Carian Coast
Bodrum to Marmaris
The carians, like the Lycians and Lydians, are considered indigenous peoples of Anatolia. The Carian script has not yet been deciphered, and it has not been possible to determine to which group of languages it belongs. They were neighbors of the Lydians and are also thought to have been seafaring people. The Greeks captured the Carian cities of Halicarnassus, Cnidus, and Barygylia. Halicarnassus, today's Bodrum located on a peninsula jutting into the Aegean on the southwestern coast of Anatolia, was the principle center of Caria.
East Lycian Coast
Marmaris to Antalya
The history of Lycia is a story of fierce struggles against those who sought to invade and dominate it, as it was a very desirable region. It appears that Greek efforts to colonize Lycia during the first millennium B.C. were largely unsuccessful even though there were several Athenian expeditions.The first recorded instance of Lycian resistance fighting occurred around 540 BC when the Persians under the commander Harpagos overran all Asia Minor during the rule of Cyrus II (The Great). The Persians attacked the Lycian capital city of Xanthos and the Xanthosians put up a heroic fight. In the end however, they chose mass suicide over surrender. The men of Xanthos gathered their wives, children and possessions in the acropolis and set fire to all before rushing out fighting to die to the last man.
West Lycian Coast
Datca to Marmaris
Herod held that the Lycians came from Crete, yet archaeological finds and other historical show no records of any cultural or political relationship between the two areas.
In fact, Egyptian sources (~1300 BCE) mention a people called Lukka along these coasts as enemies of the Pharaoh, which corroborates the theory that the Lycians where endemic to Asia Minor.
In the Lycian society, women were held in high respect. Herod even tells that - when asked to which family he belongs - a Lycian would state the lineage of his mother. Moreover, children of a female civilian where free even if their father was a slave!
Dodecanese Islands
Rhodes - Symi - Cos - Tilos - Nissiros
The Dodecanese islands are located in the southeast part of the Aegean Sea and consist of twelve major islands and a number of smaller islands: Astypalea, Leros, Lipsi, Nisyros, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Patmos, Rhodes, Tilos … Some of those Greek Islands are located at the border to Turkey. They have everything to offer to the visitors: whitewashed houses, beautiful beaches with crystal waters, charming villages, exciting nightlife and more…This site about the Dodecanese and its islands provides info about the different islands: history, churches, architecture, beaches, pictures and much more such as a large choice of hotels and other accommodation.
- Turkish Coast
- Carian
- East Lycian
- West Lycian
- Dodecanese
Antalya Information
ABOUT
Also known as the Turkish Riviera Antalya, where the pine-clad Toros (Taurus) Mountains sweep down to the sparkling clear sea, is the tourism capital of Turkey. The region, bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year, is a paradise for sunbathing, swimming, and sports activities like windsurfing, waterskiing, 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.
HISTORY AND CULTURE
Antalya has been continuously inhabited since its founding in 159 BC by Attalos II, a king of Pergamum, who named the city Attalefa after himself. When Emperor Hadrian visited Phaselis in Antalya in 130 AD a beautifully decorated three-arched gate with Corinthian columns was built into the city walls in his honour. It was the only entrance through the city walls.
The fortifications of the Kaleiçi district are the common heritage of the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. The elegant, fluted minaret of the Yivli Minare Mosque in the centre of the city, built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat in the 13th century, has become Antalya's symbol. The two most important Ottoman mosques in the city are the 16th century Murat Paşa Mosque, remarkable for its tile decoration, and the 18th century Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque. Since 1972, the inner harbour and Kaleiçi have been under preservation for their historical and cultural significance.
WHAT TO SEE
Ancient Cities
Patara (Ovagelemiş)
It is located in 41 km distance from Kaş on the route of Fethiye-Kaş. Throughout the ancient times, Patara had secured its place as one of the most strategic towns of the Lykian region. Its harbor served the prosperity of the Roman and Byzantine empires greatly.
Xanthos (Kınık)
It is located in 45 km distance in the Kınık district. It had served as one of the greatest religious and administrative centres of the Lykian region.
Antiphellos (Kaş)
Antiphellos is the historical name of Kaş. It is on the connecting point of the Karia and Lykia regions. The town that still preserves its ancient charm is on the connecting point of the Karia and Lykia regions.
Perge (Aksu)
Perge (18 km from Antalya) was an important city of ancient Pamphylia, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. St Paul visited this city on his first missionary journey. The theater stage has finely carved marble relieves and other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium.
Olympos (Çıralı-Yanartaş)
The ancient city of Olympos is situated on the southern side of Mountain Tahtalı. A temple gate possibly built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD), part of a bridge, and a Roman theatre also remain from antiquity. The outer walls and towers around the bay date from the Middle Age.
Myra (Demre, Kale)
The ancient city of Myra, now called Demre or Kale is 25 km west of Finike. It was inhabited as early as 500 BC. St. Nicholas, who was born in Patara, was the bishop of Myra during the fourth century AD and died there in 345.
Aspendos
It is the most important city in the Pamphylia region. It is situated in 48 km distance from Antalya to the East. Aspendos is crowned by the world's best preserved amphitheatre. The theatre was built by Zeno the Architect during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Beaches
Cleopatra's Beach
It extends through the western side of the Alanya peninsula and has a sandy, very pleasant shore. It is only 2 hour distance from Antalya Airport.
İncekum Beach
It takes its name from its very fine sand and is in 20 km distance west from Alanya. Its shady palm tree fringes offer ideal opportunities for camping.
Eastern Beach
With its shallow water, the Eastern Beach is known to be very child-friendly. It extends through a 40 km long line towards the Keykubat beach which is called after Sultan Alaadin Keykubat the conqueror of Alanya.
Ulaş Beach
It is in 6 km distance east from the centre of Alanya. In order to prevent the sudden free falling of rocks to the beach a high wall resembling a castle fortification has been built. You can reach the beach by descending the stairs of the wall. It is common for the yachts to take a swim break at the Ulaş bay.
Sorgun Beach
Sorgun beach, which is in 3 km distance east from Side, is a small but a well maintained beach that promises a quiet and relaxed time on sand.
Koru Beach
This beach is famous for its natural rock pools. Sea water pours into these shallow pools and when the tide goes out the water warms up and becomes a natural playground ideal for children.
Lara Beach
It is in 12 km distance east from Antalya. It extends through a long line from Antalya's cliffs to Lower Düden Waterfall. It offers a very pleasant time on rather darkish sand softened with gentle waves. The major installation on the beach is Lara Halk Plajı managed by the city of Antalya.
Adalar Beach
It is a rocky beach within the city park (Kararalioğlu Park) and offers a wide range of restaurants.
Konyaaltı Beach
It extends through the west of the city. It has pebbled sand but its great beach installations make it a very popular beach. It is easier and quicker to reach from the city centre.
Kemer Beach
It is a 100 km long Blue-Flag beach that offers many bathing bays surrounded by the Taurus Mountain. Most of the beaches on the coast are fine gravel and sand. The fully-equipped Kemer Marina allows yachtsmen to enjoy the unspoiled bays and beaches south of the town Kemer. A beach promenade north of the marina has steps down from the cafes and shops leading directly to the beach.
Phaselis Beach
Phaselis is an ancient Lycian city in the province of Antalya in Turkey. It is located between the Bey Mountains and the forests of Olympos National Park, 16 km west of the touristic town of Kemer and on the 57th kilometre of the Antalya-Kumluca highway. It can also be accessed from the sea by daily yacht tours. The beach is a part of a unique panaroma, a beautiful combination of mountain, sea, and forest.
Tekirova Beach
It is a Blue Flag beach generously decorated by orange trees. This gravel sand beach is a unique natural beauty and offers water sport possibilities.
Finike (Phonecian) Beach
Finike has 22 kilometres of sandy beach stretching to the east, and picturesque rocky
bays and coves to the west.
Adrasan Beach
It is a natural harbor of Antalya and has a fine sand beach.
Patara Beach
Classified among the world's best beaches by The Sunday Times, it is known as the longest beach in the Mediterranean as it extends through a coast of 14,2 km long. It has a very pleasant shore with its medium grain brown sand. It is in 45 km distance from Kaş.
Museums
Antalya Museum
Founded in 1922 by Süleyman Fikri Erten and housed first in the Alaaddin Mosque in the old city and then in the Yivli Minaret, the museum was later moved to its current location. The museum consists of 12 exhibit rooms, gardens and open galleries. In these halls the history of Antalya is given in a chronological and instructive fashion starting with the first humans and continuing without interruption to the modern era.
Antalya Atatürk Museum
The Atatürk villa that the people of Antalya had presented to him, is a two-storey stone building with clay tile roof. There is a long hall at the entrance. At the right side of the hall there is a living room, a room, a bathroom and a kitchen situated. At the left side there are two rooms and the stairs going up to the first floor. On the first floor, apart from the hall, there are seven rooms one of them with a balcony. Atatürk had slept in the room across the stairs.
After the death of Atatürk, the Antalya Atatürk Villa was transferred to the Private Administration and used as Night School of Crafts for Girls and The Institute for Girls in 1939. In 1952 the villa was handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and used as the office of the Directorate of Technical Agriculture until 1980. After 1980 it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture, restored and opened to the public as the Atatürk Museum.
Suna and İnan Kıraç Museum
The museum building consists of two Ottoman houses both of which are restored by the İnanç family and registered as national cultural heritage.
Natural and National Parks
Within the borders of Antalya, there are four national parks and one natural park all of which offer wonderful opportunities for camping and hiking.
Olympos National Park
To the west of Antalya rise the snow-capped peaks of the Olympos range, where many antique cities, caves bearing the mark of early man, innumerable plants and animals are under protection in the Olympos National Park. This park encompasses a unique variety of flora in a small area. From 1989 on, no permission has been given for any sort of construction. Experts cliam that up till now only 7 out of the Park's 1000 species of plants has yet been classified.
Köprülü Kanyon National Park
Bridge Canyon National Park (Köprülü Kanyon Milli Park) is an ideal stop to arrive in an excursion from Antalya, Belek or Side. In the Park, you could go for either rafting or hiking or instead you could explore the ruins of the Roman theatre, city walls, and Temple of Zeus in the mountain town of Selge (Altinkaya).
Termessos National Park
Termessos possesses an unusual richness of rare plants and animal species, which have been under protection in the Termessos National Park. While driving on the Antalya-Burdur highway ( 11 km ) in the direction of Korkuteli, the Termessos signpost will appear 14 km further on, and Termessos itself is a further 9 km. It is an extensive park and that is why covering its entire ground requires time. The mountainous character of the Park creates a tough but an equally enjoyable hiking route.
Altınbeşik Cave National Park
Altinbesik Cave is on the western side of the steep Manavgat Hill, 7km from Ibradi (Aydinkent) district of Antalya, and 5 km southeast of Ürunlü village. It is accessible via the Antalya - Ibradi - Ürünlü road, then it requires a one-hour walk from Ürünlü to the cave. The cave was carved into old limestone in the upper Creosote. The surrounding area of the Manavgat Valley has a great natural beauty, and Ürüncü is known for its impressive local architecture.
ACTIVITIES
Antalya offers wonderful opportunities for activities such as golf, water sports, skiing, mountain and nature sports and congress and faith tourism.
Night Life
Antalya has a very colourful night life. Especially, during the summer months, the award-winner marina and its surrounding host a rich variety of discos, bars and pubs all of which are very popular among both the tourists and locals. Likewise in Kemer and Titreyengöl there are plenty of very appealing pubs, rock bars and traditional Turkish taverns. Antalya's night life becomes even more exciting during the International Golden Orange Film Festival.
Shopping
Antalya Migros Shopping Mall, which has been in service since 2001, is the city's most modern and biggest shopping centre with its 104 stores. Also, the Deepo Outlet Center which is situated across the Antalya Airport offers the chance of shopping at great factory outlet prices. Gift shops and small local shops selling traditional handcrafts are spread widely over the historical Kaleiçi and, of course the entire Antalya.
WHAT TO EAT
Antalya enjoys an authentic cuisine which is a wonderful blend of the Mediterranean and Arabic influences. Among its specialties, there are the Kulaklı Soup whose ingredients are chickpeas and small diced meat, Tahinli Piyaz, which is a dried-bean salad seasoned with crushed sesame seeds, Tandır (tandoor) Kebap, Kabak Tatlısı (pumpkin desert) sweetened by crushed sesame seeds and grape syrup and bergamot jam.
HOW TO GET
By Road : Antalya is easily accessed from most parts of the country, and the main bus station (Yeni Garaj) is 4km in north of the city centre. Major routes include Istanbul (12 hours), Fethiye (8 hours), Izmir (9 hours) and Goreme (10 hours). The best route from Istanbul and Ankara is through Afyon and Burdur. In addition to the large buses and long-distance journeys, which leave from the Şehirlerarası Terminali, there are also dolmuş services to places like Kas, Alanya, Olympos and Side, from the İlçeler Terminali, although these are not air-conditioned. Most bus companies have a free shuttle service from the bus station into the city centre.
Bus station
Phone: (+90242) 331 12 50 / 513 26 50
Fax: (+90242) 331 11 81.
By Rail : The nearest station is at Burdur.
By Air : Antalya airport is 10km east of the city centre, and has direct flights from Tel Aviv and Zurich. It is well connected to other parts of Turkey, and in summer has eight daily direct flights from Istanbul and two from Ankara.
Airport
Phone: (+90242) 330 32 33. 330 3600.
Fax: (+90242) 330 31 30
By Boat : The marina is one of the most important in Turkey, and the Kaleici certainly one of the most photographed, lying at the foot of the old part of the city. Apart from private yachts sailing in from all over the world, there are passenger ferries to Girne (Northern Cyprus) and Rhodes.
Turkish Maritime Lines
Phone: (+90242) 241 11 20.
Fax: (+90242) 247 50 95
Kaleici Marina
Phone: (+90242) 243 47 50.
Fax: (+90242) 243 47 54
Kusadasi Harbour
Phone: (+90242) 259 12 00
DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT
Seeing the ruins of the famous ancient cities scattered all around the city, visiting the Antalya Museum, walking up the gorge at Saklıkent, seeing the ruins at Perge and Termessos, walking through Kaleiçi and the old houses of Antalya, taking pictures of the snowdrops in Akseki, buying a Döşemaltı carpet and tasting the local jams and jellies
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tourist Offices
Provincial Directorate
Tonguc Caddesi No: 21
Tel: (0242) 343 2760. Fax: 345 1506
Information
Cumuriyet Caddesi
Ozel Idare Alu 2
Tel: (0242) 241 1747
Fax: 241 1747
Antalya Airport
Bayindir Antalya Terminal C
Tel: (0242) 330 3600
Fax: 330 3346
Transport Bus station
Yeni Garaj
Tel: (0242) 331 1250 / 513 2650
Fax: 331 1181
Antalya Airport : Tel: (0242) 330 3030 Fax: 330 3130
Turkish Maritime Lines : Tel: (0242) 241 11 20. Fax: 247 50 95
Kaleici Marina : Tel: (0242) 243 4750. Fax: 243 4754
Kusadasi Harbour : Tel: (0242) 259 1200
Tourism Police :
Kaleici Yat Limani
Tel: (0242) 243 1061 / 243 0486
Hospitals
State Hospital
Soguksu Caddesi
Tel: (0242) 241 2010
University Teaching Hospital
Dumlupinar Bulvari
Tel: (0242) 227 4480
Hon. Consulates
Austria
Namik Kemal Bulvari 82
Tel: (0242) 345 1800
Fax: 335 2738
France
Kazim Ozalp Caddesi 55
Tel: (0242) 248 3870. Fax: 248 4297
Germany
Kazim Ozalp Caddesi
Seref Ishani 6/46
Tel: (0242) 321 2535
Fax: 321 6914
Great Britain
Genclik Mah. 1314 Sokak 6/8
Tel: (0242) 244 5313
Fax: (0242) 243 2095
Spain
Konyaalti Caddesi
Sitke Goksoy Appt 40/26
Tel: (0242) 241 7770
Fax: 241 7774
East Lycian Coast -
Antalya
Also known as the Turkish Riviera Antalya, where the pine-clad Toros (Taurus) Mountains sweep down to the sparkling clear sea, is the tourism capital of Turkey. The region, bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year, is a paradise for sunbathing, swimming, and sports activities like windsurfing, waterskiing, 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.
HISTORY AND CULTURE
Antalya has been continuously inhabited since its founding in 159 BC by Attalos II, a king of Pergamum, who named the city Attalefa after himself. When Emperor Hadrian visited Phaselis in Antalya in 130 AD a beautifully decorated three-arched gate with Corinthian columns was built into the city walls in his honour. It was the only entrance through the city walls.
The fortifications of the Kaleiçi district are the common heritage of the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. The elegant, fluted minaret of the Yivli Minare Mosque in the centre of the city, built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat in the 13th century, has become Antalya's symbol. The two most important Ottoman mosques in the city are the 16th century Murat Paşa Mosque, remarkable for its tile decoration, and the 18th century Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque. Since 1972, the inner harbour and Kaleiçi have been under preservation for their historical and cultural significance.
WHAT TO SEE
Ancient Cities
Patara (Ovagelemiş)
It is located in 41 km distance from Kaş on the route of Fethiye-Kaş. Throughout the ancient times, Patara had secured its place as one of the most strategic towns of the Lykian region. Its harbor served the prosperity of the Roman and Byzantine empires greatly.
Xanthos (Kınık)
It is located in 45 km distance in the Kınık district. It had served as one of the greatest religious and administrative centres of the Lykian region.
Antiphellos (Kaş)
Antiphellos is the historical name of Kaş. It is on the connecting point of the Karia and Lykia regions. The town that still preserves its ancient charm is on the connecting point of the Karia and Lykia regions.
Perge (Aksu)
Perge (18 km from Antalya) was an important city of ancient Pamphylia, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. St Paul visited this city on his first missionary journey. The theater stage has finely carved marble relieves and other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium.
Olympos (Çıralı-Yanartaş)
The ancient city of Olympos is situated on the southern side of Mountain Tahtalı. A temple gate possibly built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD), part of a bridge, and a Roman theatre also remain from antiquity. The outer walls and towers around the bay date from the Middle Age.
Myra (Demre, Kale)
The ancient city of Myra, now called Demre or Kale is 25 km west of Finike. It was inhabited as early as 500 BC. St. Nicholas, who was born in Patara, was the bishop of Myra during the fourth century AD and died there in 345.
Aspendos
It is the most important city in the Pamphylia region. It is situated in 48 km distance from Antalya to the East. Aspendos is crowned by the world's best preserved amphitheatre. The theatre was built by Zeno the Architect during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Beaches
Cleopatra's Beach
It extends through the western side of the Alanya peninsula and has a sandy, very pleasant shore. It is only 2 hour distance from Antalya Airport.
İncekum Beach
It takes its name from its very fine sand and is in 20 km distance west from Alanya. Its shady palm tree fringes offer ideal opportunities for camping.
Eastern Beach
With its shallow water, the Eastern Beach is known to be very child-friendly. It extends through a 40 km long line towards the Keykubat beach which is called after Sultan Alaadin Keykubat the conqueror of Alanya.
Ulaş Beach
It is in 6 km distance east from the centre of Alanya. In order to prevent the sudden free falling of rocks to the beach a high wall resembling a castle fortification has been built. You can reach the beach by descending the stairs of the wall. It is common for the yachts to take a swim break at the Ulaş bay.
Sorgun Beach
Sorgun beach, which is in 3 km distance east from Side, is a small but a well maintained beach that promises a quiet and relaxed time on sand.
Koru Beach
This beach is famous for its natural rock pools. Sea water pours into these shallow pools and when the tide goes out the water warms up and becomes a natural playground ideal for children.
Lara Beach
It is in 12 km distance east from Antalya. It extends through a long line from Antalya's cliffs to Lower Düden Waterfall. It offers a very pleasant time on rather darkish sand softened with gentle waves. The major installation on the beach is Lara Halk Plajı managed by the city of Antalya.
Adalar Beach
It is a rocky beach within the city park (Kararalioğlu Park) and offers a wide range of restaurants.
Konyaaltı Beach
It extends through the west of the city. It has pebbled sand but its great beach installations make it a very popular beach. It is easier and quicker to reach from the city centre.
Kemer Beach
It is a 100 km long Blue-Flag beach that offers many bathing bays surrounded by the Taurus Mountain. Most of the beaches on the coast are fine gravel and sand. The fully-equipped Kemer Marina allows yachtsmen to enjoy the unspoiled bays and beaches south of the town Kemer. A beach promenade north of the marina has steps down from the cafes and shops leading directly to the beach.
Phaselis Beach
Phaselis is an ancient Lycian city in the province of Antalya in Turkey. It is located between the Bey Mountains and the forests of Olympos National Park, 16 km west of the touristic town of Kemer and on the 57th kilometre of the Antalya-Kumluca highway. It can also be accessed from the sea by daily yacht tours. The beach is a part of a unique panaroma, a beautiful combination of mountain, sea, and forest.
Tekirova Beach
It is a Blue Flag beach generously decorated by orange trees. This gravel sand beach is a unique natural beauty and offers water sport possibilities.
Finike (Phonecian) Beach
Finike has 22 kilometres of sandy beach stretching to the east, and picturesque rocky
bays and coves to the west.
Adrasan Beach
It is a natural harbor of Antalya and has a fine sand beach.
Patara Beach
Classified among the world's best beaches by The Sunday Times, it is known as the longest beach in the Mediterranean as it extends through a coast of 14,2 km long. It has a very pleasant shore with its medium grain brown sand. It is in 45 km distance from Kaş.
Museums
Antalya Museum
Founded in 1922 by Süleyman Fikri Erten and housed first in the Alaaddin Mosque in the old city and then in the Yivli Minaret, the museum was later moved to its current location. The museum consists of 12 exhibit rooms, gardens and open galleries. In these halls the history of Antalya is given in a chronological and instructive fashion starting with the first humans and continuing without interruption to the modern era.
Antalya Atatürk Museum
The Atatürk villa that the people of Antalya had presented to him, is a two-storey stone building with clay tile roof. There is a long hall at the entrance. At the right side of the hall there is a living room, a room, a bathroom and a kitchen situated. At the left side there are two rooms and the stairs going up to the first floor. On the first floor, apart from the hall, there are seven rooms one of them with a balcony. Atatürk had slept in the room across the stairs.
After the death of Atatürk, the Antalya Atatürk Villa was transferred to the Private Administration and used as Night School of Crafts for Girls and The Institute for Girls in 1939. In 1952 the villa was handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and used as the office of the Directorate of Technical Agriculture until 1980. After 1980 it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture, restored and opened to the public as the Atatürk Museum.
Suna and İnan Kıraç Museum
The museum building consists of two Ottoman houses both of which are restored by the İnanç family and registered as national cultural heritage.
Natural and National Parks
Within the borders of Antalya, there are four national parks and one natural park all of which offer wonderful opportunities for camping and hiking.
Olympos National Park
To the west of Antalya rise the snow-capped peaks of the Olympos range, where many antique cities, caves bearing the mark of early man, innumerable plants and animals are under protection in the Olympos National Park. This park encompasses a unique variety of flora in a small area. From 1989 on, no permission has been given for any sort of construction. Experts cliam that up till now only 7 out of the Park's 1000 species of plants has yet been classified.
Köprülü Kanyon National Park
Bridge Canyon National Park (Köprülü Kanyon Milli Park) is an ideal stop to arrive in an excursion from Antalya, Belek or Side. In the Park, you could go for either rafting or hiking or instead you could explore the ruins of the Roman theatre, city walls, and Temple of Zeus in the mountain town of Selge (Altinkaya).
Termessos National Park
Termessos possesses an unusual richness of rare plants and animal species, which have been under protection in the Termessos National Park. While driving on the Antalya-Burdur highway ( 11 km ) in the direction of Korkuteli, the Termessos signpost will appear 14 km further on, and Termessos itself is a further 9 km. It is an extensive park and that is why covering its entire ground requires time. The mountainous character of the Park creates a tough but an equally enjoyable hiking route.
Altınbeşik Cave National Park
Altinbesik Cave is on the western side of the steep Manavgat Hill, 7km from Ibradi (Aydinkent) district of Antalya, and 5 km southeast of Ürunlü village. It is accessible via the Antalya - Ibradi - Ürünlü road, then it requires a one-hour walk from Ürünlü to the cave. The cave was carved into old limestone in the upper Creosote. The surrounding area of the Manavgat Valley has a great natural beauty, and Ürüncü is known for its impressive local architecture.
ACTIVITIES
Antalya offers wonderful opportunities for activities such as golf, water sports, skiing, mountain and nature sports and congress and faith tourism.
Night Life
Antalya has a very colourful night life. Especially, during the summer months, the award-winner marina and its surrounding host a rich variety of discos, bars and pubs all of which are very popular among both the tourists and locals. Likewise in Kemer and Titreyengöl there are plenty of very appealing pubs, rock bars and traditional Turkish taverns. Antalya's night life becomes even more exciting during the International Golden Orange Film Festival.
Shopping
Antalya Migros Shopping Mall, which has been in service since 2001, is the city's most modern and biggest shopping centre with its 104 stores. Also, the Deepo Outlet Center which is situated across the Antalya Airport offers the chance of shopping at great factory outlet prices. Gift shops and small local shops selling traditional handcrafts are spread widely over the historical Kaleiçi and, of course the entire Antalya.
WHAT TO EAT
Antalya enjoys an authentic cuisine which is a wonderful blend of the Mediterranean and Arabic influences. Among its specialties, there are the Kulaklı Soup whose ingredients are chickpeas and small diced meat, Tahinli Piyaz, which is a dried-bean salad seasoned with crushed sesame seeds, Tandır (tandoor) Kebap, Kabak Tatlısı (pumpkin desert) sweetened by crushed sesame seeds and grape syrup and bergamot jam.
HOW TO GET
By Road : Antalya is easily accessed from most parts of the country, and the main bus station (Yeni Garaj) is 4km in north of the city centre. Major routes include Istanbul (12 hours), Fethiye (8 hours), Izmir (9 hours) and Goreme (10 hours). The best route from Istanbul and Ankara is through Afyon and Burdur. In addition to the large buses and long-distance journeys, which leave from the Şehirlerarası Terminali, there are also dolmuş services to places like Kas, Alanya, Olympos and Side, from the İlçeler Terminali, although these are not air-conditioned. Most bus companies have a free shuttle service from the bus station into the city centre.
Bus station
Phone: (+90242) 331 12 50 / 513 26 50
Fax: (+90242) 331 11 81.
By Rail : The nearest station is at Burdur.
By Air : Antalya airport is 10km east of the city centre, and has direct flights from Tel Aviv and Zurich. It is well connected to other parts of Turkey, and in summer has eight daily direct flights from Istanbul and two from Ankara.
Airport
Phone: (+90242) 330 32 33. 330 3600.
Fax: (+90242) 330 31 30
By Boat : The marina is one of the most important in Turkey, and the Kaleici certainly one of the most photographed, lying at the foot of the old part of the city. Apart from private yachts sailing in from all over the world, there are passenger ferries to Girne (Northern Cyprus) and Rhodes.
Turkish Maritime Lines
Phone: (+90242) 241 11 20.
Fax: (+90242) 247 50 95
Kaleici Marina
Phone: (+90242) 243 47 50.
Fax: (+90242) 243 47 54
Kusadasi Harbour
Phone: (+90242) 259 12 00
DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT
Seeing the ruins of the famous ancient cities scattered all around the city, visiting the Antalya Museum, walking up the gorge at Saklıkent, seeing the ruins at Perge and Termessos, walking through Kaleiçi and the old houses of Antalya, taking pictures of the snowdrops in Akseki, buying a Döşemaltı carpet and tasting the local jams and jellies
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tourist Offices
Provincial Directorate
Tonguc Caddesi No: 21
Tel: (0242) 343 2760. Fax: 345 1506
Information
Cumuriyet Caddesi
Ozel Idare Alu 2
Tel: (0242) 241 1747
Fax: 241 1747
Antalya Airport
Bayindir Antalya Terminal C
Tel: (0242) 330 3600
Fax: 330 3346
Transport Bus station
Yeni Garaj
Tel: (0242) 331 1250 / 513 2650
Fax: 331 1181
Antalya Airport : Tel: (0242) 330 3030 Fax: 330 3130
Turkish Maritime Lines : Tel: (0242) 241 11 20. Fax: 247 50 95
Kaleici Marina : Tel: (0242) 243 4750. Fax: 243 4754
Kusadasi Harbour : Tel: (0242) 259 1200
Tourism Police :
Kaleici Yat Limani
Tel: (0242) 243 1061 / 243 0486
Hospitals
State Hospital
Soguksu Caddesi
Tel: (0242) 241 2010
University Teaching Hospital
Dumlupinar Bulvari
Tel: (0242) 227 4480
Hon. Consulates
Austria
Namik Kemal Bulvari 82
Tel: (0242) 345 1800
Fax: 335 2738
France
Kazim Ozalp Caddesi 55
Tel: (0242) 248 3870. Fax: 248 4297
Germany
Kazim Ozalp Caddesi
Seref Ishani 6/46
Tel: (0242) 321 2535
Fax: 321 6914
Great Britain
Genclik Mah. 1314 Sokak 6/8
Tel: (0242) 244 5313
Fax: (0242) 243 2095
Spain
Konyaalti Caddesi
Sitke Goksoy Appt 40/26
Tel: (0242) 241 7770
Fax: 241 7774