In recent years, the gulf of Antalya, has become one of the most popular tourist resorts in Turkey. The pine-clad mountains of Toros supply a breathtaking backdrop to the coastline of Antalya, resulting in an irregular coastline of rocky headlands and secluded coves. As will all Turkish summer resorts it boasts sunshine for 300 days of the year, and is a paradise for sunbathing, swimming, and sports activities like windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, mountain climbing and spelunking. If you come to Antalya in March or April, you can ski in the mornings and in the afternoons swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The peaks of the Taurus mountains, from which tall trees descend in places right down to the shore, remain covered in snow right up until the middle of summer. Antalya itself, as well as the nearby tourist centers of Kemer, Beldibi, Belek, Side and Alanya, are thronged with tourists through every season of the year. If you come to Antalya in March and April, you can ski in the mornings and in the afternoons swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Important historical sites await your discovery, amid a landscape of pine forests, olive and citrus groves and palm, avocado and banana plantations. The Turkish Riviera is Turkey's tourism capital. Its full range of accommodations, from tourist class to deluxe hotels, and the hospitable people of Antalya will make your holiday comfortable and enjoyable.

Set amid amazing scenery of sharp contrasts, Antalya, Turkey's principal holiday resort, is an attractive city with shady palm-lined boulevards and a prize-winning marina. On the picturesque old quarter, Kaleici, has narrow, winding streets and old wooden houses abut the ancient city walls. The coves, valleys and forests in the vicinity offer picnic sites of extraordinary beauty. Besides the ancient cities, there are waterfalls and caverns and many other natural beauties waiting to greet the visitor. The city of Antalya is situated on cliffs at the extreme and of the gulf. The city center is located in the region contained within the old defense walls surrounding the yacht harbor. Antalya is also one of the most important centers of art and culture in Turkey.

Antalya is home to Aqua Park, an aqua park on the eastern coast, offering every kind of water sport and water slides. Antalya also offers an award-winning marina; Kaleici Marina and Leisure Center with many souvenir shops, friendly cafes and restaurants as well as yacht moorings and services. The old city walls are lit up at night, forming an atmosphere of serenity and timelessness.

The harbor area is undoubtedly the most interesting part of the city. The marina is surrounded by numerous bars, cafes, restaurants and tea- gardens, and from the tea-gardens, set on the top of the cliffs, high above the harbor, one can enjoy a marvelous bird’s eye view of the loveliest part of the old city; Since the 1970s, many of the old stone or wooden Ottoman houses that line the narrow streets contained within the old defense walls have been restored and converted into pensions, hotels and restaurants. Neighboring the marina, the attractive late 19th century Iskele Mosque is built of cut stone and set on four pillars over a natural spring.

On the cliffs to the south of the harbor entrance is the Hýdýrlýk Tower, which rises to a height of 14 m and was built as a lighthouse in the 2nd century AD. From the tower, a short walk takes one to the Karaali Park, whose tea- gardens, with their trees and pools, offer delightful coolness and shade on a hot summer afternoon together with a marvelous view over the city with the peaks of the Taurus Mts. in the background.

The section of the city walls on the east towards the ancient city of Perge contains a very well-preserved triple- arched monumental gate in the form of a Roman triumphal arch. Built in 130 AD on the occasion of the Emperor Hadrian’s visit to the city.

In addition to its palm-lined boulevards and a prize-winning Kemer marina there is Antalya's old quarter, Kaleici, with its romantic narrow, winding streets and old wooden houses surrounded by the ancient city walls. A beach promenade north of the marina has steps down from its cafes and shops to the beach. Kerner Beach is a Blue Flag beach. Other attractions included yacht races in the spring and the colorful Kemer Carnival. You can watch traditional crafts people at work in the Yoruk Theme Park.

In the Ataturk and KaraaIioglu Parks, with their colorful exotic flowers and the bay's shimmering water in front of you and the mountains behind, you will have no doubt why Antalya has become such a popular resort. Aqua Park, on the eastern coast, has every kind of water sport, including many interesting water-slides.

The award-winning Antalya Kaleici Marina and Leisure Center is considered one of the loveliest marinas in Turkey. This center can well meet every tourist's need with its many souvenir shops, friendly cafes and restaurants as well as yacht moorings and services. Sail in the morning and enjoy the restful peace of the marina in the afternoon. The old city walls, lit at night, lend an atmosphere of serenity and timelessness. The Archaeological Museum, with remains from the Paleolithic Age to Ottoman times, offers a glimpse of the area's rich history.

The Antalya Altin Portakal (Golden Orange) Film and Art Festival, held in the autumn, attracts both participants and visitors. The ancient theater in Aspendos makes an impressive setting for some of the festival's plays and concerts. Antalya also hosts annual jewelery fairs.

Daily Excursions

What could be more appealing than dreamlike landscapes, a rich variety of flora, grand mountains, and the magnificent colors of the sea? Add to that the lively resort life with the quiet of ancient ruins and you have a perfect vacation. Day trips from Antalya offer even more possibilities:

14 km northeast of Antalya are the Upper Duden Waterfalls, where, like something out of a movie you can walk behind the rushing cascade excellent for a holiday photos to talk about! Moving downwards are the Lower Duden Waterfalls, plunging straight into the sea. Even more natural beautify can be found in nearby Kursunlu Waterfalls and Nilufer Lake.

There are many beaches in the grasp of Antalya, such as Lara Beach, Konyaalti Beach and Topcam Beach with Bey Daglari Olympos National Park if sand is not your thing! Also there is Sican nature island and camping grounds. For a panoramic view of the area drive to the noliday complex and revolving restaurant on top of Tunektepe Hill.

Saklikent, 50 km from Antalya, is an ideal winter sports resort on the northern slopes of Bakirli Mountain at an altitude of 1,750 to 1,900 m. In March and April you can ski in the morning, eat a delicious lunch of fresh fish at Antalya's marina and sun bathe, swim or windsurf in the afternoon. You can see wildlife - deer and mountain goats - that are under a conservation program in Duzler Park, north of Antalya. On the way, you can stop at the astonishing 115-m deep Guver Canyon.

For history lovers 30 km from Antalya, is the Karain Cave. This is the oldest settlement in Turkey, dating back to 160,000BC, accesible with a single entrance, lit only by the morning sun, opens onto three large interconnecting chambers.

Things to see in Antalya

Kemer and The Theme park
The mountains of the Toros (Taurus) Range rise up immediately behind the coast, the whole length - from Konyaalti Beach to the Kirlangic Peninsula-is a National Park. The history of this area, the ancient Lycian Peninsula, can be traced back to the Neolithic Age to the settlements at Beldibi. The 42 km of road from Antalya to Kemer pass through spectacular mountain scenery. This resort town has been carefully designed to blend in with the surrounding scenery and offers an ideal environment for a wonderful holiday. A fully equipped Kemer marina has facilities for all activities so that yachtsmen can enjoy the unspoilt bays and beaches south of the town. Shoppers will delight in the wonderful range of high quality souvenirs for sale. A beach promenade north of the marina has steps leading down from its cafes and shops directly to the beach.

Kemer Beach is a Blue Flag beach. The term "Blue Flag" coined by the European Union means clean beach. In the Yoruk (Nomad). Theme Park you can watch traditional craftspeopIe at work. The adjoining bay is a charming and delightful spot with many sports and daily entertainment facilities discreetly hidden among the pines. April is the month for the colorful Kemer Carnival. Also in the spring are the yacht races between Kemer and Girne in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Kiziltepe, Goynuk (Blue Flag) and Beldibi(Blue Flag) north of Kemer and Camyuva and Tekirova (Blue Flag) to the south, are tourist centers full of various activities. The holiday villages are all designed to blend into the forest that encircles them.

Genclik
On the way to Lara Beach this vantage point will give you fantastic views of Lower Düden Waterfall as it meets the sea.

Yavuz Ozcan Park.
This is located in the centre of Antalya, here are miniature waterfalls, Fountains which a lit by coloured lights in the evening.

Antalya Museum.
This Museum is one of the best Archaeological Museums in the world, indeed it is a prize winner. Here a collection of fossils, from Stone to Bronze age, costumes, arts and crafts can be seen. There are a collection of Statues of gods, (Gods Gallery), there are 15 statues depicting Gods such as Zeus and the Goddess Aphrodite. Mosaic pavements, jewellery, Carpets, Ottoman rooms and nomadic tents are all on display at this large Museum.