Antalya and its surroundings
The Antalya region has been dubbed the ‘Turkish riviera’, because of the infinite archaeological and natural riches found along its idyllic coastline and in the nearby Taurus mountains. Already in the first century BC, King Attalos II called it ‘heaven’ and founded the city of Attaleia — which later became Antalya — and, even today, few would disagree with his judgment. Sun, sea, nature and history have combined here to form a very popular resort.
To match its spectacular scenery, the Antalya region enjoys glorious weather with an average of 310 sunny days every year and no true winter: in other words, perfect conditions for hot-air ballooning!.
Its breathtaking landscape, enjoyed nowhere better than from the basket of a balloon floating above the scenery, includes an incredible variety of coastal, mountain and woodland features such as ancient cities, harbours, memorial tombs and beaches, secluded coves and lush forests.
The nearby beaches are among the cleanest in the Mediterranean as the sea is naturally purified by the surrounding rock upon which the city is built. The Antalya area offers a range of daytime activities along with hot-air ballooning to suit every taste and hosts a number of sporting events throughout the year, like international beach volleyball, triathlon, golf tournaments, archery, tennis and canoeing competitions. In addition to the wide selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops, there is a lively night-life and many festivals take place there throughout the year.
The regional capital city of Antalya, with a population of around 600 000 inhabitants, is spread along steep cliffs abutting the Gulf of Antalya. Among this ancient city’s many tourist attractions within the Roman walls is the historic quarter of Kaleici, where there are many good museums and traditional Turkish and Greek houses line classic cobblestone roads and are protected from development. The Cultural Centre, opened in 1995, hosts cultural and art events in the fields of music, theatre and creative arts. The restored, internationally-acclaimed port marina is also a fascinating place to visit.