Have Fun in Antalya During Your Winter Holidays

Posted by Amanda Sutcliffe on December 4th, 2019

The largest city of Turkey on the coast of the Mediterranean, Antalya is visited by more than 12 million tourists from various parts of the world every year. It was first settled during the rule of the King of Pergamon, Attalus II, in the 2nd century BC. During those times, it was called Attaleia or Attalia. Excavations carried out in 2008 revealed the possibility of a town existing before the rebuilding of this city began. Over the years, it came under the reign of many powerful empires such as the Romans, the Seljuks, and the Ottomans. While enjoying your holidays in this Turkish city, you'll get to visit its most popular attractions.

One of the places you must not miss during your Antalya holidays is Kaleici, the old neighbourhood of the city, which is home to some wonderful red-roofed mansions from the Ottoman era located along its cobblestone streets. This part of Antalya also has many souvenir shops, restaurants, boutique hotels, and art galleries. While taking a stroll in this old neighbourhood of the city, you'll feel as if you've been transported to a bygone era. Among the attractions located in this area are the main square called 'Kale Kapisi' and a mosque dating back to the 18th century known as 'Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque'.

A visit to the Antalya Museum during your winter holidays would give you some interesting insights into Turkish history. Also called the Antalya Archaeological Museum, it is among the largest museums in the country and is located in the Konyaalti District. It is spread across a vast area of 7,000 square metres and is home to about 5,000 works of art. The 13 exhibition halls and an open-air gallery of this museum display the finest artefacts that allow you to know more about the glorious past of the Pamphylia and Mediterranean regions. You'll also find a 'Children's Section' in this museum, where some antique moneyboxes and children's toys have been displayed.

If you are a history buff, you'll have a wonderful time visiting the famous archaeological site of Aspendos, which is located 47 kilometres east of Antalya. It is home to an ancient Roman theatre, which has been preserved well over the years and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country today. Most of the ruins at the site of Aspendos were built during the 2nd and 3rd centuries when the ancient town enjoyed its most glorious period. The theatre has been fully restored today and can accommodate 15,000 spectators.

Your winter holidays spent in this Turkish coastal city would also allow you to visit Konyaalti Beach, which is located to the east of the city's town centre. It is set against the backdrop of picturesque mountains and has become immensely popular among the tourists as well as locals. This beach gets plenty of visitors during the summer season when the locals and tourists arrive to enjoy sunbathing on its powdery sands. You can also get umbrellas and sun loungers on rent at this beach.