Antalya’s Old Town: Mediterranean Secrets Within Ancient Walls

(11 reviews)

Antalya audio tour: Antalya’s Old Town: Mediterranean Secrets Within Ancient Walls

This is a 1.6mi walking tour

It takes an average of 90 mins to complete.

Antalya

Turkey

$11.99

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About the Tour

Kaleiçi has traces of the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman civilizations that have all left their mark on Antalya’s historical heart over the last 2,000 years.

On this walking tour, you’ll explore the coastal city’s narrow streets that connect Türkiye’s past to its vibrant present. Starting outside the magnificent Hadrian’s Gate, you’ll wander down winding lanes where Ottoman houses perch above limestone cliffs, whispering stories of emperors, sultans, and modern revolutionaries. As you descend from quiet squares to the azure harbor below, you’ll learn how this strategic port transformed from ”Attalia” into today’s dynamic resort city. You’ll also hear about the cultural nuances that make contemporary Turkish life so fascinating.

En route to the ancient Hıdırlık Tower where the tour ends, you’ll enjoy breathtaking Mediterranean vistas, and get glimpses into all kinds of local traditions, from the ritual significance of Turkish fountains to the country’s beloved street cats.

On this 90-minute Antalya tour, you’ll have a chance to:

Take in the 13th-century Yivliminare Mosque, Antalya’s most distinctive landmark which serves as the city’s official symbol
Explore the ancient Roman harbor where Mediterranean trade routes have converged for millennia, framed by dramatic limestone cliffs and traditional wooden fishing boats
Pass by cultural institutions like the ancient Roman Bathhouse, Dervish Lodge Museum, and Old Town Bazaar
Learn about the striking Şehzade Korkut Mosque (formerly known as the Broken Minaret), which began as a Roman temple before becoming a Byzantine church
See the monument to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the revolutionary founder of modern Turkey who transformed the nation in the 1920s
Stop by the Antalya Clock Tower, a favored meeting point for residents since it was first built during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II
Discover the cultural significance of Turkish tea, coffee, hammams, and fountains that continue to shape daily life

By the end of this walk, you’ll have a sense of the city where empires have risen and fallen and the imprints they’ve left on this landscape of extraordinary natural beauty.

Tour Producer

Heidi Nicklaus

4 tours

Hey there!
I’m Heidi, an American originally from New Jersey. After quitting my job and traveling solo, I fell in love with a Bulgarian man and moved to Sofia.

I have a not-so-subtle obsession with exploring the world. I’ve traveled through 50+ countries and spent months solo in the Balkans, always curious about the people, stories, and cultures I encounter.

After over a decade in Student Affairs and Higher Education, I learned to lead with empathy, listen deeply, and value diverse perspectives skills I now bring to every city I explore. That always-learning mindset turned me into the over-eager, unofficial tour guide who can’t stop sharing stories about wherever I am.

Now, as a group fitness instructor and whimsical yoga teacher, I combine my love of movement and exploration through my blog, HeidiRunsAbroad - helping fellow travelers stay active and turn every trip into an adventure. Walking tours are a natural fit: they get you moving, spark curiosity, and bring a place to life.

As a tour publisher, I focus on designing thoughtful, efficient walking routes that help you get the most out of your time exploring - whether you follow the tour start to finish or use it as the backbone for a longer day of wandering.

Through creating tours, I’ve also become fascinated by how language shapes travel experiences, especially when locals and visitors use different names for places and people. Those small differences often reveal a lot about history, identity, and power.

Though I’m not always a local expert, I’m always a passionate traveler - learning from locals through Couchsurfing, coffee shop conversations, and the streets themselves. Building and sharing a tour is one of the best ways I now learn about a city: connecting the dots, walking the streets, and telling the story.

Preview Location

Location 11

Republic Square and Atatürk Monument

Stop at the front of the monument. You should be looking at the front of the horse with its hooves lifted off the ground.

Here we are in Republic Square, standing by one of the most important monuments in all of Turkiye – the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder ... Stop at the front of the monument. You should be looking at the front of the horse with its hooves lifted off the ground.

Here we are in Republic Square, standing by one of the most important monuments in all of Turkiye – the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkiye. Now, if you're going to remember just one name from Turkish history, make it this guy's. Atatürk literally means "Father of the Turks," and that wasn't just a nickname – it was legally given to him by the Turkish parliament in 1934 (so not that long ago, as he was a very recent prominent figurehead).

Atatürk was a military commander who helped put an end to the 700-year rule of the Ottoman Empire here. He naturally shifted to being a revolutionary leader as he founded the Turkish Republic in 1923. He transformed Türkiye from an imperial Islamic state into a secular, democratic republic practically overnight. Imagine someone changing everything about your country – the calendar, the legal system, even how people dressed – that was Atatürk! He also changed the alphabet from Arabic to using the Latin-script Turkish alphabet - this, by the way, makes their written language much more accessible.

What is fascinating is that this massive change occurred not that long ago. It was only just in the 1920s when Atatürk muscled Turkiye out of the Middle Ages into the Modern Age. Many Turkish people might just experience life nowadays, however, Atatürk is still in the living memory of a lot of older Turks.

It was a strong core belief of Atatürk that Turkish people should first receive education to make an informed decision about their religious beliefs and practices. Though the majority of Turkish people happen to be Muslim, many locals might prefer not to have Turkiye be referenced to as an “Islamic” nation. It’s technically listed as a Democratic Republic in their Constitution, and Atatürk’s viewpoint provides more of a sense of nationalism rather than being solely limited to a religious identity.

This monument was created in 1964 and is also called the National Ascension Monument, celebrating Atatürk’s rise to power. The bronze sculpture depicts Atatürk mounted on a horse as well as two children, representing the country’s youth. With the wide open space, level of significance, and proximity to the harbor, it’s an excellent gathering place for the city.

Besides this large monument here, you'll notice these statues everywhere in Turkiye. In fact, there's a saying: "Wherever you throw a stone in Turkiye, you'll hit an Atatürk statue."

Now, turn around and take in this spectacular view!

Your first glimpse of Antalya's famous harbor! Breathtaking, isn't it? That impossibly blue water is what we call the "turquoise coast," and yes, the word "turquoise" actually comes from "Turkish." Who knew Turks were so influential!

Let's get a much closer look! Turn to face the water so that the front of the monument is on your left. Walk straight toward the glass barrier in front of you. However, veer to the right, as you should see a staircase.

Take those stairs down and, if you've noticed an epic viewing platform in the distance, that is where we are headed!

What I love about this city is how quickly you can climb and descend between the outstanding viewpoints and the blue-green waters below. Sometimes you can do so through the sloping roads, but it's also much faster to just take the stairs (as you'll see later on).

Once down this first staircase, keep going straight down a few more stairs. We will then stay on this level, so do NOT take the steep descending staircase that will appear on your left. Read More

View locations and route

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Major Landmarks

Hadrian's Gate
Antalya Clock Tower
II. Attalos - Founder of the city
Monumento a Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Yivliminare Mosque
Old Town Bazaar
Karatay Madrasa
Roman Harbour
Iskele Mosque
Antalya Port
Mermerli Plajı
Kecili Park viewing platform
Shehzade Korkut Mosque
Hidirlik Tower
Ancient Roman Bathhouse
Nazım Hikmet Heykeli
Karaalioğlu Parkı Kedi Evi
Varuna Gezgin Cafe - Antalya
Sefa Hamam Antalya Kaleici Турецкая Баня Хамам
The Sudd Coffee Kaleiçi
U1 Coffee.
Dervish Lodge Museum

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Barbaros, Atatürk Cd, Barbaros, Hadrian Kale Kapısı, 07100 Muratpaşa/Antalya, Türkiye
Total distance

3km
Final location
Kılınçarslan, 07100 Muratpaşa/Antalya, Türkiye
Distance back to start location

667.88m

Directions to Starting Point

This tour begins at the front of the famous Hadrian's Gate, outside the old city walls. You know you're on the correct side if you face the gate and you have the modern road, tram, and mosque directly behind you.

Show Directions

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Want a coffee to start? Head to U1 coffee for the cheapest prices in the old town.
Breakfast beforehand? Visit Varuna Gezgin Cafe for their famous Turkish breakfasts.
Dervish Lodge Museum. (FREE visit inside)
Yivliminare Mosque (FREE visit inside)
There's the Old Bazaar as well as the Old TOWN Bazaar mentioned (for shopping)
Shehzade Korkut Mosque (FREE visit inside - this is my favorite and top recommendation)
Chill out at Karaalioglu Park at the end of the tour
Finish with a treat (brookie - brownie/cookie) at The Sudd Coffee Kaleiçi
Get a Turkish bath at Sefa Hamam

Best time of day

April - early June as well as September - mid-November. Spring and autumn will be better since the summers are quite hot.
From dawn to dusk (considering museum operating hours if you're interested)
Avoid Fridays around 12pm for mosque prayer times (if you want to stop inside)

Precautions

Wear sunscreen and bring water (especially if you DO go in the summer).
Have a refillable water bottle? There are some fountains you can use including one stop on the tour.

In case of rain, bring an umbrella or raincoat.
Download the tour in advance and fully charge your phone. Bring headphones, and if you're out for the rest of the day, consider bringing a portable battery and charging cord. If you have a portable tripod, you’ll find some great spots for photos.

In the second half of the tour, there are a lot of stairs going up from the pier to the next viewpoint. Take your time and pause the audio as much as you need.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”