Kaleici Old Town

The name Kaleici translates as "inside the castle", which describes it well: this is Antalya's old town, ringed by what remains of ancient walls on a clifftop over the sea. Within them you find narrow streets, restored Ottoman houses with timber bay windows, small hotels, cafes, and a Roman harbour that now serves as a marina. You do not need a ticket and there is no entry gate. Most people spend half a day exploring, and plenty sleep in its guesthouses.

Key facts

History

Attalus II of Pergamon founded the city in the 2nd century BC and gave it his name, Attaleia. Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and then Ottomans ruled it in succession, each adding buildings within the walls. When Emperor Hadrian visited in 130 AD, the city put up a triumphal gate. In the 13th century the Seljuks built a mosque with a fluted brick minaret, which became Antalya's emblem.

Under the Ottomans, Muslim Turks and Greek Orthodox families lived side by side in Kaleici. Many houses go back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The district had run down by the late 20th century, until a major restoration in the 1980s and 1990s made it today's quarter of hotels and cafes.

Highlights

• Hadrian's Gate. Built around 130 AD, three marble arches flanked by two towers. The ancient paving beneath still bears grooves cut by cart wheels.
• The Yivli Minaret. A tall 13th-century minaret of fluted red brick, beside a mosque complex and a former dervish lodge.
• The Kesik Minaret. This "broken minaret" stands next to a building that served as a Roman temple, then a Byzantine church, then a mosque.
• Hidirlik Tower. A round Roman tower on the cliff at the old town's edge, with a park and sunset views across the bay.
• The old harbour. Fishing and tour boats moor beneath the walls, and the harbourside cafes stay busy late into the evening.
• Ottoman houses. Many have become small hotels; note the projecting upper storeys and the carved woodwork.

Walking route

Begin at the clock tower by Kalekapisi and the Yivli Minaret, and follow the old walls to Hadrian's Gate. From there, take the lanes south to the Kesik Minaret and Hidirlik Tower, then head down the steep streets to the harbour and end with a drink beside the water. Allow around two hours including stops.

Staying in Kaleici

The old town has dozens of small hotels in restored houses, many with courtyards and pools. It makes an easy base for a short city break, with restaurants and the sea close by. The drawbacks: most lanes are closed to cars, a few streets get loud late on summer nights, and the closest sandy beaches, Konyaalti and Lara, need a ride to reach.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking. In summer, go out early or after dark when the lanes are cooler. Sunset is the time for the harbour and Hidirlik Tower. Winter is mild and calm, but some hotels shut.

Our Private Antalya Old Town Tour with Local Guide covers Kaleici and the marina and finishes at Duden Waterfalls, seven hours in total, from US$90. The Antalya Old City Tour with Duden Waterfalls, Boat Trip & Lunch is a group tour that pairs the old town with a coastal boat trip, also from US$90. Coming from Istanbul on a longer trip, the Istanbul and Antalya Tour Package, 8 Days includes Kaleici, from US$750.

Tips

• Come in through Hadrian's Gate and walk down to the harbour; going downhill is easier than going up.
• Harbour boat tours differ widely in price and quality, so compare a few before you get on.
• West of the centre, the Antalya Museum displays the statues from Perge and deserves a visit.
• Our Duden Waterfalls page covers the falls, a short drive from the old town.

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