Your Essential Antalya City Tour

Right then you lot listen up and put down that lukewarm beer for a second because I am about to save your holiday from being just a blur of swimming pools and hotel buffets. If you have flown all the way to this glorious roasting oven of a country and you do not leave your resort to see the actual city you are absolutely mugging yourself off. I have been kicking about these parts for donkey’s years and I can tell you that the place is proper ancient and teeming with life. That is why you need to get yourself on an Antalya City Tour. It is the only way to peel back the layers of this place and see what makes it tick beyond the all inclusive wristbands.

Let us get the history lesson out of the way first but I promise to keep it brief so you do not fall asleep. This city has been here since the second century BC when a bloke called King Attalos founded it. The Romans then moved in and made it massive. When you are on your Antalya City Tour the first thing that will smack you in the face is Hadrian’s Gate. It is this massive marble archway built for Emperor Hadrian back in the day and it is still standing there looking absolutely mint. Walking through it feels a bit surreal like stepping back in time. If you want to geek out on the proper dates and details of the history you can have a gander at the Wikipedia page here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya but for now just know that it is impressive stuff.

The heart and soul of any decent Antalya City Tour is the Old Town which the locals call Kaleici. This place is a labyrinth. I am not having you on. It is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets and old Ottoman houses that have been turned into boutique hotels and cafes. It is stunningly beautiful with the bougainvillea hanging off the walls but here is a massive warning for you. The floor is treacherous. Those cobblestones have been polished by millions of feet over the centuries and they are slippery as ice especially if you are wearing flip flops. Do yourself a favour and wear proper shoes or you will end up on your backside in front of a load of tourists which is never a good look.

As you wander through Kaleici on your Antalya City Tour you will spot the Yivli Minaret which is the one that looks like a flute and the Broken Minaret which has a cracking story behind it having been a temple and a church and a mosque. But the real vibe of the Antalya City Tour is not just looking at old stones. It is about the atmosphere. You have got the harbour down at the bottom where you can see the boats and maybe grab a tea. Just be warned that the cafes right on the water charge a fortune for a drink because of the view. If you walk two streets back up the hill the price drops by half.

Now no Antalya City Tour is complete without facing the chaos of the bazaar. This is where you need to have your wits about you. The market is a sensory overload with spices and textiles and leather goods everywhere. You will be offered apple tea by every shopkeeper. It is a nice gesture but it is also a way to get you to stop and chat so they can sell you a carpet or a leather jacket. If you are not interested just say a polite no thank you and keep walking. If you do want to buy something you must haggle. Never pay the first price they give you on your Antalya City Tour. They expect you to barter. If you pay full price you are practically throwing your money away.

Let us talk about the logistics of doing an Antalya City Tour because this is where people trip up. You can try to do it yourself but parking near the Old Town is a nightmare and the traffic in Antalya city centre is mental. The drivers here treat the road lines as suggestions rather than rules. If you get a taxi make sure the meter is on. I have seen so many Brits get ripped off because the driver said the meter was broken or quoted a fixed price in Euros that was three times the actual fare. Honestly the stress free option is to book an organised Antalya City Tour where you get picked up and dropped off and have a guide to fend off the carpet sellers for you.

Another highlight often included in a proper Antalya City Tour is the Lower Duden Waterfall. It is on the way to Lara beach and it is the only waterfall in the world that drops forty meters directly into the sea. It is a blinding photo opportunity. Seeing that water thunder into the Mediterranean is a reminder that nature is boss.

One final bit of advice for your Antalya City Tour regarding the heat. In July and August the city centre is like a furnace. The stone walls of the Old Town trap the heat and there is not much breeze in the narrow streets. You will be sweating buckets. Bring a hat and slap on the sun cream and carry a bottle of water with you at all times. Do not buy water from the tourist shops right next to Hadrian’s Gate as they will charge you silly money. Go to a little market shop a street away and pay the local price.

So there you have it. An Antalya City Tour is essential if you want to say you have actually seen Turkey. It has got history and culture and a bit of chaos which is exactly what makes a holiday memorable. Get your walking shoes on and get out there.

Now I want to hear from you lot who have already braved the maze. Did you get lost in Kaleici on your Antalya City Tour and find a hidden gem of a bar. Did you manage to haggle a bargain in the bazaar or did you end up buying a rug you did not need. Drop a comment below and share your war stories. Your experience is pure gold for the other Brits planning their trips so do not be shy and get typing. Cheers.