Stories from Antalya
Long-form writing on Antalya and its surroundings — walking Kaleiçi's old harbour and watching the sunset from the seafront, a hammam evening in the old town, and the practicalities of getting around the coast by boat and by tram.
More stories
Antalya Airport to City: How I Actually Get to My Hotel
Antalya in April: My Honest Month-by-Month Take
Antalya in August: What It's Really Like
Antalya in December: What It's Really Like
Antalya in January: What It's Really Like Off-Season
Antalya in July: What to Expect From the Hottest, Busiest Month
Antalya in June: My Honest Take on the Coast's Sweet Spot
Antalya in May: My Honest Month-by-Month Take
Antalya in October: My Honest Month-by-Month Take
Antalya in September: My Honest Take on the Coast's Best Compromise
Antalya Local Food Guide: What to Eat Beyond the Tourist Menu
Antalya on a Budget: What I Actually Spent
Antalya vs Alanya: Which Base Suits Your Trip?
Antalya vs Bodrum: Which Turkish Coast Should You Choose?
The AntalyaKart: How Antalya's Transport Card Actually Works
Bazaars and Haggling in Antalya: When to Negotiate and When Not To
Best Beaches in Antalya: A Coast With No Single Winner
Cappadocia from Antalya: Is It Worth the Trip?
The Chimaera Flames at Night: Fire from the Rock, Not a Volcano
How Many Days in Antalya Do You Actually Need?
Is Tap Water Safe in Antalya? What I Actually Do
Kemer vs Kaş: Which Turquoise Coast Base Fits You
The Lycian Way: Hiking a Piece of the Trail from Antalya
Money in Antalya: Currency, Cards and Tipping
Is the Pamukkale Day Trip From Antalya Actually Worth It?
What a Pirate Boat Tour on the Antalya Coast Is Really Like
Ramadan and Public Holidays in Antalya: What Actually Changes
Renting a Car in Antalya: What I'd Tell a Friend Before They Book
Is Antalya Safe? A Practical Traveller's Take
Side vs Belek: Which One Should You Actually Pick?
A Turkish Hammam in Antalya: What to Actually Expect
Visa and Entry Requirements for Antalya: What I Check Before Every Trip
What to Wear in Antalya's Mosques (And Why the Beach Rules Don't Apply)
Good to know about the Antalya blog
The blog steps back from strict planning to cover the questions that shape how an Antalya trip actually feels. An orientation piece opens with the most common misconception of all: Antalya is a working port city with a genuinely old centre in Kaleiçi, not just a strip of resort hotels, and its harbour and narrow streets can be covered on foot in a couple of hours, leaving plenty of time for the beaches and the wider coast. A history piece follows the layered past of Perge, Aspendos and Termessos, and how Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk influences shape the region's ancient sites today.
Another looks at the Land of Legends park at Belek, and makes the point that it works for a full family day out rather than a quick stop between beach time. A piece on Alanya explains the castle's hilltop setting above Cleopatra beach, a distinct character within the wider coast rather than a typical resort town. A food and coast piece follows Kaleiçi's bazaar, grilled fish along the harbour, and the boat trips that trace Antalya's relationship with the sea. A piece on the Tahtalı cable car and Mont Blanc-scale mountain views is blunt about weather: the ride can be affected by wind or cloud cover, so a clear-weather day is worth prioritising over a fixed date.
None of this replaces the destination or guide pages; it exists for the softer context a strict itinerary doesn't cover.
Frequently asked questions about the Antalya blog
Will I definitely see the Taurus Mountains from the coast?
Not guaranteed — clear days give sweeping views inland toward the Taurus range, but haze over the gulf can hide the mountains entirely, especially in the height of summer.
Why is Kaleiçi sometimes called Antalya's 'old town within the city'?
Kaleiçi grew up around the Roman-era harbour with an Ottoman-influenced grid of narrow streets and courtyards, distinct from the modern city around it, and it kept that character as Antalya expanded.
Can I visit Side for the day without much planning?
Yes — Side and Manavgat are short trips from Antalya by transfer, coach or rental car, though it's worth carrying some cash in lira once away from the main resort strip.
Does Antalya have genuinely old sites or is it mostly resort hotels?
Both — Kaleiçi's harbour and the nearby ruins of Perge and Termessos date back centuries, while the resort coast around Lara, Kemer and Belek represents the region's modern tourism role.
What is Termessos, and is it easy to reach?
An ancient hilltop city above Antalya, reached by road from the centre and then a walk into the site, and it's a popular half-day trip for its ruins and views back over the city and the gulf.
Boat Trips and Cruises
Verified deep-linked GetYourGuide tours. Book through these links and we earn a small commission at no cost to you.
GetYourGuide does not provide a product photo for this activity — the image shows the meeting point, photographed by us.
