Antalya
So let’s say you want a place where you can just have fun 24/7. I mean enjoy the beach in the day and then just get wasted in the evening. Wouldn’t that be fun? Well boy oh boy do I have a place for you.
Let me introduce you to Turkey’s biggest and most famous resort city - Antalya. Just to give you an idea of how popular it is, 13.6 million people visited the place in 2019. That’s a lot of people. I also guarantee you that most of them are there for some sun in the beach and then to lose themselves in some bar. But allow me to let you guys in on a little secret about me. I’m not a big party guy, and I hate resorts. So you probably already guess what I feel about Antalya. The city itself and the resort beaches? Meh. Just not my cup of tea. What I did enjoy, however, were the places around Antalya. And it is on these places that I will mostly be talking about in this post. But first some history.
We believe Antalya was founded by Attalus II of Pergamon at around 150 BC. In his honour, it was named Attaleia (Ἀττάλεια). Antalya is the Turkish version of this name. Attaleia came under Roman rule in 133 BC, under which it prospered as part of the province Pamphylia Secunda. After the Romans, Attaleia became a major city in the Byzantine Empire and was an important naval station, harbour, and commercial centre. Eventually the Ottomans would take over in the 15th century, and then the Turkish Republic in the 1920s. In the 1970s, Turkey spent tons on large scale development that turned Antalya into a huge metropolitan area. This was also due to the increasing number of tourists that visited the city, which would eventually make Antalya Turkey’s second-most visited city.
So I’ve already mentioned the fact that Antalya has a bunch of resorts and clubs, everything a party person needs. But what about for those of us who aren’t quite party animals or fans of resort beaches? I’ve got you covered.
If you like nature, I suggest you visit Düden, Kurşunlu, and Manavgat waterfalls. Out of all of them, I probably liked Kurşunlu the best since it was amazing to enter the forrest and be surrounded by waterfalls. Düden and Manavgat are also great. If you follow the Düden waters, you’ll find it drop off a cliff into the Mediterranean, which makes for a sick photo. Please note though that the best time to visit the waterfalls is in the spring when the water is at its fastest. Now, if you like nature and a little adrenaline in your veins, Tazı Kanyonu is a great place. This was definitely one of those “wow I didn’t know you could find this in Turkey” moments. Tazı Kanyonu is one of the seven gorges of Köprülü National Park. It’s about an hour and a half drive north of Antalya. Many people visit for hiking or camping, but most visit for the absolutely breathtaking (yet kinda scary) views. There’s a specific place where people go for the best view. There isn’t a name for it, but once you visit the canyon just ask around or follow the path that leads to the viewpoint. You absolutely won’t regret it. BUT BE CAREFUL. There are no fences or boundary equipment to stop you from falling to your death. If you’re afraid of heights, this might not be for you.
Want more adrenaline? Well then, ladies and gentlemen, I give you the world’s highest (apparently) and Europe’s longest (again apparently) zip-line! At 410m (1345 ft), you’re going to be zip-lining down Tazı Kanyonu. You ask, I deliver. If you want to try it out, once you arrive at Tazı Kanyonu, there will be a person with table and information on the zip-line. I forget how much it cost, but make sure to bring plenty of cash. If you don’t find the person, just ask around and say “zip-line nerede?”. The company is called Tazı Kanyonu Zip-Line. It’s a very safe activity and I guarantee that your blood will be PUMPING.
What about something that maybe isn’t as terrifying as zip-lining down a canyon, but still exciting and fun? Around Antalya, you can find a variety of companies that offer rafting and ATV rides. The one that I went to, Escape Rafting & Buggy Safari, was a really cool experience. First, they had us drive these off-road buggies through the most rugged parts of the area. After that, they drove us to a nearby river, where they put us into groups and then assigned different rafts. The rafting experience was honestly my favourite part. Not only do you get the exhilaration of riding through extremely fast water, but at the parts where the water is calm, you really get to enjoy the utter beauty of the area. The pristine blue water, the lush green trees, and the mountains in the background is just nature at its best. You will get a similar experience with any of the other rafting & buggy companies. They’re all listed on the internet, and you could always just ask the front desk of the hotel if you’re staying in Antalya. A lot of the companies are located in the Kepez district.
If you’re looking for something historical, Perge (Πέργη) is a great place to visit. Located about nine miles east of Antalya, Perge was an ancient Greek city that was once the capital of the Roman province Pamphylia Secunda. Perge is easily one of the biggest ancient Greek sites that I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s a classicist’s dream. You’ve got a stadium, an agora, a theatre, a palaestra, and streets that seem to go on forever. You name it, it’s probably there. My favourite part was just walking down the streets and taking in the sheer amount of ruins. The best thing was that since it was October and not the tourist season, I was all alone and free to take the best pictures and to contemplate what I was seeing in peace. There’s something about being all alone in a city that was once inhabited hundreds of years ago. It’s amazing but in the same time kind of eery. If you’re a history lover and are in the area, Perge is a must-visit.
Antalya is great for someone who loves to party in the night and enjoy the resort beaches in the day. But if you’re none of that, then there are still some amazing places to visit near the city. From waterfalls to canyon zip-lining to ancient sites, there’s something for everyone. At the end of the day, Antalya is all about fun. And if that’s what you’re looking for, then you know what city you’re adding to the list.
Things to do -
Enjoy the resorts
Enjoy the nightlife (night clubs etc)
Visit the nearby waterfalls
Go rafting and drive off-road buggies
Visit Tazı Kanyonu
Go zip-lining
Visit Perge
