Car Rental Antalya

Antalya is the heart of the 'Turkish Riviera'. Many people spent most of their holidays on the beach here, but there is a lot more to see and do, both in the city and in the surrounding area.

Just the city's old part (Kaleiçi) alone, is absolutely worth a visit. Antalya's old part is surrounded by city walls and gates, of which Hadrian's Gate is without a doubt one of the most beautiful ones. Wander around the labyrinth of narrow streets and discover remarkable historic buildings like Koranic schools (especially the Karatay Medresesi), mosques (Iskele, Tekeli Mehmet Paşa) from the eighteenth century, Seyh Sinan Efendi), the Yivli mosque's elegant minaret (Antalya's symbol) and the unique bell tower. At night, the fountains in the Tophane Parki are beautifully illuminated.

On the west side of the city lies the 618-meter-high Tünektepe Hill, from where you have beautiful views of the surroundings, especially if you take a bite to eat at the revolving restaurant at the top.

The Antalya Museum is one of the world's best archeological museums, housed in a beautiful historic building surrounded by gardens. The museum is unique in Turkey as it has a separate children's section, where the young folk can learn something about the history and the archeological excavations in a playful manner.

In and around Antalya

One of Turkey's main geological attractions is located right near Antalya: Pamukkale. Who has not heard about these unique travertine terraces? Seeing this natural phenomenon by yourself, however, is more impressive than you could have imagined! Together with the adjacent ruins of the city of Hierapolis, Pamukkale is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hierapolis has a large necropolis that contains over 1200 graves. Unfortunately, many of the graves were damaged during a major earthquake in 1354, which marked the end of Hierapolis. Visitors also like to take a dip in the warm water between the ruins.

About thirty kilometers northwest of Antalya lie the ruins of Termessos, one of the most powerful cities in the Roman province of Pisidia. The city was built over 2000 years ago on top of the Solymos Mountain in the Taurus Mountains to defend the city from attackers, like for example Alexander the Great, who never succeeded in invading Termessos.

Roman remains can also be found in Aspendos, forty kilometers northeast of Antalya. The route to this historic site is clearly signposted. In Aspendos you can for example see a magnificent amphitheater. Not far from Aspendos lies Köprülü National Park. Not only the canyons and waterfalls are spectacular here, but also the ancient (yes, again Roman) bridge high above the water. You can hire a guide who steers you in a rubber boat along the waterfalls, but you can also go rafting or hiking through this park by yourself. On the way back from Aspendos you can see more Roman remains in Sillyon and Perge. Statues and utensils that were excavated near Perge are exhibited in the Antalya Museum.

Near the coastal town of Cirali lies a protected beach. Here, every year turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

Antalya is an important tourist center and so there is no shortage of accommodations. In the old town you'll mainly find guesthouses and so-called 'boutique' hotels, some with rooms in Ottoman style. Modern and luxurious hotels are usually located outside the center, mainly along the Cumhuriyet Caddesi and south of the harbor.

Parking

Antalya's old center consists of narrow and winding streets. It is practically impossible to find parking space for your rental car here. There are, however, some parking garages and parking lots on the outskirts of the old city. If you plan on making any trips in the area, do keep in mind the Turkish driving style: Expect the unexpected!

Airport

The large and modern Antalya International Airport is located ten kilometers east of the city. You can easily reach the airport by rental car via the E90/D400 (this is the same road as the one to Serik and Aspendos).