Antalya

Turkey

Things to do in Antalya:

Antalya Restaurants

Affordable (14)

Vanilla Caf� Lounge

This venue is a must. With its cosy, modern decor, it's the perfect place to start the evening with a cocktail before sampling one of the restaurant's signature healthy creations, such as roast... read more
Fine dining (10)

Ristorante Verona

�-la-carte Italian cuisine of this quality is a rarity in Antalya. Verona offers a varied menu with great pasta, pizza, seafood and main-course meat dishes to satisfy any palate, all accompanied by... read more

Antalya Nightlife

Chilled (9)

Black Ice Bar

You get more than you bargained for when coming here to chill out. The walls, furniture and even the glasses are made of ice. Thankfully, the proprietors provide warm clothing. read more
Clubbing (9)

King Bar

King Bar is situated deep in the heart of Old Antalya. Although it's nestled among ancient walls and ruins, you'll find anything but a tired, old scene here. read more

This Month in Antalya:

By Jon Stigner

Shopping: Want some traditional Turkish knick-knacks to take home with you? Or just a spell of window shopping? Antalya's bazaar, or '�arsi', is very conveniently positioned just behind Kazim �zalp Caddesi.

Sightseeing: Take a walk around the old harbour in Kalei�i, stare up at the impressive old city walls, take a few minutes over a beer or coffee, and allow the boatmen to tempt you into a short boat trip.

Key areas: The Fire of Anatolia dance spectacular is a must-see and will be showing on 1, 4, 8 and 15 May (fireofanatolia.be for tickets and information).

Antalya News & Gossip

Historical Weekend in Antalya

FRIDAY

Lying amid the sprawl of modern Antalya is the historical heart, Kalei�i. Explore its narrow streets and you'll be rewarded with glorious examples of Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture. Set in the scant remainder of the old city walls (mostly torn down by the local authorities in the 1930s to allow for better air circulation in summer) are the triple arches of Hadrian's Gate (dating back to 130 AD), constructed to commemorate Emperor Hadrian's visit to the city. For a traditional Turkish lunch, venture behind the iconic Roman-built Clock Tower, or Saat K�lesi, to D�nerci �ars�ısı, a covered parade of informal eateries dishing up some of the best d�ner kebabs (yes, they're the real deal).

Ideally located in the Kalei�i, choose the Marina Residence (from �79, book at www.hotels.easyJet.com) as your base for the weekend. It consists of three restored Ottoman villas surrounding a pool, with spectacular views over the Antalya Gulf. You needn't stray too far for one of the best restaurants in the city - the Marina Restaurant (15 Mermerli Sok, tel: +90 242 247 5490) within the hotel offers a gourmet menu, with Turkish specialities alongside international cuisine. Dine on the terrace and while away the evening in style.

If you've still got energy, the place for live Turkish music is Akdeniz �i�ek Pasaj (24-26 Uzun �arşısi Sokak, Kalei�i, tel: +90 242 243 4303). Its relaxed, friendly atmosphere makes it the perfect place to try the local aniseed-flavoured tipple, rakı.

SATURDAY

Catch an old tram on Cumhuriyet Caddesi and alight at the Antalya Museum (Antalya M�zesi; Konyaaltı Caddesi), home to awe-inspiring Roman sculptures from the nearby ancient city of Perge. The Antalya region has one of the richest cultural heritages in Turkey, and the museum, one of the largest in the country, has 14 exhibition halls with more than 5,000 exhibits, covering everything from the Palaeolithic, through to the Lycian, Roman, and Ottoman periods. It even has an entire room devoted to coins.

The combination of a cooling sea breeze, tantalising view and fabulously fresh fish for lunch is a winner at Mermerli Restaurant (Banyo Sokak, tel: +90 024 316 7515). Looking down at the water, you can almost see Pompey the Great's galleys pulling out to open sea in the hunt for the Cilician pirates that plagued this coastline in the first century BC. Nestling between the old walls of Kalei�i and the attractive harbour, Mermerli Beach is the spot for kicking back and relaxing into a leisurely afternoon, and can be reached through Mermerli Restaurant.

Come nightfall, book a table at Seraser (18 Karanlık Sokak, tel: +90 0242 247 6015) - a new addition to Kalei�i's fine-dining scene. The innovative menu features modern, international dishes with a subtle nod to Turkish cuisine, such as goat's cheese and aubergine souffl�, and sea bass wrapped in vine leaves. Follow Antalya's trendy set to Club Arma (75 Iskele Caddesi), which sits upon a rocky outcrop jutting out over the sea. The foundations of the building once belonged to a gasworks, dating back to the 19th century when Antalya was an Italian territory.

SUNDAY

The area surrounding Antalya is dotted with ancient wonders and lost cities; the spectacular ruins of Perge lie just 16km away. The city was founded more than 2,600 years ago by tribes dispersing south after the Trojan War, and is the area's most mentioned city in historical texts. Alexander the Great even visited there in 333BC. Highlights include the 15,000-seater stadium (together with nearby Aspendos, one of the best-preserved in the ancient world), the marble Roman baths, and a number of shops and stalls.

For a "wow"-factor view, soak up the last rays of sunshine at The Big Man Lara (Eski Lara Yolu, Falezler Uzeri, tel: +90 0242 316 138). Gaze across at the distant Beydağı Mountains while feasting on international Mediterranean cuisine - a fitting way to end a weekend in a city moulded by its Roman heritage.

Antalya Trivia

May: Antalya is mentioned in the Bible: "And when they [Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas] had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia" (Acts 14:25).
April: When the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus came to the throne in 1118, Antalya was completely surrounded by the Turks and its only link to the outside world was by sea.
March: Antalya has the fastest growing population in Turkey: in 1927, it was 17,000; now, it's well over a million.