I recently visited Turkey for the INFLOW travel summit. After a few days in Istanbul, we headed south to the most famous resort town of Antalya. The city is famous for having some of the best Roman ruins in antiquity and is home to many historical ruins, places of natural beauty and gorgeous beaches. Without further ado here are 5 things to do in Antalya, Turkey!
This town was once seen simply as the gateway to the Turkish Riviera, but today it’s very much a destination in its own right. It is situated on the Gulf of Antalya, which is the largest city on Turkey’s western Mediterranean coastline is both classically beautiful and stylishly modern. At the core, you will find the wonderfully preserved old city district of Kaleiçi that is just within the castle. This old city district is wrapped around a splendid Roman-era harbor with clifftop views of hazy blue mountain silhouettes that are worth raising a toast to.
You can discover the city on a trip from the side. While here, you can get picked up from your Side hotel in the morning and travel to Duden Waterfalls National Park. You can take a walk here through the beautiful green park as you listen to the sound of falling water in the most beautiful and most visited falls in the Antalya region. I recommend you book a city tour here.
This theater is located in the lower town and was built in the 2nd century AD. It is one of the largest theaters ever built by the Romans in Asia Minor, and today, it is one of the best-preserved examples of Roman theater architecture. The theater is breathtakingly stunning, and it features a huge seating area that can host up to 20,000 people.
Once inside, you are immediately drawn to the vast scale of the theater and how well it is largely preserved. What makes this theater so magnificent is its spellbinding height of 315 feet. The theater is so massive that tourists visiting feel engulfed by its splendor. You will also find remains of ancient basilicas, Roman aqueducts and other splendid architecture. Every year, the Aspendos theatre is home to an International Opera and Ballet Festival. Around the place you’ll also find a bridge and the unique aqueduct of Aspendos that transported water from the hills to the north to the town. Book your ticket to visit Aspendos here.
It is mesmerizing to wander through these majestic ruins. There are hardly any visitors on a weekday, so visiting on a weekday will give you the opportunity to enjoy the solitude and imagine the past. Refreshments are available and appreciated. These wonderful ruins really paint a picture of how it was like all those years ago. Make sure you have enough memory on your camera as you will be taking lots of shots!
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Get to the stadium as its pretty impressive, but you will probably need a guide for your visit, to make sure you get the most of this ancient town. Being able to see ancient bath houses, a Byzantine chapel, and ancient plumbing is rather amazing. The site is rather vast, and includes an agora area, gymnasiums, and a water system. You can stroll for half day, dreaming of what the site may have looked like many years ago.
After you leave Perge behind, pay a visit to the Kursunlu Waterfall for a refreshing break, lunch by the river, and a chance to bathe in the idyllic waters. This waterfall is on one of the tributaries of the Aksu River, where the tributary drops from Antalya’s plateau to the coastal plain. It is situated about 40 km to the North-East of Antalya in the midst of a pine forest of exceptional beauty, and the environs provide a picnic and pleasure spot.
The place is quiet and beautiful. It brings you close to nature, and it offers a lovely atmosphere of turtles and birds. On the way to Kursunlu, there is nice smelling pine forest, and the parking is surrounded by huge trees offering shadow and cool air. The way to the waterfall in well kept and very natural. You will get amazing views of the river bed and natural walk ways to make you forget the little longer way to the waterfall. While walking along the river, you will find different picnic spots where you can relax and enjoy your day. Book your waterfalls tour here.
Gloria Serenity Resort surely lives up to its promise of providing you with exceptional peace and harmony as well as a luxurious vacation that makes your dream of an extraordinary holiday come true. It is a green resort built by the beach and it boasts one of the best-rated locations in Belek! It is only 37 km away from Antalya International Airport, and you will find free on-site car parking.
This is a highly recommended spot for a romantic getaway or a family holiday. It is set out on a large area so it is usually not crowded and therefore can enjoy some ample time. There are also entertainment shows in the evenings that feature acrobats and dancers. There are also 10 golf courses within 5 minutes’ drive of the hotel. While here, you can enjoy a private Mediterranean beach and a Serenity Spa with a wide range of luxury treatments.
Guest rooms have private balconies with garden and sea views, and superior rooms come with a private hot tub. All rooms have an LCD TV with satellite channels and free Wi-Fi access. You will have many options to choose where to stay, but you can rest assured none will let you down. I personally stayed in a Garden Villa, and it was amazing!
Visiting Antalya is great experience, and whether traveling solo or with family and friends, it’s impossible to get bored. We stayed here for three days but these weren’t even enough! There are so many ancient sites, beaches and more in just a short drive from Antalya that you can visit. I would recommend spending 1 – 2 weeks exploring the area because you can take many day trips to places like Pamukkale, Demre Myra Kekova, Koprulu Canyon and Termessos.
Did you enjoy the 5 things to do in Antalya, Turkey? What are your recommendations for must visit places? Leave us a comment below!
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