---
title: "Antalya"
description: "Kaleiçi Old Town\'s charming cobblestone streets encircled by ancient city walls, preserving restored Ottoman-era houses, vibrant cafes,"
url: "https://viatravelers.com/destinations/antalya/"
published_at: "2025-12-23T15:51:50-06:00"
updated_at: "2026-06-16T01:54:06-06:00"
author: "Kyle Kroeger"
categories:
  - "Europe"
  - "Turkey"
---

Kaleiçi Old Town’s charming cobblestone streets encircled by ancient city walls, preserving restored Ottoman-era houses, vibrant cafes, boutique hotels, art galleries where history-architecture-Mediterranean spirit blend beautifully through Hadrian’s Gate, Hıdırlık Tower, iconic Clock Tower, Yivli Minaret, and picturesque marina landmarks. Aspendos Theatre’s best-preserved antiquity theater seating 15,000 spectators, still hosting open-air opera, ballet, symphony performances, classical shows, and Turkish entertainer events within this ancient Roman masterpiece perfectly integrated into surrounding landscape. “Turkish Riviera” Mediterranean coastline earning comparison to French Riviera through stunning turquoise blue waters, magnificent sandy beaches, 300 annual sunshine days enabling lazy sunbathing, swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, sailing, mountain climbing, hunting, spelunking activities. Konyaaltı Beach’s Blue Flag award for clean-clear water accessed via scenic Nostalji Tram from Kaleiçi, while Düden Waterfalls’ lower cascade drops rocky cliffs directly into Mediterranean Sea creating amazing natural spectacles outside city center. Ancient ruins including well-preserved Perge city remnants plus pine forests, olive-citrus groves, palm trees, avocado-banana plantations surrounding this premier Turkish Riviera destination where historical treasures meet beach paradise across the crystalline Turquoise Coast.