Cultural experiences in Antalya: 8 must-see historical sites on the Turkish Mediterranean coast is written by Karen Bender. RejsRejsRejs had Turkey's Tourist Board GoTürkiye as a partner on the trip. All positions are, as always, the editorial staff's own.
Lots of cultural experiences in Antalya in full sun
I've never been in Turkey before, and therefore I have been very much looking forward to visiting Antalya and participate in a historical and cultural journey. The focus was on precisely showing another side of Turkey rather than the more classic notion of deck chairs and drinks on beautiful beaches, which was what I associated with Turkey.
I became much wiser and have experienced another side of this beautiful country, which I hope you will find equally interesting. And there are many cultural experiences in Antalya that are worth a holiday, from relics from the ancient Roman Empire to the winding streets of the old town of Kaleiçi.
The most beautiful hotel – with a ruin in the basement
I chose a hotel in the old town because this part of Antalya is closed to traffic and it was really a good idea because it was like stepping into a time warp of historical places where you can just let your senses disappear in good experiences.
I was amused by the name of my hotel because it is called RuinAdalia, and I don't think that sells very well. But I was pleasantly surprised in several ways, and since there is a very concrete reason for the name, it made good sense in the end.
The hotel is very quiet, clean and welcoming with a fantastic breakfast buffet packed with Turkish national dishes, while there were also croissants and chocolate spreads, so it is possible to satisfy everyone's needs.
Although I went at the end of November, the temperatures were between 25 and 30 degrees. It was therefore delicious to have a pool and sunbeds, so that you can just relax and rest between all the cultural experiences in Antalya that you choose to throw yourself into.
The very best thing about the hotel leads back to the name and then it all makes sense: Beneath the entire pool area and the restaurant/bar, there is a complete Roman excavation at the original street level three meters below. When they wanted to renovate the hotel 17 years ago, they came across remains from the Roman Empire.
Instead of abandoning the renovation, they made the excavation a part of the hotel experience, and therefore hotel guests now have access to an underground labyrinth of ancient Roman mosaics, mausoleums and figures completely linked together by wooden bridges and lighting in selected places.
Historic sites: Hadrian's Gate between new and old
Because the hotel is in the old town without traffic, you can only get to the edge of the area by taxi, and from there you walk the rest of the way. But in this there is also a gift waiting, because you go through Hadrian's Gate to enter the old town.
Hadrian's Gate in Antalya is on the list of the greatest cultural experiences in Antalya because it so clearly draws threads back in time. Hadrian's Gate was built in AD 130 to honor the Roman Emperor Hadrian during a visit to the city and is one of the best preserved examples of Roman architecture in Turkey.
The gate is made of marble and consists of three arches and two towers, one of which dates from Roman times, while the other was added in the Middle Ages. The gate later became part of the city walls that protected Antalya, and today it is an iconic landmark and a popular tourist attraction in the city, which in both daylight and evening darkness is a fantastic sight.
The Old Town – Kaleiçi
The hotel RuinAdalia is located in the old town, Kaleiçi, and for the first few days it is a labyrinthine jumble of old beautiful streets, bars and hotels, carpet shops and pottery stalls, but slowly you find your way around. The district clearly bears the stamp of boats Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture.
It is in this area that historical sites such as Hadrian's Gate and the Yivliminare Mosque are found. It is also here that an old Christian church has been converted into a cultural center and offers the most beautiful kaleidoscopic image displays - if you can find it.
The old harbor creates a beautiful connection to the Mediterranean, and the Turkish Mediterranean coast is worth a visit, whether you are for swimming or just want to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and nature. The bathing water at the end of autumn was 24 degrees, so for a northerner it is luxury bathing conditions.
Although at first it seems like a labyrinth of pretzel corners, winding streets, crooked houses, cobblestones, small shops and cozy bars, it is a safe area to walk in, and you just have to throw yourself into finding your way around, because after a few days it seems logical and simple.
The Nekropolis Museum offers beautiful cultural experiences
The Nekropolis Museum in Antalya is an archaeological gem that showcases finds from ancient burial sites in the region and is one of the most exciting cultural experiences in Antalya – especially if you love museums and exhibitions. Nekropolis actually means City of the Dead, and that is also what the museum exhibits; findings from the dead.
As with the hotel, this excavation is also the result of wanting to build a bus station, and when you came across remains of the old Rome, there was nothing to do but to start the excavations, create a museum and make the excavations three meters down into a part of both urban space and museum, so that it now shows the historical sites.
The museum is reminiscent of the Center Pompidou i Paris, because it is built from a neat construction of white support columns, which cut through the excavation and support the roof structure. A large staircase at the entrance takes you down and around the Roman tombs, which were originally a cemetery outside the city walls, but are now an integral part of the city centre.
The museum provides an insight into burial rituals and lifestyles from different civilizations, including from Roman and Byzantine times. The exhibits include sarcophagi, tombstones and jewelry found in the area. The museum is particularly known for its detailed carvings and well-preserved objects and is well worth a visit.
Historical sites in Antalya: The ancient city of Side
The historic city of Side on the Turkish Mediterranean coast is known for its spectacular ruins from Roman and Greek times. The city's highlights include the impressive amphitheater, where one late evening I heard a piano concert and was drawn to the old Rome and the Temple of Apollo, which stands dramatically by the water.
A special part of the experience here is that you cannot drive the last part of the road between the ancient ruins, and therefore you walk between columns, ruins and Roman remains to enter the center of the historic city of Side.
It is possible to book a ride with a small golf cart, and otherwise you can just enjoy the scenery and the historical sites while you go at your own pace. Both parts are worth an experience and provide a good opportunity to enjoy the ancient scenery.
Side was once an important trading town and this is still clearly visible. It's easy to imagine how alive and bubbling a melting pot of cultures this city is in high season, because even in late October the narrow streets are alive with shopping, cafes, restaurants and sports pubs.
The ancient harbor in Side clearly shows how important maritime life was in the Mediterranean has been in the past and also today it is a cultural gathering point for the Turkish Mediterranean coast and the historical sites left by ancient Rome and the Ottoman Empire, which is why it is on the list of great cultural experiences in Antalya.
Cultural experiences in Antalya: Amphitheater in Aspendos
The last thing on the list of amazing historical sites in Antalya and its surroundings is the Amphitheater of Aspendos. This amphitheater is one of the best preserved Roman theaters in the world and was built in the 2nd century during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
It can hold up to 15.000 spectators and was used for theatrical performances, gladiator fights and public meetings. The theater is known for its excellent acoustics and impressive architecture, designed by the architect Zenon, and to this day you can whisper a secret on stage, which the back and very top rows also share.
Today, the beautiful amphitheater is used for cultural events and concerts, and the highlight of the program when I visited the theater was a performance of Troy, which must be a particularly beautiful experience to enjoy in this amphitheater, where you can also let yourself be transported back in the time.
The culinary experiences are always a highlight
Turkey has a very exciting cuisine to delve into and represents a good fusion of Ottoman, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food cultures characterized by spices, fresh ingredients and exciting choices of meat. An experience for my Nordic taste buds, who don't usually eat grilled goat or cow belly in tomato.
As Antalya is beautifully located on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, it is clear that the local cuisine draws on Mediterranean-inspired flavors, where fish, shellfish and olive oil play a central role, and dishes such as piyaz – a kind of bean salad with tahini – and fresh grilled fish are local specialties.
Another thing that the region is very famous for is citrus fruits and honey, and in fact the sweet cuisine plays a big role in Turkish food tradition, where especially turkish delight is probably the most well-known and is a form of sugar jelly sprinkled with icing sugar.
I was inside a local delicatessen where there were samples of pickled bitter orange, which was surprisingly delicate and very sweet. There are also lots of desserts and glasses of nuts pickled in honey, and I always think that food is one of the best cultural experiences – also in Antalya.
Dog and cat life in the old streets
One thing I would particularly like to highlight about Antalya and the surrounding cities is their relationship with wild cats and dogs. It is very different from i Denmark, where you don't see stray dogs in the street scene and rarely see cats at outdoor cafes and restaurants; it is very different in Antalya.
I have on previous trips in Greece experienced how violent it can be with stray dogs, and therefore I had thought about this relationship in advance, but it turned out to be surprisingly positive.
There are indeed many stray cats and also quite a few dogs in the street scene and especially in the area around Hadrian's Gate and other historical places, there were a handful of dogs hanging out, living and sleeping on the lawns and talking to cats and local residents.
I asked my guide about it, and as he says, it is not possible to avoid the stray animals, but all dogs are chipped, neutered and have an annual vet check. Also, it's never really cold in Antalya, and the locals feed and look after the dogs, and the ones I saw seemed well fed and content.
So it may well be that it is not my fat dog's dog life in Denmark - but it still seems like a good dog life in the warm south.
There are many more cats, and it is acceptable in all restaurants and bars that you feed the cats by hand and sprinkle your leftovers on the floor – because there are cats everywhere in outdoor bars and cafes, and then you help each other feed them.
Having said this, it still seems very different with big dogs just prancing around the streets and alleys, and if I had traveled with my children, they would have immediately bought a box of dog biscuits and cat food and sprinkled it out to all four-legged creatures, the had to meet on their way.
Sports and water sports along the Turkish Mediterranean coast
The last thing I want to highlight about this beautiful corner of Turkey, are the fantastic opportunities to practice all kinds of sports. And if I had the company of my family again, it was definitely on the list of things to try.
Because Antalya lies along the Turkish Mediterranean coast, it is an ideal destination for all things water sports. Along the coast you can try kayaking, windsurfing, diving, snorkelling and parasailing in the crystal clear Mediterranean. The nearby Taurus Mountains offer fantastic opportunities for hiking, river rafting, mountain biking and climbing, as well as zip-lining if you dare.
In winter, it is actually also possible to ski in Saklıkent just a short drive from the city, and finally there are plenty of cool and luxurious golf courses in the area, which the many golf enthusiasts at the airport also clearly indicated.
Finally, it's obvious to just go down to the small private beaches, buy entry through one of the restaurants and just float on a beach chair with music in your ears and a cold drink in your hand, while you let yourself cool off in the quite warm Mediterranean for the time of year .
So even if it's not one of the classic cultural experiences in the list Antalya, then it is absolutely worth seeing the city from the sea and mountain side as well.
Pack your suitcase and set off for new cultural experiences in Antalya and the surrounding area
I must say that all my expectations for cultural experiences in Antalya and the historical sites in the area around the city were fully met, and I can only recommend that you pack your bags and go and enjoy some exciting days on the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
My recommendation would be to travel in May or again in October. That way you get rid of the wildest ones heat waves and the vast majority of tourists. I have experienced this as a privilege because there has been plenty of time to enjoy the winding streets and beautiful shops without being completely overwhelmed by lots of people.
At the same time, the local Turkish population is very polite and helpful, and every time I have looked like someone who might have gone a little lost anyway, well, I have been helped on with a smile.
The 8 best cultural experiences in Antalya
- The most beautiful hotel – with a ruin in the basement
- Historic sites: Hadrian's Gate between new and old
- The old town of Kaleiçi
- The Necropolis Museum
- The ancient city of Side
- The amphitheater in Aspendos
- The culinary experiences
- Dog and cat life in the old streets
- Sports and water sports along the Turkish Mediterranean coast
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