Historical Places in Antalya: 10 Ancient Sites and Old Town Landmarks

Antalya is often booked as a beach holiday, but the region has one of the densest concentrations of ancient sites in Türkiye. Within a day trip of the city you can walk through a Roman gate in the old town, sit in a 2nd-century theatre that still hosts performances, climb to a mountain city Alexander the Great never took, and see ruins lying under the sea at Kekova.

This guide covers 10 historical places in and around Antalya. It is ordered from the city centre outwards, with the distance, the time to allow and how to get to each.

Historical Places in Antalya at a Glance

Historical Places in Antalya City

1. Kaleiçi: Antalya Old Town

Kaleiçi ("inside the castle") is the historic core of Antalya. It is a hillside of narrow lanes, restored Ottoman houses and small hotels running down to the old Roman harbour. This is where most visitors first meet the city's history, and it is easy to explore on foot.

• Hadrian's Gate: a triple-arched marble gate built in 130 AD for Emperor Hadrian's visit, and the main entrance to the old town from the modern city.

• Yivli Minaret: a fluted brick minaret from the 13th-century Seljuk period, now a symbol of Antalya.

• Hıdırlık Tower: a Roman-era tower on the edge of Kaleiçi, overlooking the sea and Karaalioğlu Park.

• The old harbour: the starting point for short boat trips along the cliffs.

Time to allow: half a day, or longer if you stop for lunch. Late afternoon is cooler and the light is better. Maxtoria's Antalya city tour with falls, sea and old town includes a guided Kaleiçi walk with Hadrian's Gate, a harbour boat cruise and the Düden waterfalls.

2. Antalya Museum (Closed for Rebuilding)

Antalya Museum has long been the region's main archaeological museum, holding finds from Perge and other sites. However, it closed in July 2025, and the old building has been demolished to make way for a new museum on the same site. At the time of writing, completion was scheduled for the end of 2026. Check the official museum website before planning a visit.

Ancient Cities East of Antalya

3. Perge

Perge is one of the easiest major ancient cities to reach from Antalya. It sits on the edge of the Aksu district, about 18 km east of the centre. It was an important Greco-Roman city, and the Apostle Paul preached here on his first missionary journey.

What to see:

• the Hellenistic gate with its twin round towers

• the long colonnaded street, with a water channel running down its centre

• the stadium, one of the better-preserved examples in Anatolia

• the baths and the agora

Time to allow: 1.5 to 2 hours. There is very little shade, so go early in the morning in summer. Perge is easiest to reach by car or taxi, and it pairs naturally with Aspendos in a half-day drive.

4. Aspendos Theatre

Aspendos is famous for one building: its Roman theatre, built in the 2nd century AD during the reign of Marcus Aurelius and designed by the architect Zenon. It is one of the best-preserved ancient theatres anywhere, with its stage building still standing to full height. It seats around 15,000 people and is still used for performances, including an annual opera and ballet festival.

Beyond the theatre, a short walk leads to the remains of the city on the hill and a long Roman aqueduct across the plain.

Time to allow: 1 to 1.5 hours. Aspendos is about 47 km east of Antalya. Maxtoria's Side, Aspendos and Manavgat Waterfall day trip includes a guided visit, entrance fees and lunch.

5. Side

Side is an ancient harbour town where the modern resort is built among the ruins. The Temple of Apollo, with its columns standing at the tip of the peninsula, is one of the most photographed ruins on the coast, especially at sunset. The large Roman theatre, the colonnaded street and the harbour are all within walking distance of each other.

Time to allow: 2 to 3 hours. Side is about 75 km east of Antalya, and much closer if you are staying in Side, Manavgat or Belek. The day trip above combines Side with Aspendos and Manavgat Waterfall. For more on the town, see our guide to places to visit in Side.

Ancient Cities in the Mountains and on the West Coast

6. Termessos

Termessos has the most dramatic setting of any site near Antalya. It sits high in the Taurus Mountains, above 1,000 m, inside the Güllük Dağı–Termessos National Park. Its position was so strong that Alexander the Great besieged it and moved on without taking it. The theatre, perched on the edge of a drop with mountain views, is the highlight.

Time to allow: 2 to 3 hours, including a steep, rocky walk up from the car park. Wear proper shoes and bring water. It is cooler than the coastal sites, which helps in summer. Termessos is about 34 km northwest of Antalya and is best reached by car or taxi.

7. Phaselis

Phaselis sits in a pine forest on a small peninsula near Kemer, with three natural harbours and a Roman street running between them. It is one of the few ancient sites where you can combine a visit with a swim from the small beaches beside the ruins.

Time to allow: 1.5 to 2 hours. Phaselis is about 57 km southwest of Antalya, and much closer if you are staying in Kemer, Tekirova or Çamyuva.

8. Olympos

The ruins of Olympos are scattered through a wooded river valley that ends at a long pebble beach near Çıralı. Nature has reclaimed much of the site, which is part of its appeal. Nearby, on the hillside above Çıralı, is Chimaera (Yanartaş), where natural gas has fed small flames from the rock since antiquity. It is usually visited in the evening, when the flames are easiest to see.

Time to allow: about 2 hours for the ruins, plus a separate evening visit for the Chimaera flames. Olympos is about 80 km southwest of Antalya.

Lycian Sites Further West: Demre and Kekova

9. Myra and the Church of St Nicholas

Myra, in modern Demre, is known for its Lycian rock-cut tombs carved into the cliff face above a Roman theatre. In the town, the Church of St Nicholas marks the place associated with the 4th-century bishop of Myra who became the figure behind Santa Claus.

Time to allow: about 2 hours for both. Demre is roughly 140 km southwest of Antalya, so it is a full day, and most people combine it with Kekova.

10. Kekova and Simena

Off the coast near Demre, earthquakes in antiquity left parts of an ancient settlement submerged in shallow water along Kekova Island. The site is protected, and you see it from a boat gliding over the ruins. Opposite is Simena (Kaleköy), a village below a hilltop castle, with Lycian sarcophagi at the water's edge.

Time to allow: a boat trip of about 2 hours. Maxtoria's Demre, Myra and Kekova boat tour covers Myra, St Nicholas Church and a Kekova boat trip with lunch, in about 10 hours from Antalya. Museum entrance fees are included only in the "full" package.

Suggested Day Plans

• One day in the city: Kaleiçi in the morning or late afternoon, with Hadrian's Gate, the Yivli Minaret, Hıdırlık Tower and a harbour boat trip.

• Half-day drive east: Perge first thing in the morning, then Aspendos.

• Guided day east: Side, Aspendos and Manavgat Waterfall.

• Mountain morning: Termessos by car, at its coolest early in the day.

• Kemer coast: Phaselis, then Olympos, with the Chimaera flames in the evening.

• Full day west: Demre, Myra and Kekova.

Practical Tips for Visiting Antalya's Ancient Sites

• Beat the heat. Most sites have little shade. In summer, arrive at opening time or go late in the day, and bring water and a hat.

• Wear proper shoes. Ancient paving is uneven and slippery, and Termessos involves a steep climb.

• Check opening hours and prices. Both change, often seasonally. The official source is the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's museum site, muze.gov.tr.

• Consider the Museum Pass Mediterranean. This 7-day pass covers most of the sites in this guide, including Aspendos, Perge, Side, Termessos, Phaselis, Olympos and Myra, along with dozens of other museums in the region.

• Combine sites that are close together: Perge with Aspendos, Side with Aspendos, Phaselis with Olympos, and Myra with Kekova.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous historical site in Antalya?

Aspendos Theatre is the best known, thanks to its exceptional state of preservation. In the city itself, Kaleiçi and Hadrian's Gate are the most visited.

Which ancient city is closest to Antalya?

Perge, about 18 km east of the city centre. Termessos is also close, about 34 km northwest, but it is a mountain site with a steep walk.

Can you visit Perge and Aspendos in one day?

Yes. They are both east of the city and are often visited together in half a day by car.

Is Antalya Museum open?

No. It closed in July 2025 for rebuilding, and at the time of writing the new museum was due to be completed at the end of 2026.

Is there a museum pass for Antalya?

Yes. The Museum Pass Mediterranean is valid for 7 days and covers most of the major sites in the region.

How long do you need at Aspendos?

Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the theatre, and a bit longer if you walk up to the city ruins and the aqueduct.

Can I visit these sites on a tour with hotel pickup?

For some, yes. Maxtoria offers tours covering Kaleiçi, Side and Aspendos, and Myra, St Nicholas and Kekova. Perge, Termessos, Phaselis and Olympos are easiest to reach independently by car or taxi.

More to Explore in Antalya

Browse city tours in Antalya, or see our guides to the best bays in Antalya and the best time to visit Antalya.