Antalya

The charming heart of the city — Kaleiçi, a beautifully preserved walled old town of narrow cobbled lanes winding between restored Ottoman-era mansions (now boutique hotels, cafés and shops), ancient gates and towers, all tumbling down to the old Roman harbour. Simply wandering its atmospheric streets, discovering a hidden courtyard, a Roman ruin or a sea view around each corner, is the essential Antalya experience. Get pleasantly lost, browse the bazaars, and soak up centuries of history. Utterly enchanting and unmissable. The soul of the city.

The picture-perfect heart of Kaleiçi — the old Roman harbour, a horseshoe of turquoise water cradled by the ancient city walls and the tumbling old town, filled with wooden gulet boats and ringed by cafés and restaurants. Once the city's lifeline for two thousand years, it's now a magical spot to stroll, sip a tea, watch the boats and catch a sunset, and the departure point for coastal cruises. Wander down through the old town to the harbour for the classic Antalya scene. A beautiful, atmospheric and essential highlight. Gorgeous, especially at golden hour.

One of the best-preserved ancient theatres in the world — Aspendos, a magnificent Roman theatre east of the city, so complete (its towering stage building intact) that it still hosts concerts and opera today, seating thousands as it did nearly two millennia ago. Standing in the vast, echoing auditorium and imagining the Roman crowds is awe-inspiring, and there are further ruins (an aqueduct, agora) nearby. A stunning, essential day trip into the region's extraordinary Roman heritage. Go for the breathtaking, intact theatre; try to catch a concert. Magnificent and unmissable.

One of Turkey's finest museums — the Antalya Museum, with a superb collection of artefacts from the region's astonishing ancient sites, above all a spectacular hall of near-perfect Roman marble statues of gods and emperors from Perge, plus mosaics, sarcophagi and treasures spanning prehistory to the Ottomans. Beautifully displayed and rich in world-class ancient art, it's the perfect complement to visiting the ruins, bringing their stories and finest finds together. A cultural highlight and a cool escape from the heat. Excellent for history lovers; a must. World-class and illuminating.

A spectacular natural sight right by the city — the Düden Waterfalls, where a river plunges dramatically off a cliff straight into the Mediterranean Sea at the Lower Falls (best seen from a boat or the clifftop park), and cascades through a lush gorge with a walk-behind cave at the Upper Falls. A refreshing, scenic escape combining rushing water, greenery and sea views, easily reached from the city. Visit the clifftop park for the sea-plunging falls, or the leafy Upper Falls; both are lovely. A beautiful, easy natural highlight. Refreshing and photogenic.

The Turquoise Coast is best seen from the water — take a boat cruise from the old harbour along the stunning coastline, past cliffs, the sea-plunging Düden falls, hidden coves and clear turquoise water, with stops to swim and snorkel in the warm Mediterranean, often with lunch aboard a traditional wooden gulet. From short harbour cruises to full-day trips, it's a relaxing, scenic and quintessential Antalya experience. Cruise the coast, swim in the coves, and drink in the sea-and-mountain views; a lovely day on the water. A gorgeous, essential highlight. Relaxing and beautiful.

The grand entrance to the old town — Hadrian's Gate (Üçkapılar), a beautiful, triple-arched triumphal Roman marble gateway built to honour the Emperor Hadrian's visit in 130 AD, remarkably intact and elegantly carved, standing where the modern city meets Kaleiçi. Walk through the ancient arches as travellers have for nearly two thousand years, admire the columns and carvings, and let it usher you into the old town. A striking, photogenic and central historic highlight, and a lovely gateway to Kaleiçi. A beautiful, easy must-see. Elegant and evocative.

Antalya's spectacular city beach — Konyaaltı, a long pebble beach stretching beneath the dramatic backdrop of the soaring Taurus Mountains, with a lovely landscaped seafront promenade, beach clubs, cafés and clear blue water. The mountain-and-sea setting is stunning, and it's an easy, scenic spot for a swim, a sunbathe and a sunset right by the city. Relax on the beach with the mountains behind, stroll the promenade, and enjoy the setting; it's a beautiful, convenient city beach. A lovely, scenic highlight. Gorgeous, especially with the mountain backdrop.

The region around Antalya is one of the richest in ancient ruins anywhere — the vast, evocative ancient city of Perge (with its colonnaded street, stadium, agora and grand gates), the mountaintop ruins of Termessos in a dramatic gorge, and Side's seaside temple of Apollo. Wandering these extraordinary, often uncrowded Greek and Roman cities, imagining the life among the tumbled columns, is a highlight of any visit. Visit Perge for its scale and colonnades, or Termessos for its wild setting; the archaeology is world-class. An essential, awe-inspiring highlight. A must for history lovers.

Antalya's food is a delicious blend of Turkish and Mediterranean — sizzling kebabs and pide (Turkish pizza), mountains of fresh mezze, grilled sea bass and sea bream, the local piyaz (bean salad) and şiş köfte, plus baklava and Turkish tea and coffee. Feast in a Kaleiçi courtyard restaurant, graze the mezze, and try the fresh Mediterranean fish; the food is superb, generous and great value. Don't miss the local specialities and a proper Turkish breakfast. A tasty, essential highlight. Delicious and abundant; come hungry.

The symbol of the city — the Yivli Minaret (Fluted Minaret), a striking, elegant 13th-century Seljuk minaret of fluted brick beside its mosque, rising above Kaleiçi as Antalya's most recognisable landmark. Around it cluster other historic mosques, tombs and the old clock tower, telling the city's Seljuk and Ottoman story. Admire the beautiful fluted tower and the surrounding historic quarter, a lovely example of Seljuk architecture at the heart of the old town. A striking, photogenic and central historic highlight. Beautiful and iconic; a must-photograph.

The city's sandy beach — Lara, a long stretch of golden sand east of the centre (a rarity on this pebbly coast), lined with big, often extravagant themed luxury resorts and beach clubs, near the Düden falls. The soft sand and warm, clear water make it great for a relaxed beach day, sunbathing and swimming, with plenty of facilities. Spend a sandy beach day here, or enjoy a resort day pass; it's the place for a proper sun-and-sand holiday near the city. A relaxed, sandy beach highlight. Comfortable and family-friendly; the nicest sand in the city.

One of the world's largest aquariums — the Antalya Aquarium, boasting an enormous 131-metre walk-through tunnel where sharks, rays and shoals of fish glide overhead, plus themed underwater worlds, a snow world and interactive exhibits. Modern, immersive and great for all ages, it's a fun, cool escape from the summer heat and a lovely outing, especially with children. Wander the vast tunnel among the sharks and marine life; it's an engaging, family-friendly attraction near Konyaaltı Beach. A fun, cooling highlight. Great for families and a hot day.

Indulge in a centuries-old ritual — a traditional Turkish bath (hamam), where you steam in a beautiful marble-domed chamber, then get scrubbed, foamed and massaged by an attendant, emerging blissfully clean and relaxed. Antalya's Kaleiçi has atmospheric historic hamams (like the Sefa Hamam) housed in old Ottoman buildings. Surrender to the steam, scrub and foam massage; it's a wonderfully relaxing, authentic and only-in-Turkey experience, perfect after a day of sightseeing or the beach. A blissful, cultural highlight. Utterly relaxing; a lovely treat.

For a spectacular overview, ride the Tünektepe cable car up a mountain at the western edge of the city, rising to a summit with breathtaking panoramas over the whole sweep of Antalya, the Gulf, the coastline and the Taurus Mountains, with a restaurant and café at the top. Especially glorious at sunset as the city lights come on and the mountains glow, it's a scenic, easy and rewarding trip. Ride up for the sweeping views over the bay and mountains; a lovely way to grasp the city's dramatic setting. A beautiful, easy viewpoint highlight. Go at sunset for the best of the panorama.