Nearby Attractions
Antalya Old Town (Kaleiçi)
Antalya Old Town - or Kaleici - is the picturesque old quarter in the center of present day Antalya. With its narrow winding streets and historic wooden houses, bars, restaurants and Ottoman-style boutique hotels, it’s a lovely place to wander around or base yourself while visiting Antalya.
Kaleici can trace its orgins back to the Roman period, when it grew around the old harbor, protecting the harbor from the west and the passage of produce from the east. Originally surrounded by massive stone walls and several gates, Kaleici has only two walls and one gate remaining.
Imposing Hadrian’s Gate is a glorious example of Roman architecture and was constructed in 130 AD to commemorate Emperor Hadrian’s visit to Kaleici. It has a triple-arched portal and decorative marble columns and is supported by enormous, turreted stone towers (from a different era). Hadrian’s Gate remains the most impressive way to enter the Old Town.
Practical Info
There are several ways to enter Kaleici, but the most straightforward way is via Kalekapisi, a pedestrian zone in the center of Antalya that features an ancient stone tower, the Grooved Minaret and a statue of Attalus.
Kaleici is in south Antalya next to the city's harbour and marina.
Antalya Museum
Exhibiting over 12,000 artifacts relating to the history of the Mediterranean and Pamphylia regions in Anatolia, Antalya Museum (also known as the Antalya Archaeological Museum) is one of the largest and most important museums in Turkey.
Born out of an attempt to prevent the country’s archaeological treasures from being plundered by the Italians during World War I, the museum started its life in a mosque in 1922, only moving its collection to its present building in 1972.
Today the museum has 13 exhibition galleries that include regional excavations and galleries of prehistory, pottery, mosaics and various statues, as well as sarcophagi, coins, jewelry and ethnographic collections. There are also open-air galleries and a garden.
Most of the best preserved finds from the ruined ancient cities of Anatolia can be found at the museum, and it’s a fantastic way to grow your knowledge and understanding of these ancient civilizations, their Gods, culture and icons.
Practical Info
The Antalya Museum is located about a mile (1.6 km) west of central Antalya in Konyaalti. It is open from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from April through October, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to March. It is closed on Mondays.
Myra Ruins
Myra was once the capital of the Lycian Union along Turkey's Mediterranean coast. The remaining ruins are a mile from present-day Demre. It's also one of the towns along the Lycian Way, Turkey's famous long distance hiking trail between Fethiye and Antalya. The earliest recordings that mention Myra are from the 1st century BC, although an outer defensive wall has been dated from the 5th century BC.
The Greco-Roman amphitheater in Myra is the largest in the Lycia region. It has been well-preserved, and you can even see an inscription that notes where an ancient concessions stall once stood. It has 38 rows of seats and walls decorated with theater masks and other scenes.
Ancient tombs are cut into rock cliffs here. Most are from the 4th century and have reliefs on them depicting funeral scenes and scenes from daily life. Though the tombs appear plain today, as late as the mid-1800s they were covered in bright red, yellow and blue paint.
Myra was the home of Saint Nicholas, a bishop who was the inspiration for Santa Claus. His church is located here, and it has been rebuilt and renovated several times. You can also visit his tomb, although his remains were stolen and brought to Italy in 1087 AD.
Practical Info
The Myra ruins are best visited from Demre, which is 90 miles from both Antalya and Fethiye. Buses run along the coast from both Antalya and Fethiye, and the closest airports are Antalya and Dalaman.
St Nicholas Church
In AD 343, St Nicholas (also known as Santa Claus) was laid to rest in a tomb beneath the church in Antalya where he'd previously served as bishop. A new St Nicholas Church was built years later atop the foundations of the old church before it was later destroyed in an Arab raid and then rebuilt once more by Constantine IX. Today, it’s one of Turkey’s most important Christian pilgrimage sites.
While the remains of St Nicholas are no longer interred at the church (they were reportedly stolen by Italian merchants in 1087), his sarcophagus can be found in the southernmost aisle of the church. Also notable are the stunning Byzantine frescoes and mosaic tile floors.
Practical Info
The reputed remaining bones of St Nicholas are on display inside the Antalya Museum.
Demre
Demre, formerly known as Kale, is a small agricultural town on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. It was also the ancient Lycian town of Myra. A community of Christian Greeks lived here until the 1920s when they were forced to relocate to Greece during the population exchange between Turkey and Greece. Abandoned Greek houses serve as a reminder of this time.
Though not as big as the areas closer to the Antalya airport, Demre's history, warm weather, and proximity to the sea make this town a pleasant and popular vacation spot. Many tourists, especially Christians, come here on a pilgrimage to visit the tomb of Saint Nicholas and his church. Saint Nicholas was the historical figure who eventually became Santa Claus. He lived in and was the bishop of Myra during the 4th century.
Other attractions in Demre include the ruins of Myra, such as a Roman theater and tombs cut into the rock walls. There are also boat trips to see the sunken ruins of the nearby island of Kekova. The well-known long distance hiking trail, the Lycian Way, also passes through Demre and the ancient town of Myra.
Practical Info
Demre is located along highway D400 about halfway between Antalya and Fethiye. It's approximately 90 miles from either city. Buses run along the coast from both Antalya and Fethiye, and the closest airports are Antalya and Dalaman.