Antalya

Good to know

1. 1The old quarter is called Kaleiçi. It is a tangle of narrow lanes and restored Ottoman-era houses around a small Roman-era harbour.
2. 2Hadrian's Gate, a triple-arched marble gateway at the edge of Kaleiçi, was built to honour the Roman emperor Hadrian's visit in the second century.
3. 3The city was founded in the second century BC by a king of Pergamon and has been ruled in turn by Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans.
4. 4The Yivli Minaret, a fluted brick tower from the Seljuk period, is the city's best-known landmark.
5. 5Piyaz, a white bean salad with onion, parsley and egg, is a local speciality, and so is a hot dish of tandır-cooked lamb.
6. 6The Düden waterfalls drop from a cliff straight toward the sea in the city's eastern part, and the nearby Konyaaltı beach stretches along the western side beneath the Taurus mountains.

Tips for a first visit

• Wear comfortable shoes in Kaleiçi, since the lanes are paved with uneven stone and slope down toward the harbour.
• Cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants, but carry some Turkish lira in cash for small purchases, markets and tea houses.
• Try the local dishes at a small lokanta rather than only at the harbour restaurants, where menus are often aimed at tourists.
• Ancient sites such as Perge, Aspendos and Termessos are easy day trips, so leave a day or two for them if you like ruins.
• Cover your shoulders and knees and take off your shoes when you go into a mosque, and dress modestly for the visit.
• Bargaining is normal in bazaars, but do it with a smile and stop without fuss if you do not want to buy.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times, with warm days, a swimmable sea in late spring and early autumn, and fewer crowds at the ruins. Summer is very hot and busy, so it suits beach holidays but not long days of sightseeing. Winters are mild and rainy, and the sea is too cold for most swimmers, though the mountains behind the city can carry snow.

From the airport

Antalya Airport lies on the eastern side of the city, roughly 10 to 13 km from the centre. Taxis take about 20 to 30 minutes to the old town, depending on traffic, and city buses and the airport shuttle services also run into the centre. The journey by public transport takes longer than by taxi, so allow some extra time.