Antalya City

Turkey's Mediterranean resort capital, with the Kaleiçi old town and its beaches, the ancient cities of Aspendos and Side, and day trips to canyons, the Chimaera flames and a cable car up a snowy mountain.

Antalya lies on Turkey's southern Mediterranean coast, backed by the Taurus Mountains and facing the blue-green Gulf of Antalya. It is the central city of Turkey's "Turquoise Coast," welcomes nearly 20 million international visitors a year, and is one of the world's most popular seaside resort cities. The city is centered on Kaleiçi, the old harbor town on the cliffs, where Hadrian's Gate, the Fluted Minaret and the Ottoman wooden houses along the lanes are all within walking distance; to the west are the 7-km Konyaaltı pebble beach, the Archaeological Museum and the Tünektepe cable car, and to the east are the fine-sand Lara Beach and the Lower Düden Falls, which plunge into the sea. Day trips go in three directions: east to Perge, Aspendos, the ancient city of Side, Manavgat Waterfall and the Green Canyon; north to rafting in Köprülü Canyon and the mountaintop ancient city of Termessos; and southwest along the Kemer coast to Phaselis, Olympos, the Chimaera flames and the Tahtalı Mountain cable car. The climate is Mediterranean: May–June and September–October are best; July–August often tops 35°C and is the peak season for European visitors; November–March is mild and rainy, a good time for ancient sites. Getting there: Istanbul to Antalya is about 1 hour 15 minutes by air; the airport is about 15 km from the old town, with the AntRay light rail and buses; the city's tram links the old town, the museum and the beaches, and for sights farther out we suggest renting a car or joining a day tour. We suggest 3–5 days. Kaş and Fethiye to the west and Pamukkale to the north are separate destinations that require extra nights. Notes: Chinese citizens need a Turkish e-visa; admission to sites and museums is priced in euros and changes frequently, so consider the Mediterranean Museum Pass; in summer the sites have no shade, so visit in the morning if possible.

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