Antalya is a popular tourist destination in Turkey. The city of Antalya is the gateway to Turkey’s famed region of the Turkish Riviera. Antalya holidays are highly popular among Europeans, Asians, and the Middle East. Antalya lies on the Mediterranean coast outside the Aegean Sea and the mighty Taurus Mountains form the natural border. The city is Turkey’s largest international sea resort and receives millions of tourists each year.
Antalya Holidays
Holidays to Antalya offer the gateway to the fabled region of the Turkish Riviera, known for its deep blue Mediterranean Sea, and soft sandy beaches dotted with well-developed resorts, spas, restaurants, cafes, and boutique hotels. Holidays to Antalya introduces several charming cities and towns with marinas filled with yachts that took travellers out into the Mediterranean Sea for swimming, watersports, fishing, sun lounging and relaxing, glamorous nightlife, fine dining, lots of shopping and plenty of memories and rich experiences.
However, Antalya holidays are not just about the stunning beaches. The region of Antalya used to be the playground of empires. Antalya was also known as Pamphila in the ancient world. Today it is full of archaeological sites within an hour from Antalya. Today, Antalya is dotted with archaeological sites of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
Best Places to Visit in Antalya
Holidays to Antalya attract history buffs from all over the world. Moreover, history buffs will get to see amazing museums, a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, ruins of ancient towns, pre-historic caves, Ottoman architecture, the old town of Antalya, etc and learn a great deal about this region which has seen the rise and fall of several empires. Travelup presents the 8 best places to visit in the Antalya holidays for history buffs.
8 Best Places to visit in Antalya holidays for History buffs
1. Hadrian’s Gate
2. Old Town (Kaleici)
3. Antalya Museum
4. Aspendos
5. Perge
6. Termessos
7. Olympos and the Chimera
8. Karain Cave
1. Hadrian’s Gate
Travellers on holidays to Antalya can’t miss the famous landmark of the Old Town, the Hadrian’s Gate. The monument provides a dramatic entrance into Antalya’s Old Town through Hadrian’s Gate, which is also the main gateway to the Old Town’s eastern section. Hadrian’s gate is a part of the fortification walls from the Hellenistic and Roman times, much of which lies in shambles except the Hadrian’s Gate. It was erected in honour of Emperor Hadrian, who visited the Old Town of Antalya in ancient times. Hadrian’s Gate is a grand structure of a three-arched marble gateway with imposing towers decorated with sculptures.
2. Old Town (Kaleici)
The Old Town of Antalya is surrounded by a historic fortress whose walls are still visible. The Old Town is perfect for strolling and exploring on foot. The neighbourhood has well-restored whitewashed and red-tiled Ottoman homes along the narrow cobblestone streets. These restored mansions are now home to boutique hotels, souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. The Old Town is a must-visit place in Antalya for travellers on holidays to Antalya. It has an old-world charm and perfect Instagram-worthy sights including historic heritages.
Also the Old Town’s main square has a fortress gate and a stone-clad clock tower. Another important site is the 18th-century mosque of Tekeli Mehmet Pasa, known for its intricate tile work. Travellers can also see the Kesik Minare, which was a part of a Roman temple, which was later converted into a Byzantine Church and later into a mosque. Today, only the tower survives, and the rest of the building was damaged in a fire in the 19th century.
3. Antalya Museum
Antalya Holidays are not just about the scenic beaches and the coast. It is also a great place to learn and breathe the human history of the Classical era. It is highly recommended to visit the Antalya Museum, one of the top things to do in Antalya holidays for travellers, especially the history buffs. The museum displays the archaeological finds and artefacts from the major excavation sites in the region.
The collection is displayed according to historical themes and is easy to understand for even kids. The museum displays artefacts from the Bronze Age to Byzantium. It also has a rich repository of statues dating from the Hellenistic and Roman eras and recovered from the ancient cities of Perge, Xanthos, and Patara.
4. Aspendos
Antalya Holidays are highly popular among the history buffs who visit the city to take a day trip to Aspendos, located 47 kilometres east of Antalya. Aspendos has a Roman theatre, which is among the best preserved in the world and is one of the top tourist attractions of Turkey.
The fully restored Roman theatre can accommodate 15,000 people today. It was once a glorious town during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Check out the remnants of this historic town. Explore the town with a guide and learn about the lost glory of this Roman town.
5. Perge
One of the hidden gems and less-trodden destinations in Antalya holidays is the ancient city of Perge which lies 17 kilometres east of Antalya. The city of Perge used to be the capital of the Pamphylia, a region that prospered under Greek and Roman rule. Today, this city of ancient ruins has a desolate stadium, ruins of roman temples and several other buildings that provide an amazing insight into the ancient history of this region.
However, Perge is not famous as Aspendos, meaning receiving fewer crowds which allows history buffs to explore and learn about the city and see the various remnants of the buildings like the Roman baths, Hellenistic Gate, and the Acropolis
6. Termessos
Aspendos gets all the fame and tourists, but the ruins of Termessos are special for their rawness and ambience. The ancient town of Termessos lies 34 kilometres northwest of Antalya. This ancient town fiercely protected its independence from the Greeks and the Romans. Today, the well-preserved remains of the ancient city spread along a rugged hillside that offers stunning panoramic views of the nearby villages and countryside.
However, the roman theatre is not like the one in Aspendos. It lies in shambles with rocks and stones, providing a stunning picture-perfect setting for this historical remain. The theatre also offers stunning views of the Taurus Mountains.
7. Olympos and the Chimera
The twin villages of Olympos and Cirali are located 84 kilometres southwest of Antalya. Positioned on the coastline and overlooking the ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Olympos. The village of Olympos is a popular place for backpackers and the village of Cirali has a more chillout vibe and a beach. However, the main attraction here is the naturally occurring flame that flickers out of the rocky cliffs. The methane gas flame are naturally occurring phenomena. It is also linked to the fabulous Greek mythology of Chimera, a mythical creature that breathes fire.
8. Karain Cave
Located 27 kilometres from Antalya, the Karain Cave is one the best places to visit for history buffs interested in the prehistoric period of human history. These caves are more than 25,000 years old. Travellers can see the ruins that have emerged after the excavation and dates to the the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic eras Inside the cave. Moreover, don’t forget to look out for the pre-historic remnants include the likes of bones, teeth, weapons, etc. The paths inside the cave are narrow and rustic. It also has a small museum that displays the exhibits from the several excavations in Karain Cave.
Check out: Coldest places in Turkey