Turkish Riviera with Antalya, Alanya, Side and Cleopatra
The Turkish Riviera is the southern coastal strip of Turkey and one of the most popular summer holiday destinations. The region is particularly popular among all-inclusive vacationers. Between sun, sea and beach, the region between Antalya and Alanya also has numerous ancient sights and natural spectacles to offer.
While the Turkish Riviera is flat and has long sandy beaches, the Aegean coast is characterized by mountainous landscapes and romantic bays.
The city of Antalya also has a beautiful old town to offer - this is called Kaleiçi. The clock tower is located on the edge of the old town, which is why we started our exploration tour from there. Near the clock tower is another attraction, the Yivli Minare - a mosque, which the locals often refer to as the city's landmark. The best views of this impressive structure are from nearby Republic Square. Other sights in the city include Hadrian's Gate, the marina and the Archaeological Museum.
If you are looking for peace and relaxation, Belek is ideal for it, it is also wonderful to hike in the pine forests around Belek. If you want to experience something more than Side has a lot more to offer.
Antalya, on the other hand, is known for its historical and cultural wealth, its magnificent beaches and its luxurious resorts.
Alanya is the epitome of a relaxed and carefree tourist attraction. The choice between Side and Alanya ultimately depends on your personal preferences. If you are interested in history and archaeology, Side might be a better choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a livelier holiday with beautiful beaches, Alanya might suit you better.
In Side, which is characterized by tourism, there are numerous restaurants and cafés as well as many colourful shops and souvenir shops that invite you to stroll around. In particular, the pretty old town and its ancient ruins, along with the picturesque beaches, are among the city's best-known and most popular sights.
Antioch - After the Seleucids, the Romans take over
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The empire of Alexander the Great had been passed to his diadochi and was divided among them, historically followed the Seleucids as the ruling dynasty, another great power of Mesopotamia.
Sagalassos on the Akdag near Burdur
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Leaving Antalya towards Burdur and Isparta on the 650/350 road, you will reach the fork for Korkutelli or Termessos after about 11 kilometers.
Parasites discovered in the Roman sewage system
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In the ancient city of Sagalassos, which dates back to 25 BC when getting under Roman rule, archaeologists working there examined a bathing complex and a latrine integrated into it,
Kremna, Eudikia, Caravanserai Kirkgöz Han & Evdir Han
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- Category: Turkish Riviera
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Once again we want to use the still wonderful warm sunny days in December to visit some more destinations from our seemingly endless list of places to visit or short travel destinations.
Salda lake - one of the most beautiful places in Turkey
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- Category: Turkish Riviera
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The Salda Lake is the most famous and clearest crater lake in southern Turkey, the lake is located within the Yeşilova district in Burdur district, only about 150 kilometers from Antalya.
Antalya Airport
- Category: Turkish Riviera
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Antalya Airport (IATA: AYT, ICAO: LTAI) is 10 km (6 miles) east of the city center of Antalya, Turkey. The airport is operated in Turkey's primary holiday destination located on the country’s Mediterranean coast. The airport is big and modern, built to accommodate the millions of passengers who come to Turkey's Mediterranean beaches in summer.
Oldtown Kaleiçi Antalya - Life Behind the Doors
- Category: Turkish Riviera
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Located on the western end of the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey, Antalya has been one of the most important commercial ports of Anatolia throughout its long history, has constantly been settled after second century AD and hosted many voyagers as part of their itinerary.
Antalya City Walk - City Flair and ancient harbour
- Category: Turkish Riviera
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This walk can be completed within a morning or afternoon hike, or as long as you want it to enjoy it! Start at the Kaleiçi (Old Quarter) and walk down to the ancient marina or, if you wish, start at the marina itself.
The Suna & Inan Kıraç Research Institute on Mediterranean Civilizations
- Category: Turkish Riviera
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The Suna & İnan Kıraç Research Institute on Mediterranean Civilizations, within the Vehbi Koç Foundation, is an international cultural institution chartered to encourage and support researches to study, document, protect, and restore the historical, archaeological, ethnographical and cultural assets of Antalya and her environs; and to elucidate the region’s deep-rooted relations with the Mediterranean region.
Düden Waterfall in Antalya - High Cliffs & Tufa Rocks
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The magnificent place of Düden Waterfall is about 10 kilometers distance to the beaches South East of Antalya away and can easily be reached by dolmus or with a rented car on well prepared asphalt roads.
Hadrians Gate Antalya - Gate of Honor for the Emperor
- Category: Turkish Riviera
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The Hadrians Gate (Turkish: Üçkapılar = "the three gates") - is a significant landmark of Antalya, the ancient Attaleia, next to the famous harbor in the old town center of Kaleici.
Kaleici | The Treasure in the Center of Antalya
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Antalya offers an almost secret pearl, the old center of the city, Kaleiçi (Inner Castle) in addition to internationally renown Airport, Hadrian’s Gate and the Fluted Minaret:
Kurşunlu Waterfall Antalya - worth visiting!
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Several times we have used our trips to Antalya to take a break at the amazing waterfall of Kursunlu, about 40 kilometers to the South-East of Antalya and to the South of the ancient ruins of Perge.
Antalya Museum - Achaeology and Ethnography
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Once visiting Antalya, please do not miss to visit to the archaeological museum of Antalya. It is located on the western outskirts, about 2 km from the center and was founded in 1919. If you are close to the old center called Kaleici, you may even use the old Nürnberg tram to get to museum.
Suna & İnan Kıraç Museum Kaleici - Antalya
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Suna & İnan Kıraç Kaleiçi Museum is housed in two historic buildings in Kaleiçi, the old town of Antalya, registered as cultural heritage.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in Antalya
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USS Dwight D. Eisenhower came to Antalya to stay for a short while. In a distance of about one mile away from the new industrial harbour of Antalya, the ship can be seen from the road leading to Kemer. To visit the ship is not possible at stake.
Street markets in Antalya
- Category: Turkish Riviera
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Lot of emails of readers asking for street markets or open air market in Antalya, so we decided to publish a short list of markets in the different districts of Antalya.
Yivli Minare Antalya - Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubad I
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The Alaaddin or Yivli Minare Mosque ("Fluted Minaret" Mosque), commonly also called Ulu Mosque (Turkish: Ulu Cami, "Grand Mosque") in Antalya is a historical mosque built by the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubad I at the beginning of his reign.
Belek - Paradise for golfers
- Category: Turkish Riviera
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Belek once was a small village next to Antalya until...
As everywhere along beautiful beaches, hotels have been built. But how is it different from other places with similar beaches? The starting point was to introduce a variety of sporting activities during holiday time for visitors.
The Lycian League
- Category: Turkish Riviera
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Lycia, due to its geographical location has always stayed on the fringes of global events and power struggles of the antiquity. However, at the same time she has always been in touch with all parties in terms of political power struggles.