Antalya, Türkiye’s sunny city, continues welcoming visitors to its balmy environs as autumn begins to cool down the northern hemisphere. Antalya’s warm weather, pristine beaches, lush nature, and ancient treasures offer a prolonged summer to those planning an autumn escape.
In September, as nature begins to prepare for winter, we bid farewell to the warming summer sun. Holidaymakers gradually return home from their coastal vacations and beach retreats. In Antalya, however, life is different. Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and the Turkish Riviera, this southern province bestows three hundred days of sunshine upon its fortunate inhabitants, who rarely see temperatures below 20 degrees and can swim in the sea until the end of November while enjoying the area’s clean beaches. Antalya’s advantageous geographical location – and its almost year-round warm climate – are not unnoticed by its fans. Summer visitors in Antalya extend their stay while retirees and remote workers can enjoy a mild winter in this lovely city.
Rather than bundling up this winter, consider a relaxed season in Antalya. Keep reading for more details on life in this balmy region…
Pristine Beaches
Antalya is famed for its clean beaches stretching as far as the eye can see. The capital of the Turkish Riviera, Antalya, offers 229 Blue Flag beaches. Visitors can enjoy these beaches until the end of November or even the beginning of December while experiencing first-hand the privileges of a local Antalya resident.
In Antalya, overlooking the legendary turquoise sea of the Turkish Riviera, you can visit the pristine beaches of Lara, Konyaaltı and Kaputaş in autumn and winter. Located in the city centre, the fine-sand Lara Beach is ideal for swimming with its gentle waves. Konyaaltı Beach stretches seven kilometres from the city's west to the Bey Mountains. The Konyaaltı beachfront, lined with bars, cafes and nightclubs, presents lively days and evenings in autumn and winter as well as summer. Kaputaş Beach, near Kaş and Kalkan, is a picturesque locale reached via a long staircase carved into the cliffside.
Splendid Ancient Cities
Antalya, home to millennia of civilizations, possesses a unique cultural heritage. The ancient city of Perge, the capital of the Pamphylia region, is just 18 kilometres east of the Antalya city centre. This magnificent city, famed throughout history for its architecture and marble sculptures, continues to dazzle visitors with its Roman Baths, stunning floor mosaics and horseshoe-shaped stadium, and a monumental theatre that once held twelve thousand people! Perge is a treasure that indeed carries the ancient majesty of Antalya to the present day.
The ancient city of Patara, about 40 kilometres west of Kaş, is one of the oldest and most important cities of the Lycian Empire. While excavations of Patara have been ongoing since 1988, its spectacular beach is an important spawning area for the endangered Mediterranean Sea turtle, the Caretta Caretta. In addition, Patara is the birthplace of Saint Nicholas, known worldwide as Santa Claus.
Beautiful Dive Centres
Antalya is also a globally renowned dive centre. The city offers many water and nature sports opportunities, and a world-class diving experience is available even in autumn and winter. The Antalya province features a wide range of diving options, from Kalkan to Patara in the east. South of the city, Kaş is one of the world’s top 10 diving spots, featuring marine flora and fauna such as sea grass, coral and sea sponges, along with the submerged ruins of ancient cities.
Preferred by Golfers
Belek, the famous resort district of Antalya, also attracts attention with golf courses designed by world-famous golfers. Belek is a significant centre for golf tourism, featuring luxurious hotels, resorts, and infrastructure famed among the European golf world. A 20-minute drive from Antalya, Belek has 15 distinctive golf courses open through autumn and winter. Moreover, some of Belek’s golf courses offer night golfing with unique lighting systems.
World Famous Trekking Routes
Antalya is a genuine trekking paradise. The Lycian Way and St. Paul’s Road, ranked among the most beautiful routes in the world, are within the borders of this sunny city. The Lycian Way, Türkiye's first long-distance hiking route, is a 500-kilometre route extending from Fethiye to Antalya. The Lycian Way passes through areas of natural wonder such as Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley, Kabak Bay, Kalkan, Kaş, Kekova, Demre, Patara, Olympos Mountain, Çıralı and Göynük Canyon, presents the history of a region dating to antiquity.
St. Paul's Road, which starts from the ancient city of Perge and ends in the Yalvaç district near Lake Eğirdir in Isparta, is the second longest distance hiking trail in Türkiye. Trekkers can witness one of the most important changes in Christianity by walking this famous and challenging route, known as a pilgrimage route, for two thousand years.
Natural Wonder Caves
Antalya is also renowned for its caves, each of which is a wonder of nature. Located 30 kilometres northwest of the city and about 430-450 meters above sea level, Karain Cave is one of the largest natural caves in Türkiye. Remains from the cave, which bring to light a different view of human history, are exhibited in the Antalya Museum and the Karain Museum near the cave.
The first cave in Türkiye to be opened to tourism, Damlataş Cave, in the district centre of Alanya, takes its name from the water that drips from its stalactites. These stalactites and stalagmites, which are 300 metres in length and cover an area of 200 square meters in the cave, are estimated to have formed over 12,000 years.