Turkey, often considered as the bridge between the western and eastern world is one of our favourite destinations, but you would be surprised to know that in Turkey our favourite destination is not Istanbul, neither is it Cappadocia – in fact, it is Antalya. Now don’t get us wrong, Istanbul and Cappadocia are both very pretty and are really world class holiday destinations, but the Turkish city which takes our breath away is definitely Antalya.

 

 

With its lovely pebble beaches, seafront cafes, historical old town and the Greco-Roman ruins Antalya is the perfect place to have a memorable holiday.  That being said, let’s look at the 7 best things to do in Antalya.

 

 

1. Visit the Old Town of Kaleici and the Old Harbor

 

 

This is the one place that you can visit every single day of your trip and not get bored. The narrow cobbled streets, cosy eating joints and bars, lots of places to shop, stunning views of the old harbour and a rendezvous with Roman and Ottoman architecture… you can find it all here 🙂

 

 

2. A Pirate Boat Ride

 

 

Brace yourself for a seafaring adventure with a pirate boat ride and enjoy great views, a foam disco party and a dip in the sea. There is something here for everyone and for every age.

 

3. Day Trip to the Roman Ruins

Perge Ancient city and Aspendos Ruins and Theater

 

One of the most amazing Roman ruins that we have seen, simply because of its vastness. There are still plenty active excavations being done at the spot. You will see remains of a basilica, some towers, a stadium, gymnasium, a fountain and some baths. The site is humongous and requires a lot of walking, so we recommend you wear comfortable shoes.

 

 

 

Continue with the trip and visit the amazing Aspendos Theater, one of the best preserved ancient theatres. Sit on the steps towards the higher side and imagine yourself enjoying an ancient Roman performance. The acoustics of the sounds from the stage is believed to be incredible.

 

 

4. Shopping

 

 

 

 

From beautiful carpets to evil eye charms, you can buy a lot of souvenirs which are quintessentially Turkish. Pick whatever suits your budget.

 

5. Enjoy the Beautiful Pebble Beaches

 

 

Antalya has some of the best beaches in the world, the water is turquoise blue and the atmosphere is always buzzing. Our personal favourite is Konyaalti Beach, not only is it easy to reach from the city centre but it also has a magnificent landscape with towering Mountains in the backdrop. Some people prefer sand over pebbles, well we just love the fact that pebbles are easier to clean than sand! 🙂

 

 

6.Enjoy Turkish Food and Drinks

 

 

 

 

One of the reasons we love to travel is because we are complete foodies and what better way to get to know about different cultures and come up close and personal with a country’s culture than its food?!

Turkey’s cuisine is world renowned and diverse and not just restricted to Donner Kebabs, Baklava, Turkish Coffee and Raki (local alcoholic drink). Our top tip – give the international fast food chains a miss on your trip to Turkey and savour the authentic local food as much as you can.

 

 

 

 7. Spectacular Waterfalls

 

 

Antalya has a lot of charming Waterfalls like this one, and the best part is you can enjoy them really up close. Our suggestion is to do what the locals do, make your trip to the falls a picnic trip, it might just be the best thing you would have experienced in Antalya 🙂

 

Have you visited Antalya? Tell us about your favourite things to do in Antalya.

 

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