Antalya was until recently known as
Turkey’s fastest growing city, only to be overtaken by Istanbul. It has been
frequently called the ‘Turkish Riviera’ for its gorgeous Mediterranean
coastline with long stretches of golden sand and aquamarine waters, upmarket
shopping areas, rich history and culture and luxury hotels. Many tourists come
from all around the globe to visit the sights of Antalya, so how should you
take advantage of your time there?
If you want to see a lot of things and get
around easily, the best time of year to visit the region is between March and
June or September and November. Due to the Mediterranean climes, the
temperatures can soar during the high season of July and August, plus families
flock there on summer holidays. The winters are cooler, protected from the
chilly weather by the Taurus Mountains, but often are very wet. You’ll also
need to base yourself somewhere central in order to be able to reach everything
you want to see and do quickly and easily. There are many hotels located in
Antalya such as the Adonis Hotel with
spectacular views from the cliff edges, or the tiny boutique hotels nestled in
amongst the Kaleici old town of Antalya. If you choose to stay here, take some
time to wander the maze of streets and pop down to the harbour for a boat trip
along the coastline where you’ll explore hidden coves and be offered freshly
grilled fish.
Of course you’ll want to spend some time relaxing
on the beautiful beaches of the Antalya region, but remember to take some time
to visit a few other things that Antalya has to offer. Golf is something that’s
very big here with a number of golf courses set against stunning backdrops
situated in the area.
The rich history is one of the biggest
draws of Antalya. The old town is surrounded by ancient stone walls made up of
an old Clock Tower and Hadrian’s Gate, a series of Roman arches. Head a little
way out of town to Aspendos, a stunningly well preserved theatre that dates
back to Roman times.
If you’re travelling with kids, there are
plenty of things to keep them occupied too. When they’ve tired of playing on
the beach and taking part in some of the many water sports on offer, take them
to Mini-City amusement park. In around 55 acres, it houses miniature models of
buildings and architectural structures from all around Turkey, both ancient and
modern. Marvel at the amazing replica of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and the
Celsus Library of Ephesus.
Don’t forget to sample some of the local
cuisine too. Turkey is famous for its mixed pot of tastes from Central Asian
flavours to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern. Meze is one of the favourite
dishes for tourists because it offers something to everyone’s tastes. But if
you’d like to sample a local speciality, find a street vendor selling mussels
stuffed with pine nuts or patlican dolmasi, a popular stuffed aubergine dish.
