An amazing country, covered in legends, is proud of its rich history. On the territory of sunny Turkey you can see the architectural monuments of the Greek period, as well as the times of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. And to see all the natural attractions, not enough for several years.
Most popular resort
Antalya is a young and very popular resort, which bears the title of the tourist capital of the country. Everything here is designed for a relaxing beach holiday, and at night the doors of clubs open where you can dance until the morning and enjoy delicious cocktails. Tourists eager to get acquainted with the cultural and historical sites of a hospitable city will find a lot of interesting things here. Let us focus on the most fascinating excursions in Antalya, which will help to see the resort from a different angle.
City tour
Most often, the price of the tour, which travelers buy, includes one free tour in Antalya - a sightseeing tour starting at 9 in the morning. It is organized the day after guests arrive in Turkey. The program includes a tour of historical places, as well as a visit to the national park and modern shopping centers where you can buy leather or jewelry.
This is a real gesture of hospitality and attention from a company meeting foreigners, and a great opportunity to get acquainted with the main resort of the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.
Acquaintance with the Old Town
The modern settlement appeared on the foundation of the antique, which did not affect the preservation of ancient monuments in the best way. It is from the Kaleici district, where you can find structures of various historical periods, that a sightseeing tour in Antalya begins. The Old Town is a restored tourist center covering an area of 35 hectares. In a place where an incredible number of medieval buildings are concentrated, the atmosphere of past eras reigns.
The historical center has several entrances, but the most beautiful are the ancient gates of Hadrian - a monumental structure that appeared after the Roman emperor visited the city before our era. Once the structure had three arched openings, and graceful columns were crowned with Corinthian capitals. The upper tier was decorated with statues of the ruler and members of his family. Surprisingly, on a stone road that passes under the gate, traces from the passage of the fighting chariots of the Romans remained. So that numerous tourists do not destroy them, they built a stone bridge over which crowds of travelers now pass.
Business cards Antalya
The Kaleici quarter is a peculiar city in the city where the breath of time is felt, and the starting point of an excursion in Antalya. One of its important attractions is the minarets, built by order of the Ottoman prince. First, magnificent mosques appeared on the ruins of Byzantine churches, and towers were erected next to them, from which believers were called to prayer. Kesik minaret reaches a height of 14 meters, and this despite the fact that its top was cut off by lightning. The ancient building in truncated form has long been recognized as a symbol of the resort, and the authorities are in no hurry to restore it.
The hallmark of the Old Town is the 38-meter Yivli Minaret, erected in the 13th century. Its design attracts the attention of tourists: as if cut by bricks into several layers, it consists of eight half cylinders decorated with tiles. This is a tower symbolizing victory, because it appeared after the Seljuks (a powerful Turkic dynasty) conquered the Mediterranean.
Visit luxurious waterfalls
An important point of a sightseeing tour of Antalya is the Duden National Park - the most popular tourist destination. The well-equipped complex includes unique caves, viewing platforms, walking paths, small ponds, a suspension bridge and beautiful waterfalls.
The guests of the resort, as they approach the park, hear a strong noise of water - these are the cries of the same name Upper and Lower Duden, which look very impressive. The air around the natural monuments is saturated with water dust, and the smallest splashes in the rays of sunlight form an iridescent rainbow. Even on the hottest day, it’s not hot near waterfalls.
Only in the evening, tired but satisfied tourists return to the hotel after an excursion to Antalya.
What do vacationers say?
Travelers with enthusiasm recall acquaintance with the historical center and the national park. But visiting shopping centers is the most controversial point of a sightseeing tour in Antalya. Guest reviews are rather controversial: some are happy for unexpected shopping, while others suspect that the tour operator has a good percentage of sales in stores where goods are very expensive. And in the local market, the same gold or leather items are much cheaper. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to avoid visiting shopping centers, since the cost of a free trip for tourists is covered by sellers.
In addition, experienced travelers warn that there are many scammers in the Old Town who want to cash in on tourists. At first glance, very friendly locals offer a walk through the historic center, showing its main attractions. And at the end of the road they demand fabulous sums from Europeans for services. If you do not pay, vacationers may be in an unpleasant situation, and scandals and showdowns will spoil the mood for the whole day.
A popular excursion that introduces the history of Turkey
Fans of the historical series "The Magnificent Century" will not be able to miss the eponymous tour to Istanbul from Antalya. The worldwide popularity of a multi-part film based on real events made the Turks think about how to organize an exciting trip. Its cost starts from 25 dollars / 1600 rubles, but entrance tickets to the palace and harem are paid separately (about 1500 rubles).
The central and oldest square of the largest city in Turkey is Sultanahmet Meydanı. It was with her that the acquaintance with the former capital of the Byzantine Empire begins . The Russian-speaking guide will tell the story of the formation of Istanbul and tell about the legendary personalities who had a great influence on it. Tourists will see the Egyptian obelisk - a monolith of pink granite, transported to the city from the Karnak Temple, where it was installed in honor of Pharaoh Thutmose III.
They will also be able to admire the tall column made of stone blocks and sheathed with gilded bronze. The obelisk of Konstantin Bagryany, located in the southern part of Sultanahmet Square, is of Byzantine origin.
Curious sights
There is also a wonderful fountain, built in honor of the visit of the German Kaiser. The dome of the architectural landmark, which can be seen during an excursion to Istanbul from Antalya, is based on 8 columns made of emerald porphyry (volcanic rock).
The Basilica Cistern, the largest reservoir in Constantinople, provides the city with life-giving moisture during sieges or droughts. It is surprising that for the construction of an underground structure, columns from ancient temples were used, and several of them even had the heads of the Medusa of the Gorgon.
After Sultanahmet Square, guests leave for the Blue Mosque, whose unique architecture delights Europeans. The symbol of the city, which has tremendous cultural value, captivates with grace and magnificent decoration.
Visit to Topkapi Palace, where the famous series was filmed
The next point of excursion from Antalya (Turkey) "The Magnificent Century" is the legendary Topkapi Palace, located on the shores of the Sea of Marmara. The main residence of the Turkish padishahs is now one of the richest museums in the world. The unique attraction was repeatedly destroyed, and each time it was rebuilt, introducing new adjustments.
Initially, the sultans' wives lived outside the palace, and only the concubine Roksolana (Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska Sulian), who dreams of being closer to the ruler, invites him to engage in a large-scale reconstruction of the residence. And soon a harem appears, where the mother of the padishah, his children and sisters with servants lived. Like a small town, the palace complex with an area of 170 hectares was equipped with everything necessary for life. Here are unique exhibits made of porcelain, silver, precious wood, as well as the staff of Moses, the sword of David and the relics (hand) of John the Baptist.
The guide will tell you in detail about the most famous concubine, who has Slavic roots, and will answer all the questions of tourists interested in the life of the tenth Sultan of the Ottoman Empire - Suleiman the Magnificent.
Destination Travel - Religious Landmark
The excursion from Antalya to Istanbul ends at the Suleymaniye Mosque. The religious building, accommodating up to 5 thousand believers, is located in the old part of the city, in the district of Vef. Famous for its luxurious architecture and perfect forms, it cost the treasury a tidy sum. This is a whole complex consisting of not only a mosque, but also a madrasah (educational institutions), an observatory, a kitchen, a library and 4 high minarets. In the courtyard of the building, in the cemetery, Suleiman himself, his beloved Roksolana, their daughter Mihriman and two sultans (Ahmet II and Suleiman II) found the last shelter.
It is worth warning that you need to dress appropriately. Women are prohibited from appearing in mosques in short skirts or shorts and with bare shoulders. In addition, the head of the fair sex should be covered with a scarf.
This is one of the most fascinating travels, built in such a way that all historical sights follow each other without violating the chronology of events. Most often, vacationers travel on a comfortable bus, but tourists recommend choosing a walking tour, which allows you to feel the spirit of the ancient city and appreciate the majesty of ancient buildings.
Historical region
Colorful Turkey, beckoning with its mystery, is famous for its vast area of underground cave monasteries and cities that appeared before our era. Cappadocia, located in the east of the country, far from the coast, is an open-air museum. It seems to the guests as if they were on another planet, and the beauty of unearthly landscapes is breathtaking! The cave settlements and Göreme National Park, located in the historical region, are protected by UNESCO.
An interesting excursion to Cappadocia from Antalya is organized by various agencies. The names of the tours are the same everywhere, only the programs and prices differ. To see one of the most beautiful places on our planet, you will have to pay about $ 150/9400 rubles. The trip lasts 2 days, and the price also includes overnight at the hotel. It’s better not to take the children with you on an excursion, since it is difficult for them to endure many hours of travel.
Cosmic landscapes of Cappadocia
The main attractions of the region are natural figures formed from basalt and tuff. It seems that an unknown master created incredible sculptures that differ in their original form. Here you can see tall pillars resembling mushrooms with a hat or sharp triangles. Stone figures create room for imagination. The valleys with amazing formations are combined into the Goreme National Park, which also has an incredible number of gorges and ravines.
Unique underground cities hollowed out in the rocks cause genuine interest of tourists. Now no one lives here, and earlier ordinary inhabitants and monks lived in the caves. If you look inside the houses, you can see that they are ideally suited for life. Near each of them a front garden and a small garden were broken.
Guest reviews
“There are so many impressions that I can’t even believe it,” “The most memorable trip!”, “A unique place that I don’t want to leave” is what you can read in the reviews of tourists. "Excursions in Antalya, of course, are very interesting, but Cappadocia is something!"
All vacationers note the amazing beauty of unearthly landscapes, which opens from a great height. The fact is that some companies organize balloon flights, which have become very popular among Europeans. The cost of an amazing attraction starts from 100 euros / 7400 rubles and depends on the number of people in the basket and flight time. From above, the surface of the earth, formed as a result of volcanic eruptions, looks unusual, and it seems as if you are flying over another planet. For $ 50 / 3,100 rubles, you can rent a motorcycle and explore without haste the most interesting places and take a walk in complete seclusion in the vicinity.
What else to see in Antalya?
Tourists have a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the ancient history of the city without giving up beach vacations and nightly entertainment. What excursions to visit in Antalya? On its territory lie the ruins of ancient cities, and one of the most interesting megacities of past eras is the ancient Perge, located 18 kilometers from the resort. Hellenistic gates, Roman baths, the ruined stadium and theater are all worth seeing during your trip.
The ancient city of Asharep will make a lasting impression on tourists. Of great value to world culture, it is considered a real paradise for archaeologists and tourists who are fond of ancient civilizations.
In the province of Denizli is the thermal resort of Pamukkale. But its main attractions are not 17 hot springs, but ponds-terraces, which are gigantic stones along which water flows. From afar, guests even seem to resemble snow-white icebergs. You can only move around barefoot, so you should grab bags for shoes with you.