After a month spent living in Istanbul, I took a ten-day holiday from work in order to explore more of the exquisite landscapes that make up Türkiye. We started with a few days in the fairytale that is Cappadocia, watching the balloons rise at sunrise and hiking through fascinating rock formations.
From Cappadocia, we took a quick 1 hour 15 minutes flight south to Antalya, a big city on Türkiye's southern Turquoise Coast, aptly named for the stunning waters of the Mediterranean Sea along this region. We spent just one night in Antalya, before making our way further along this beautiful coastline where we based ourselves in Kaş in order to go hiking and visit stunning beaches.
We were pleasantly surprised with Antalya - we had mostly been using it as the gateway to the Turquoise Coast, but ended up having a really wonderful 24 hours in the city, filled with lots do, great places to eat and a fantastic sunset spot. Without further ado, here's my complete guide to how to spend 24 hours in Antalya:
Best Hostel in Antalya
In big cities, I love staying in hostels as they usually have really great central locations, are a great way to meet people and have a reception which can always help out with tips and getting you sorted. We stayed at the Flaneur Hostel which was perfectly located right in the centre of town, near both tram and bus stations and in walking distance to the old town.
Where to Eat Vegan Food in Antalya
We had three meals in Antalya: lunch when we arrived, dinner in the evening, and breakfast before departing the next morning. So I can give you a recommendation for each! I am vegan and so we were on the hunt for great vegan options in Antalya of which there are LOADS! I was so impressed. Many of these places also cater for non-vegans but offer lots of vegan options.
Lunch at Luna Garden
Right when we arrived and after we checked in, our grumbling bellies led us to food and we came across Luna Garden, a sprawling garden restaurant with loads of aesthetic outdoor seating and servers on roller skates located on the main shopping street in Antalya. We loved this place - tons of fresh yummy options, including plenty of vegan options. We shared some sushi and each had a big noodle bowl, perfect fuel for an afternoon of exploring.
Location: Kocatepe Sk. No:4
Dinner at LEVEL
After our afternoon in Antalya, we ventured into the old town for a yummy dinner at LEVEL where everything is vegan and gluten free. The food was absolutely delicious although the portions are pretty small. There were quite a few things not available anymore - particularly the vegan manti which we were really after - but the dessert was a BIG hit, and the service was great.
Location: Civelek Sk. No:12
Breakfast at Sur Table
We woke up early to explore the cute little streets of the old town before we had to depart and stopped in at the MOST aesthetically pleasing garden restaurant ever, Sur Table, to enjoy a lush smoothie bowl and cup of çay (Turkish tea). The light here was exquisite and I just loved spending a slow morning here. It's part of a boutique hotel in the heart of old town.
Location: Kandiller Sk. No:7
Sur Table
Best Things to Do in Antalya
With our 24 hours, we crammed in as much as possible both in the heart of the city and with a small bus trip just outside. Antalya is very walkable in terms of the main central tourist attractions, mostly centred around its old town.
1. Witness the Düden Waterfalls
These magnificent gushing waterfalls follow out of the manmade Düden Stream which is run off from the Antalya recylcling station. The waterfalls impressively drop straight off the cliff and into the Mediterranean Sea. They're surrounded by a pretty coastal path which is nice for a wander.
The KL08 bus runs direct from Antalya to Barınaklar Blv-7; pick up an Antalya Kart at any bus or tram stop and top it up with lira to get around on public transport (including the metro from the airport, or the bus to the national bus depot).
2. Watch sunset at Karaalioglu Park
After we got back into the city after visiting the waterfalls, we wandered along the waterfront at Karaalioglu Park, a little green space looking out over the Mediterrean with arguably the best sunset viewing spot in the city, looking over towards the gorgeous mountainous Turqouise Coast.
3. Catch the light fading over the Old City Marina
Keep walking along the coast from the park and you'll come to the Old City Marina where you can catch bathers taking their last swim in the evening glow and the twinkling lights of restaurants illuminating across the harbour. It's very riviera-like and near loads of spots for dinner.
4. Wander through the Old Town at dusk
The Old City Marina is at the end of the Old Town, making this the opportune moment to wander through the idyllic little streets of Old Town in search of dinner (although the streets, if you can believe it, are even more aesthetic at first light).
5. Spot Hadrian's Gate
The next morning, rise early to be the first visitors in the old town, starting with entering through this impressive gate that stands at the other end of old town to the marina. The Turkish name is Üçkapılar which means "The Three Gates" given its design. This gate was built after the year 130 for the Roman Emperor Hadrian and is incredibly well-preserved.
6. Wander through the Old Town in the early morning
Once you've passed through Hadrian's Gate, enjoy being one of the first people awake and the quiet empty streets of old town, the early morning light dancing through the leaves overhead and bouncing off the idyllic cobblestoned streets. Grab breakfast in a quiet aesthetic cafe.
7. Take one final look out over the Mediterranean after breakfast
After you've fuelled up for the day, enjoy the views over the Old City Marina and across the Mediterranean Sea again. That's how we spent our idyllic 24 hours in Antalya, eating yummy food and taking in the beautiful scenes. After that, it was time to pack up and grab a bus from Antalya along the stunning coastline to Kaş for more adventures.
CHECK OUT MY VLOG OF ANTALYA HERE!
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
