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Antalya

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Travel to Antalya, Turkey and you will truly feel as though you have stepped back in time. Coming in through the port, you will be immediately amazed by the ancient city walls that now house today's more modern city. Although you will find many amenities and sights available, Antalya is truly a city where history comes alive and even simply breathing in the air feels as though it's from a past time. This city is the largest along the coast of the Mediterranean and has some of the most breathtaking architecture and landscaping on earth. The Turkish Riviera is the perfect setting for a romantic stroll or boating adventure and the many historical sites will help guide you in better understanding your surroundings. There is so much to do, see, and feel in Antalya that your only problem may be finding time to absorb it all!

Areas

Although there are no areas of Antalya that are truly separate from the others, there are certain areas that cater to different needs of the tourists. Most will find themselves within the walls of the ancient town of Kaleici during the day and it is here that they will be able to shop and dine while walking along the narrow streets and the stone walls just as the Romans once did! Those who want are looking for all-night dance clubs and discos will often stay in this area as it opens up to a spectacular nightlife! The waterfront area of Antalya is where tourists who are looking to spend a day on the soft, white sands will go to splash in the crystal waters and enjoy a quiet, mellow cocktail in the evening.

Weather

While in Antalya you will enjoy a hot, tropical climate. Reaching the highest temperature peaks in July and August, these months will often see temperatures well above thirty degrees Celsius. The winter months, generally from November to March see quite a bit of rainfall and cooler temperatures, making April to June the best times to visit!

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	50	50	55	61	68	76	82	82	77	69	59	52
C	10	10	13	16	20	24	28	28	25	21	15	11

Average Precipitation/Rain

In./CM	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
In.	9.8	6.7	3.8	1.7	1.2	0.4	0.1	0.1	0.5	2.6	4.6	52
CM	24.9	17	9.7	4.3	3	1	0.3	0.3	1.3	6.6	11.7	132.1

Getting There

By air

Travel to Antalya is mostly charter flights however international flights are available coming from Germany and Russia. Other destinations are available but most tourists coming from other destinations must connect in one of these main countries. Cheap flights from Istanbul are also very possible.

By bus

It's only in Turkey that you can get the inexpensive conveniences of the public bus transportation system combined with the ease of using it all! Using the public buses is easy enough however, you may want to give up just a few more Lira and you can take the Ulusoy bus system. This is truly one of the easiest bus systems in the world to take -- simply climb on and tell them where you're going. They'll make sure to get you there!

By boat

Ferries are available from Kastellorizo, which is a tiny Greek island near Kas, a true Turkish fishing village! Other travelers coming by boat generally have to bus it to Antalya from Marmaris.

By train

Those who come by train are generally trying to keep their travelling costs low or are looking for a real adventure! To arrive in Antalya by train, you must go stop in Burdur Station, which is approximately 122 kilometers north of the city. To get there you need to travel by way of Pamukkale Express as Turkish State Railways no longer offers passenger trains. However, on the Express there are sleeper cabins as well as coach cars. From here you should disembark at Dinar Station and find the bus run by TCDD, which will take you to Antalya. The drive lasts about an hour and a half.

Getting Around

While you are in Antalya, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the public transportation systems. There are plenty of them and they are much less expensive than taxis.

By bus

Taking a public bus in Antalya will take you to just about anywhere in the city that you would like to go and they'll pick you up from just about anywhere! The buses are very easy to use and very nice to travel in, including things such as televisions and air conditioning! Short distances can be travelled throughout the city however, if you need an extended trip, you'll need to visit the bus station. The bus station has a trip every two hours that travels from the city to the airport. "Havas" buses can also be used to get to and from the airport but they are generally much more expensive. The bus schedule outside of the airport is located next to the taxi stand.

By dolmus

A dolmus is an authentic way to travel while in Antalya. These vehicles include taxis, minibuses, station wagons, and many other types of vehicles that travel through the city along a specified route picking up passengers for a fee along its way. In some other parts of the world, a dolmus will wait until it fills up to continue but in Turkey, they do operate within a schedule and so while the driver may travel a bit slower if the vehicle's not full, they do need to keep moving.

By taxi

There are taxis available in Antalya but it's important to know the rates before you get in. Usually, the rates will be approximately .8 to 1 TRY per kilometer but they will generally provide a listing of prices to popular tourist spots. Taking a taxi is one of the only ways to get to the airport and it is expensive, costing approximately 15 Euro. Taxis usually also charge fifty percent more between the hours of midnight and 6:00 am.

By car

Renting a car is not advised in Antalya due to the strict parking policies that are in full force throughout the entire city. Parking is difficult to find and unless you know the area very well, it can be difficult to know where and when you are allowed to park.

Food & Dining

Turkey is truly a unique dining experience as the entire country combines flavors from the Mediterranean region, American, Canadian, and European regions and also holds many Arabic influences. Meat is extremely important in Antalya and pork may be difficult to find but beef is a main staple as is lamb. Eggplants, lentils, onions, beans, cucumbers, and garlic are heavily used to complement the meat. Side dishes generally consist of rice or wheat bread and most meals are cooked in oil or butter. For a truly authentic meal, visit a Kebab restaurant. The meal begins with lentil soup and proceeds into many different appetizers including olives, cheese, and pickles with the finale being the kebabs at the end, which is meat that has been grilled, shaved from a roast, or grilled. Food in Antalya is also extremely cheap, costing about five American dollars.

Beaches

Lara Beach Park (Sand beach) Location: In the Lara District of Antalya This beach is famous for being the longest beach in Turkey. This area is sometimes referred to as 'the Las Vegas of Turkey' due to the fact that there are so many five-star hotels along the beach and the city is quite bustling here. Not only can you enjoy many water activities and sports here but there's also an amusement park, restaurants, cafes, bars, and clubs. The beach also has a beach volleyball field as well as a beach soccer field.

Konyaalti Beach Park (Sand beach) Location: At the end of the steep cliff within the city This beach is unique in that it has a creek in the ground under it that flows out to the sea. This creek makes the beach's water a few degrees cooler than other beaches that you can find in the city and there are several different bodies of water to choose from. It's also a very historical beach as the area once sat in the older part of the city.

Sights & Activities

Antalya Archeological Museum

Take a trip to this museum for a day and find out how civilization lived millions of years ago. This museum takes you through a chronological timeline of life from prehistoric times and then throughout the rest of history. Marvel about the many artifacts, coins, tombs, and many other fascinating displays!

Duden Waterfalls

There are few places in the world that you can not only see waterfalls as breathtakingly beautiful as these but you will also be able to walk right under them! Stand behind the falls and feel the roar of the amazing water that rushes past!

Konyaalti Beach

This beach is perhaps the most popular in Antalya because most of the major hotels and resorts are located along its shore. However, the beach is also a popular hot spot for locals so it's a great place to enjoy your tropical vacation while getting a taste of the true culture!

The Clock Tower

You can't miss this ancient artifact standing directly in the middle of the town. Although probably the biggest remnant of the ancient world in the city, it's certainly not the only one and will give you a great place to starting point for exploration!