Antalya is like home for Romanian tourists, actually we found out that Romanians have been the 7th most numerous nationality visiting Antalya this year, so seriously catching up with Russians, Brits, Germans or French, who are the most loyal tourists to this distinctive realm bathed by the Mediterranean and by the warm sunbeams for a consistent period of the year.
We landed in Antalya at the end of October, but in the middle of summertime actually, as the temperatures ranged from 28C to 33C in the daytime, just perfect for sunbathing and sightseeing.
Vegetation was still green, flowers in colorful blooming, perfect azure sky, the sea peaceful and warm enough to get a quick swim or to dip your feet.
Frequent flights and tourists rushing their luggage back and forth on the sleepless airport of the city were a living proof that October can be a busy time for tourism as well, and maybe, a more convenient one, as there is no overcrowding and no extreme heat like in the summer months.
After the peak year of 2018, dubbed as one of the best year for tourism following the decline of 2015-2016, tourists kept on flooding to Antalya, mounting to 18 million in 2019, in search for the peaceful retreats of the 5-star resorts. Did you know there are 450 five-star hotels in Antalya, most of them all-inclusive? That counts for about 50% of the hotels in the region, as the organisers from Paralela 45 tour operator informed us.
However, five-star accommodation (luxury rooms, all-inclusive offers, delicious food and drinks and professional serving) may be first on the bucket list, but it is surely not the only one. Tourists will never get bored in any of Antalya’s resorts. Surrounded by the Taurus Mountains, Antalya is home to good offers of hiking, climbing, rafting, buggy cross and it also provides great trips and tours across the region’s ancient sights.
Hadrian’s Gate
A triumphal arch located right in the city of Antalya, Hadrian’s Gate was built in the name of the Roman emperor Hadrian, who visited the city in the year 130.
The Gate is a must see highlight when you visit the city of Antalya and the place where almost every tourist does not leave without taking a photo for a memento.
The Gate is the only remaining entrance gate in the walls that surround the city and harbor, and it is one of the doors to the city’s Old Town, which is impressing with its cobblestone streets and colorful hues sprinkled on every wall, building, restaurant, cafe or wallflowers, as it can be seen in the photos below.
The city of Antalya is vibrating with events, locals and tourists’ hanging out on the terraces of cafes and restaurants, and, undoubtedly, the boutiques offering the famous Turkish delights.
Caya Palazzo Golf Resort, an exquisite travel getaway
Not far away from Antalya Airport, about 23km away, one can discover an exquisite luxury all-inclusive 5-star superior resort at the feet of the Mediterranean Sea, stretching on a generous 250,000-sqm area, including hotels, villas, pools, including own with waterslides, a 3,500-sqm spa center, restaurants and kids’ clubs, as well as a large 18-hole golf course.
Caya Palazzo Golf Resort, a beachfront compound, comprises 645 rooms with sea and pool view, 493 main buildings, 139 garden blocks and one villa.
A posh pier with several canopy bungalows is providing the long desired privacy for the tourists’ families and friends right in the sea’s lip; one can be rented for EUR 60 all day long (4 seats), with drinks, champagne and fruit included.
The hotel is served by a wide fine-sand beach, with sun loungers and parasols also available.
Find more details about the hotel here.
Caya Palazzo Golf Resort is only 2 km away from The Land Of Legends theme park, famous for its 50 waterslides, a wave pool, 4 roller-coasters, a child friendly hotel with more than 400 rooms, shopping avenues with 115 stores, entertainment areas to host all kind of shows and an adventure park with 24 attraction units.
Other sights and trips available in the area
Although they have all that they want inside the resorts, tourists have a bunch of other things to do outside, too. At least a day in one-week stay, tourists feel like getting out of the resorts and visit the surroundings, go shopping and sightseeing or enjoy the sports activities available here.
The optional trips include: buggy cross (from EUR 54 to EUR 85), rafting ( from EUR 40 to EUR 45, depending on the size of the group), rafting – off road jeep safari – speed boat (3 in 1 offer around EUR 100).
Other must-do activities: cable car in Kemer (around EUR 60), submarine (EUR 75), the Aquarium in Antalya boasting the second large tunnel in Europe (over 131 m) and more than 40,000 fish species.
Visitors can explore the historical sights of Perge, Aspendos, and Side, as well as the magnificent waterfalls of Kurşunlu and Manavgat, as well as the traditional bazaar in Manavgat.
A cruise from Antalya on the Mediterranean can cost up to EUR 50-60.
There is also a tour available, Alanya by night, which includes a cable car ride up to the Alanya Fortress, visits to the fortress and the Damlatas Cave, shopping time in Alanya or dinner in the restaurants on the Dim River in Taurus Mountains.
If you are up to visit Antalya in the near future, don’t miss the Eagle’s Nest, Termessos, in the Güllük Dağı National Park, 30km away from Antalya city.