu Fortress’ Byzantine ramparts on the coastline.

There’s plenty of places to tempt your taste buds in Antalya with everything from friendly cafes and seafood eateries with a sea view around the harbour and Konyaalti Beach to small family-run eateries and cosy bars in the traditional old town. Savour typical Turkish fare like Piyaz, Doner Kebabs, Kofte, Dolma, Borek, Pide, Meze, Lahmacun, and Gozleme accompanied by a bottle or two of Efes Pilsen or local wine; with Arap Kadayif, Baklava, or Asure for dessert and a glass of the aniseed-flavour Raki. Antalya Harbour and Kaleici Old Town are the places to head after dark especially in the summer months; with a varied line-up of sports bars, traditional British pubs, authentic Turkish tavernas, and waterfront bars to while away a few hours.