Antalya and the South Coast

Antalya’s traditional wooden Ottoman houses clustered around a picturesque harbour and the stunning Roman sculpture in the Antalya Museum make this sun-kissed Mediterranean city one of Turkiye’s most beautiful. Waterfalls, fine beaches and impressive classic ruins are the main draws along the adjacent Pamphalian coast, while in the hills of Pisidia are several wild, remote, and rarely visited ancient cities. Antalya’s old city, or ‘Kaleici’, is entirely enclosed by its Roman walls and is noted for its fine Ottoman houses, cafes, restaurants, and paved narrow lanes that lead down to the town’s picturesque harbour and small beach. Several boutique hotels within Kaleici have lovely Mediterranean gardens with swimming pools and are idyllic spots to enjoy lazy days. The city’s Archaeological Museum is unmissable and has a collection of stunningly displayed Roman statues, sarcophagi and sculptures – much of which comes from nearby Perge.

Ancient Perge is a 30-minute drive from Antalya and first appeared in history when it surrendered to Alexander the Great in 333 BC. The town’s stadium is one of the best preserved in Turkiye. Perge’s extensive remains include Roman baths, two mighty circular Hellenistic towers, and an imposing monumental way leading up to the nymphaeum at the base of the acropolis hill. Further on is the city of Aspendos which is noted for its 2nd-century AD theatre – one of the most complete and impressive examples of its kind – and almost perfectly preserved. Boat excursions can also be arranged from Antalya to Suluada (aka the Turkish Maldives) and to the Manavgat waterfalls. 

Inland and accessible from Antalya on half and full-day excursions are two dramatic Pisidian ruins. The wildly romantic ruins of Termessos are perched on the Peak of Gullu Dag at a height of more than 1000 metres. They are chiefly visited on account of the city’s magnificently positioned theatre with its breathtaking mountain backdrop. Ancient Sagalassos is in Turkiye’s beautiful upland lake region and has much to interest the classically minded visitor, including a theatre, heroon, and the nymphaeum of Antonius Pius, which is as elaborate as the famous Library of Celsus at Ephesus.