Antalya @ Travel Turkey

Russians and Iranians changing the face of Antalya's tourism industry
There have been surprising changes in tourism statistics in the southern province of Antalya with the start of the 2011 tourism season. While the number of German tourists is on the decline, Russian tourist numbers skyrocketed during the first three ... April 12, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=russian-and-iranian-tour...

Rafting: Spring the perfect time to prepare
"The Köprülü Kanyon is ideally located and close to tourism centers in Antalya. It's perfect for day-trips. Everyone can go rafting there. Next is the Dalaman River, located between Fethiye and Marmaris. July and August are the best months to go here ... March 20, 2011
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-238653-rafting-spring-the-perfect...

Lufthansa strengthens its presence in Turkey
As of April 2, 2011 Antalya will be added to the network. Lufthansa also enhances its product, currently introducing a new cabin product on its European flights and a new First Class with its A380 aircraft. Lufthansa steadily increased its presence in ... March 9, 2011 http://ftnnews.com/news-from-turkey/11828-lufthansa-strengthens-it...

Antalya to Welcome Zeynep Golf Resort
Hotel Sun Zeynep located in Belek, Antalya inaugurates its new identity in 2011 with the opening of Zeynep Golf. March 1, 2011
http://ftnnews.com/news-from-turkey/11724-antalya-to-welcom...

Antalya turning its attention to highland meadow tourism
The Mediterranean province of Antalya is seeking to diversify its tourism revenue stream by promoting a new alternative: highland meadow tourism. March 1, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=antalya-initiates-tab...

Antalya ranks fourth among most-visited global cities
Antalya is among the four most-visited cities in the world, trailing only Paris, London and Singapore, according to a Tourism Ministry official. February 15, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=antalya-ranks-4th-in-most-...

Sea, snow come together in Antalya
Internationally known for its summer tourism, the Mediterranean city of Antalya actually offers many opportunities for winter holiday lovers as well. February 7, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=antalya-sea-and-snow-at...

<<< More travel news and articles about Antalya >>>

Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, have transformed the city into an international resort. With its airport and central location, Antalya is a gateway for the Turkish Riviera and many historical sites. In 2007, Antalya Airport's number of passengers on international flights surpassed the total amount of Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport for the first time, officially earning the title of "the capital of Turkish tourism".

Since the area is closed to the cold northerly winds, it is characterized by the typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and moderately warm and rainy winters. Around 300 days of the year are sunny, the sea temperature never goes below 15°C and in summer is around 29°C. The temperature climbs up to 45°C in July and August. The sea breeze and the northeasterly winds blowing from inland relieve the area under this temperature.

In summer the town is heaving with tourists both from Turkey itself and sun-seeking foreigners, many from Britain and Germany and for the last few years a large number from Russia as well. On summer evenings it is too hot and humid to sleep and Antalya hums with the sound of people buzzing around on scooters or cracking open seeds and nuts with their teeth as they parade the streets with their friends and families. In winter the town is cool and quiet.

The economy of Antalya depends on a mixture of tourism, agriculture, and commerce, with some light industry. Agricultural production includes citrus fruits, cotton, cut flowers and even bananas. Antalya is a leading agriculture center of Turkey due to its suitable ecology.

Antalya pulses after dark with what is undeniably the Turkish south coast's liveliest and craziest nightlife, centred on a wide variety of clubs and bars. Most bars double as discos, and most of the hotels offer floor shows, usually with belly-dancing, that are open to non-guests.

Festivals and Events

• A number of sports championships including motor rallies.
• Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival: Turkey's largest film festival, last week of September
• Antalya Festival: September
• Mediterranean International Music Festival: October, 6 days
• Antalya Honey Festival: Gündogmus, August
• Antalya International Folk Music and Dance Festival Competition: Last week of August
• Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival: June and July
• Antalya Piano Festival: October
• Antalya Painting Festival: September
• Beachpark Rock Festival: October
• Kas-Demre Festival: December
• Mediterranean Golden Orange Wrestling: Kumluca, May

Cuisine

Antalya's most famous include Piyaz, made with tahini (crushed sesame seeds), garlic, walnuts and boiled dried beans, spicy hibeş with mixed cumin and tahini, şiş köfte, tandır kebap, domates civesi, şakşuka and various cold Mediterranean dishes with olive oil. One local speciality is tirmis, boiled seeds of the lupin, eaten as a snack.

Rather than being stuck inside a giant hotel complex, You may opt to make the best use of our time by driving around and seeing the hot spots in Antalya, which is rich in historical and cultural values.

In the city center

• Kaleici: the historical center of the city; now restored as the touristic centre of the city with its hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping. Kaleici retains much of its historical character and the restoration won the Golden Apple Prize, the Oscar of tourism.
• Ancient monuments include the City Walls, Hıdırlık Tower, Hadrian's Gate and the Clock Tower.
• Hadrian's Gate: constructed in 2nd century BC by the Romans in honour of the Emperor Hadrian.
• Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret): Once a Byzantine Panaglia church, later converted into a mosque.
• Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret): The Seljuks built it. Decorated with dark blue and turquoise tiles, the minaret eventually became the symbol of the city.
• Karatay Medresesi, Ahi Yusuf Mescidi, Iskele Mosque, Murat Paşa Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque, Balibey Mosque, Musellim Mosque, Seyh Sinan Efendi Mosque and Osman Efendi Mosque are other Islamic buildings in the city.
• "Han"s are Seljuk or Ottoman inns which have architectural significance. Examples in Antalya include Evdir Han, Kırkoz Han, Alara Han and Castle and Sarapsu (Serapsu) Han.

Museums

• Antalya Museum: Prize winning archaeology museum. The museum, in which the excavation findings from Side, Perge, Karataş, Semayük, Arkyanda, Ksanthos, Limyra, Patara and Bayındır are exhibited, is among the most important museums in Turkey. Visitors can see the underwater, mosaic, coin and ethnography sections.
• Kaleiçi Museum: Opened in 2007 by the Mediterranean Civilizations Research Center (Akdeniz Medeniyetleri Araştırma Merkezi) see also their annual journal.

Historic sites

• Aspendos: A Pamphylian city, 50 km (31 mi) from Antalya city on the Antalya-Alanya highway.
• Termessos: A Pisidian city situated high on a mountain with remnants of an agora, theatre and an odion. It has a reputation of being the most magnificent necropolis on the Mediterranean, 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Antalya.
• Ariassos: 48 km (30 mi). along the Antalya-Burdur highway and before arriving at the village of Dag turn left and Ariassos is 1 km (1 mi). further on. A city of antiquity, Ariassos was built in a valley and could survey its surroundings. The gate, the baths, the rock tombs and the mausoleum are almost intact.
• Perge: 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Antalya. The ruins are spread on two hills, the theatre on one and the acropolis on the other. According to the legend three heroes from Troy built the city.
• Olympos / Cirali areas; Two small rural villages located just over 80 km southwest from Antalya and boasts a beautiful 3.5 km secluded beach, the ruins of Olympos, the flames of the Chimaera / Yanartaş, as well as being a protected area by the WWF for the nesting of the Caretta Caretta or also known as the Loggerhead Sea Turtles.
• 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 kilometer of the Antalya-Kumluca highway. Phaselis and other ancient towns around the shore can also be accessed from the sea by daily yacht tours.

Just give me my ocean, my sun, and my jazz.....it doesn't get better than that.

This was one of the best days in my life. We were on the coast of Turkey in a city called Antalya. We loved it so much we ended up leaving our pre-planned trip to just lay on the beach for days. This is taken at a place called Beach Park. When we arrived we were greeted by a down pour ... but the storm didn't last long and made for a perfect day on the beach. The beach had the most beautiful rocks I have ever seen....the kind they sell at Pier One for $15...imagine, a whole beach full of them! My two girlfriends and I just laid around for hours...actually they found some interesting boys to talk to while I just laid on the rocks happy as a bumble bee. The water was incredibly clear and incredibly warm....It was PERFECT...

TURCOLIVE's Note: Anjani is giving the happiness formula in her photo that she shared in Flickr and in her poetic words. Thank you Anjani...

How to get there

Turkish Airlines, Onur Air, AtlasJet and Pegasus all have at least daily flights from İstanbul. There are also plentiful connections from Ankara. SunExpress connects Antalya directly to İzmir, Diyarbakır, Trabzon, Erzurum, Bodrum and Dalaman.

Where to stay

- The Alp Paşa, www.alppasa.com, Tel.: (242) 247 56 76
- The Atelya Pansiyon,www.atelyahotel. com, Tel.: (242) 241 64 16
- Dedeman, www.dedeman.com, Tel.: (212) 444 43 36
- Hillside Su, www.hillsidesu.com.tr, Tel.: (242) 249 07 00
- Sabah Pension, www.sabahpansiyon. com, Tel.: (242) 247 53 45
- Sheraton Voyager, www.sheraton.com, Tel.: (242) 243 24 32

Where to eat

- Antalya Balık Evi, Tel.: (242) 323 18 23
- Mr. Blues, Tel.: (242) 248 45 00
- Castle (Kale Bar), Tel.: (242) 248 65 91
- Stella's Manzara, Tel.: (242) 316 35 96
- Vanilla, Tel.: (242) 247 60 13, e-mail: vanillalounge@hotmail.com 7 Mehmet, www.7mehmet.com

Antalya Article on Wikipedia

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