An amazing country covered in legends, 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, even a few years will not be enough.
Top resort
Antalya is a young and very popular resort, which bears the title of the tourist capital of the country. Everything here is created for a relaxed 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 the hospitable city will find a lot of interesting things here. Let's focus on the most exciting excursions in Antalya, which will help you see the resort from a different angle.
City tour
Most often, the cost of a tour that travelers buy includes one free tour in Antalya - a sightseeing tour starting at 9 am. It is organized onthe next day after the arrival of guests in Turkey. The program includes sightseeing of historical sites, as well as visits 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 welcoming foreigners, and a great opportunity to get to know the main resort on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.
Exploring the Old City
The modern settlement appeared on the foundation of the ancient one, which did not have the best effect on the preservation of ancient monuments. It is from the Kaleiçi area, where you can find buildings of various historical periods, that the sightseeing tour in Antalya begins. The Old Town is a renovated 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 is the ancient Hadrian's Gate - a monumental structure that appeared after the visit of the city by the Roman emperor before our era. Once the building 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 the stone road that runs under the gate, traces of the passage of the Roman war chariots have been preserved. So that numerous tourists would not destroy them, a stone bridge was built over them, along which nowcrowds of travelers pass by.
Business cards of Antalya
Kaleiçi quarter is a kind of city within a city where you can feel the breath of time, and the starting point of the tour in Antalya. One of its important attractions are the minarets built by order of the Ottoman prince. First, majestic 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, despite the fact that its top was cut off by lightning. The ancient building in a truncated form has long been recognized as a symbol of the resort, and the authorities are in no hurry to restore it.
The 38-meter Yivli minaret, built in the 13th century, is recognized as the hallmark of the Old City. Its design attracts the attention of tourists: as if cut into several layers by bricks, it consists of eight half-cylinders decorated with tiles. This is a tower that symbolizes victory, because it appeared after the Seljuks (a powerful Turkic dynasty) conquered the Mediterranean.
Visit luxurious waterfalls
An important point of the Antalya sightseeing tour is the Duden National Park - the most popular tourist destination. The well-equipped complex includes unique caves, viewing platforms, walking alleys, small ponds, a suspension bridge and beautiful waterfalls.
Guests of the resort, as they approach the park, hear a strong sound of water - this is the roar of the Upper and Lower Duden cascades of the same name, which look very impressive. Airaround natural monuments it is saturated with water dust, and the smallest splashes in the rays of sunlight form an iridescent rainbow. Even on the hottest day, it never gets hot near the waterfalls.
Tired but satisfied tourists return to the hotel after an excursion in Antalya only in the evening.
What are vacationers saying?
Travellers remember their acquaintance with the historical center and the national park with delight. But visiting shopping centers is the most controversial point of a sightseeing tour in Antalya. Guest reviews are rather contradictory: some are happy with 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 products made of gold or leather 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 the Old City is home to many scammers who want to cash in on tourists. Very friendly at first glance, the locals offer a walk through the historical center, showing its main attractions. And at the end of the journey they demand fabulous sums from Europeans for services. If you do not pay, vacationers may find themselves in an unpleasant situation, and scandals and showdowns will spoil the mood for the whole day.
A popular tour that introduces the history of Turkey
Fans of the historical series "The Magnificent Century" will not be able toskip the tour of the same name to Istanbul from Antalya. The worldwide popularity of the multi-part film based on real events made the Turks think about how to organize an exciting trip. Its cost starts from $25/1600 rubles, but entrance tickets to the palace and harem are paid separately (about 1500 rubles).
The central and oldest square of Turkey's largest city is Sultanahmet Meydanı. It is from here that 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 you about the legendary personalities who had a huge impact on it. Tourists will see the Egyptian Obelisk - a monolith of pink granite, transported to the city from the Temple of Karnak, where it was installed in honor of Pharaoh Thutmose III.
And they will also be able to admire a high column made of stone blocks and sheathed in gilded bronze. The Obelisk of Constantine 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 a tour to Istanbul from Antalya, rests on 8 columns made of emerald porphyry (volcanic rock).
The Basilica Cistern is installed on the square - the largest reservoir of Constantinople, providing life-giving moisture to the city during siegesor drought. It is surprising that columns from ancient temples were used to build an underground structure, and several of them even have the heads of the Gorgon Medusa.
After Sultanahmet Square, guests go to the Blue Mosque, whose unique architecture delights Europeans. The symbol of the city, which has a huge cultural value, captivates with grace and magnificent decoration.
Visit Topkapi Palace where famous series was filmed
The next point of the tour from Antalya (Turkey) "The Magnificent Age" 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 landmark was repeatedly destroyed, and each time it was rebuilt, making new adjustments.
Initially, the sultans' wives lived outside the palace, and only the concubine Roksolana (Hyurrem Sulian), who dreams of being closer to the ruler, invites him to do a large-scale restructuring 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 woods, 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 answer all the questions of tourists interested in the life of the tenthSultan of the Ottoman Empire - Suleiman the Magnificent.
The final destination of the trip is a religious site
Excursion from Antalya to Istanbul ends at the Suleymaniye Mosque. The religious building, which can accommodate up to 5 thousand believers, is located in the old part of the city, in the Vefa district. Famous for its luxurious architecture and perfection of forms, it cost the treasury a tidy sum. This is a whole complex, consisting not only of 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 their last shelter.
Worth noting that you need to dress appropriately. Women are forbidden to appear in the mosque in short skirts or shorts and with bare shoulders. In addition, the head of the fair sex must be covered with a headscarf.
This is one of the most exciting trips, built in such a way that all historical sights follow each other without breaking the chronology of events. Most often, vacationers travel by comfortable bus, but tourists recommend choosing a walking tour that allows you to feel the spirit of the ancient city and appreciate the majesty of ancient buildings.
Historic region
Colorful Turkey, alluring 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 a museum underopen sky. It seems to guests that they found themselves 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 an overnight stay at the hotel. It is better not to take children with you on an excursion, as it is difficult for them to withstand many hours of travel.
Space landscapes of Cappadocia
The main attractions of the region are natural figures formed from bas alt and tuff. It seems as if an unknown master has created incredible sculptures that differ in their original form. Here you can see high pillars resembling mushrooms with a hat or sharp triangles. Stone figures create space for the imagination. Valleys with amazing formations are united in the Göreme National Park, which also has an incredible number of gorges and ravines.
Unique underground cities carved into the rocks arouse genuine interest among tourists. Now no one lives here, and earlier ordinary residents and monks lived in the caves. If you look inside the houses, you can see that they are ideally suited for life. Each of them had a front garden and a small vegetable garden.
Reviews from vacationers
"There are so many impressions that evenI can't believe it", "The most memorable trip!", "A unique place that you don't want to leave", - that's what you can read in the reviews of tourists. "Excursions in Antalya, of course, are very interesting, but Cappadocia is something!".
All vacationers celebrate 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 the 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 $50/3100 rubles you can rent a motorcycle and explore the most interesting places without any haste and take a walk in complete privacy in the neighborhood.
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 holidays and nightlife. What excursions to visit in Antalya? The ruins of ancient cities lie on its territory, and one of the most interesting megacities of past eras is the ancient Perge, located 18 kilometers from the resort. Hellenistic gates, Roman baths, a ruined stadium and a theater - that's what you should definitely see during your trip.
The ancient city of Asharepe will make a lasting impression on tourists. Representing a hugevaluable for world culture, it is considered a real paradise for archaeologists and tourists who are fond of ancient civilizations.
Pamukkale thermal resort is located in Denizli province. But its main attractions are not 17 hot springs, but terrace ponds, which are gigantic stones through which water flows. From afar, it even seems to guests that they resemble snow-white icebergs. You can only move around here barefoot, so you should take bags for shoes with you.
