Antalya, Türkiye Through Our Eyes

Carla and me, with the mountains of Antalya rising all around us.

We spent two weeks in Antalya, Türkiye, and the mountains alone made the trip worthwhile. These were not ordinary mountains. They rose straight up from the sea with a strength that was impossible to ignore. Powerful, yet calm at the same time, they carried a presence that stayed with you. Being near them reminded me how much beauty and mystery still exist in this world when we slow down long enough to notice.

The gorgeous mountains of Antalya rising from the sea.

The clearest view of the mountains was from the port. Every morning, I walked down there just to see them and spend a few quiet moments in their presence. Over time, it began to feel familiar, like visiting old friends you feel close to without needing to say much. That simple walk became my daily ritual. It felt like meditation. I would stand there in the early light and let the stillness settle in. My body slowed down. In those moments, I felt steady, calm, and deeply grateful.

The view from the port of the majestic mountains of Antalya.

Something shifts when you begin each day with that kind of beauty in front of you. It reminds you how small you are in this wide world, but not in a way that feels diminishing. Instead, it makes life feel fuller and more meaningful. Each morning felt like a quiet welcome from nature, as if the world were softly saying, “Slow down. You’re okay. Breathe.” And that’s exactly what I did. I stood there and listened to the quiet wisdom of those mountains.

The mountains are ever-present, even as you stroll through the old town.

Antalya is beautiful, though beauty tells only part of its story. The city has been shaped by centuries of human civilization. Founded in the second century BCE by King Attalus II of Pergamon, it became a significant port and naval base. Over time, it served as a crossroads for the Lycians and later grew into an important harbor and trading center along the Mediterranean. You can feel that long history as you walk its streets. People lived full lives here. They worked, loved, struggled, and hoped. When you wander through the old town, it feels as though those lives have not fully faded. They linger in the stones, in the narrow streets, and in the spaces between buildings.

A charming, colorful street in Antalya’s old town.

We enjoyed the old town. We have walked through many historic centers over the years, and while this one may not be the most beautiful city we have seen, it felt genuinely welcoming. The streets were calm, and wandering through them felt easy and unhurried, though at times an occasional merchant was more persistent than we were used to, a cultural difference we’re learning to adapt to. The old buildings carried a quiet dignity, shaped by time and touched by the many lives that had passed through before us. Everyone we met was kind, and almost everywhere we looked, the mountains and the sea framed the old town as if they belonged to the same long and ancient story.

The pure joy of a Turkish breakfast.

Staying in the heart of the old town during our first week felt just right. Our hotel was charming and full of character, and what truly shaped our mornings was our Turkish breakfast. We had enjoyed traditional Turkish breakfasts before, but this one felt especially generous. Fresh bread, cheeses, olives, fruit, eggs, honey, spreads of every kind, and tea that never seemed to run out. Breakfast here isn’t rushed. It’s more than a meal. It feels like care. You sit, you linger, you talk, and you feel genuinely welcomed.

Beautiful Turkish textiles in Antalya’s old town.

Antalya becomes very crowded during the peak months, and even the shoulder season would have felt too busy for us. Visiting in the off-season felt right. The pace slowed, the streets were calmer, and the city felt more human and approachable. Because of that, we were able to enjoy Antalya more fully.

A cozy cafe near our Airbnb.

For our second week, we moved to an Airbnb outside the historic center, and the rhythm shifted. There were no ancient walls or postcard views waiting around every corner. Instead, we found neighborhoods, traffic, daily routines, and the flow of ordinary life. For us, travel has always been about more than beauty alone. It’s also about truth, about seeing how people actually live, and that is exactly what our second week offered.

A beautiful view from Antalya's port.

Antalya’s setting is a large part of what makes it so special. Set along the Turquoise Coast, the name feels entirely earned. The sea is a deep, luminous blue that can stop you in your tracks. Sometimes you don’t even think to take a photo. You simply stand there and let it take hold of you. It’s something you feel just as deeply as you see.

Ruins in Side, Türkiye.

The region around Antalya is rich with ancient sites. We visited Perge, Olympos, Termessos, and Side, and each one felt like a quiet doorway into another time. Walking among those ruins, it’s easy to imagine life unfolding there. Families gathering. Markets buzzing. Moments shaped by prayer, worry, laughter, and love. Entire worlds existed here long before us, and standing among those stones makes that truth feel real. It humbles you, and it stays with you.

Ruins of the ancient theater in Termessos, Türkiye.

With all that said, if we were to do it again, we would likely spend only a few days in Antalya and devote the rest of our time to Side, a smaller town about an hour to the east, nestled among Roman ruins. Side sits right on the water and has a sweetness and charm that felt familiar almost immediately. Many people also love Alanya. It’s beautiful, but it feels more like a resort and draws heavier tourism. Places like that can be lovely. They’re just not our style. To the west are Kaş and Fethiye, with more to come about those towns later.

An evening stroll through old town.

In the end, we did appreciate our time in Antalya, even if it’s likely a bit too large for us to feel truly comfortable there. Antalya offered us beauty, history, and many quiet, human moments. It reminded us why we chose a life shaped by curiosity, movement, and wonder - and we are very grateful for the warm, sunny winter weather.

And those mountains. I will carry them with me for a very long time.

Strolling through the charming old town.

A beautiful evening in Antalya's old town.

Turkish rugs.

The lovely port in Antalya.