Kaleiçi Old Town
Kaleiçi
The harbor old town of the Roman through Ottoman eras, with stone-paved lanes, Ottoman houses with wooden balconies, and an ancient Roman harbor. It is the heart of Antalya.
Kaleiçi means “inside the castle.” It is Antalya’s historic center, enclosed by ancient city walls and built along a cliff overlooking the old harbor. It was founded by King Attalus II of Pergamon in the 2nd century BCE, and then passed under Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman rule, leaving many layers of history. Winding stone-paved lanes are lined with restored Ottoman houses with wooden balconies, many of which have become boutique hotels, restaurants, and craft shops. Within the old town are the fluted Yivli Minare, the Seljuk-era minaret that is the city’s emblem; Kesik Minare (Truncated Minaret), a former Roman temple converted into a church and later into a mosque; and the 13th-century Hıdırlık Tower. Walking down the steps to the ancient Roman harbor, you can take a boat out to sea to see the Düden Falls and the coastal cliffs, a trip of about 1 to 2 hours. The old town is free to enter. A recommended route is to enter through Hadrian’s Gate, pass the Yivli Minare and the clock tower, wander through the lanes down to the harbor, and finish at Karaalioğlu Park beside Hıdırlık Tower to watch the sunset. To get there, take tram line T1 and get off at Kalekapısı station.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Yivli Minaret Mosque
- Hadrian's Gate
- Antalya Museum
- Antalya Aquarium
- Konyaaltı Beach
- Düden Waterfalls
- Tünektepe Cable Car
- Lara Beach