Aspendos
Aspendos is an ancient city of Pamphylia which is located 44 kilometers away from Antalya city on the Eurymedon River in southern Turkey. The city is famous for one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world. The Roman theatre was built during the golden age of Aspendos in the era of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and was used during the 13th century by the Seljuks.
If you are interested in the history of Aspendos, you can stroll in the ruins and come across several ancient relics. Moreover, the city of Aspendos is an astonishing marble street for you to see. At the end of the day, you can enjoy a cup of coffee at the cafes while watching the sunset.
You can reach Aspendos by bus or by private car. Take the D400 route and you will reach Aspendos in 45 minutes. The best time to visit Aspendos is the months of March-June as it is the time for the several theatres and festivals at the theatre.
Perge
Perge is an ancient city located between the rivers Catarrhactes and Celastrus. Perge is located 15 kilometers west of Antalya and dates back to the Bronze Age. it is believed that the city was originally established by the Hittites around 1500 B.C. The city was later invaded by Alexander the Great, the beautiful and mesmerizing architecture of Perge is the living proof of the Hellenistic period.
When you are visiting Perge, you will come across all the ruins of the city. The Greco-Roman theatre has the best marble reliefs and the Stadium of Perge was known to be one of the biggest stadiums that could seat up to 12000 people. The stadium was excavated in 1946 and has been one of the best places to visit in Antalya ever since. The best time to visit Perge is the months of March to May during the time of spring. The moderate weather of Antalya will ensure that you can perfectly explore the ruins of Perge.
Yivil Minaret
The Yivil Minaretis an eighth-century mosque and is the symbol of the tourism capital of Turkey. Built by Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Kayqubad I, the mosque is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Turkey and is the presentation of the epitome of Turkish Anatolian architecture.
Kaleici
Kaleici is an ancient city of Attalia that survived the Hellenistic & Roman eras. Kaleici is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Antalya and has undergone several massive restorations. The city is painted and the red-tiled mansions featuring several boutique hotels, art galleries, shops, restaurants, etc. One of the best places to see in Kaleici is the 14 meter Clock Tower built by Grand Vizier Sait Pasha in 1901. Other surrounding places you can visit when in Kaleici are the Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque, Konyaalti Beach, Falezler, etc. One of the best things you can do while in Kaleicii is to enjoy swimming and soak in the sun, or enjoy a warm cup of coffee while watching the setting sun.
Antalya Museum
If you are a history buff, Antalya Museum is the right place for you to visit. The museum is spread over 30,000 sq feet and has 13 halls, an open-air gallery, laboratories, repair shops, living quarters, and cafeterias.
The halls in the museum are categorized based on the types of artifacts displayed as Prehistory Hall, Sarcophagus Hall, Icons Hall, Emperors and Gods Hall, etc.
Konyaalti Beach
For all the nature-loving people who love to play with the sea, Konyaalti beach is one of the best places to visit in Antalya. With the backdrop of Taurus Mountain, the beach is a long coastline that gives you the most soothing view and experience of the Mediterranean. The 7 km stretched shoreline features white sand and gravels. Some specific attractions on the beach are swimming, jet ski, boating, etc.
There are several sun longers for people to relax and bistros to keep your stomach full as you bath in the sun on the Konyaalti beach. One of the largest water parks in Antalya, Aqualand, is located very close to the beach for people to have an exciting day.
Duden Waterfalls
Duden Waterfalls is a group of waterfalls that comprises the Upper and Lower Duden Waterfalls. It is also called the Alexander Waterfalls and is situated around 10 kilometers from the city. The waterfall is 20 meters high and is located in the middle of lush green vegetation, hills, and a blue pool of water.
Duden waterfalls also have caves beneath them that present a beautiful view of Duden. The white cascading waters of the waterfall offer a visual treat and beautiful experience to all its visitors. The Duden Waterfall is a neighbor to Genclik Park where you can relax and enjoy a picture-perfect setting of the waterfall and its surroundings.
TunekTepe
Adventurers who are looking for an adrenaline rush are advised to take a hiking trip to the summit of TunekTepe. although the path is difficult and steep, the 618meter high hill has a hotel, a nightclub, and a rotating restaurant with an observation platform. Even though Tunektepe is unconventional, it is the most popular place for tourists to visit in Antalya.
Roam around the Tlos Ruins
If you have included the Saklikent Canyon in your itinerary list, a visit to the TlosRuins is a must. Even though it's considered a part of the Lycian empire, historians have traced its roots back to about 4000 years back. Several ruins are there in Tlos, scattered across the entire town. The most thrilling fact about Tlos ruins is that all of them don’t belong to the same era. Rather, you will see ruins from different eras placed together. Hence, you will have some fun in identifying which ruin is from what era. Here, you can find the TombofBellerophon- the largest and the most magnificent ruin in the entire Tlos.
If you are visiting TunekTepe, you can experience the adrenaline rush and enjoy the majestic views of the white beaches, mountains, and ravines of Antalya. There is also a cable car service for tourists to enjoy while looking at the panoramic view of Antalya.
Karain Caves
Among the several tourist spots of archeological significance, the Karain Cave is one of the most prominent places to visit. The cave is situated on the incline of the Sam Dagi Mountains and is 300 m above sea level. The entrance of the cave is 50 m above the base of the hill.
When inside the cave, visitors will come across 3 large chambers and many small rooms separated by the calcite walls. The chambers are interconnected by snaking corridors and have several stalactites and stalagmites that look like the teeth of a monster.
At the bae of the Sam Dagi Mountain, you will come across a small museum that displays several archeological finds from the caves including several homo-sapien skulls and skeletal remains. Other important things that were found in the cave were several tools and weapons from the Neolithic period. These exhibits are present in the Antalya Museum and a trip to the caves will show you the origin of these relics and artifacts.
Revel in the glory of Xanthos
Even though Xanthos is now in ruins, the picturesque view of the terraced mountain slope with houses and buildings scattered around the greenery is eye-catching and quite refreshing also. Xanthos is mainly famous for the top three buildings from the ancient Lycian time- the Theater, the Acropolis, and the Agora. A little left to the humongous Roman Theater is the remnants of the NereidMonument. On the right side, you will find the HellenisticCityGate.
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