Antalya, Turkey

Antalya, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, is a major modern city and port, but the historic Old Town (Kaleiçi) is protected and many of the crumbling Ottoman homes have been carefully restored as pansyions, boutique hotels, restaurants, galleries or shops.

Do/see
Sit outside a bar in the ancient Roman harbour and enjoy a traditional Turkish aperitif as the sun sets, buy souvenirs in the bazaar or be scrubbed clean at 600-year-old Sefa Turkish bath. Ride the tram to the end of the line and spend an hour in the superb Antalya Museum, where archaeological exhibits include fossils, statues, Ottoman costumes and elaborate carpets.

Eat/drink
You’ll find heavenly kebabs at Topçu Kebap 1885 on Kazım Özalp Cad 21 outside Kaleiçi. The Art Café and Meyhane on Hesapçi Sok, the main shopping street in Kaleiçi, opened in April 2011 in a restored Ottoman building and serves fresh grilled fish and bar snacks with a soundtrack of live music to Antalya University students and international tourists.

Stay
Located on a peaceful side street in Old Antalya, the White Garden Pansiyon is a haven from the midday heat and has been tastefully furnished in traditional Turkish style.

Further afield
Drive, join a tour or take a taxi to cool down on a hot afternoon at spectacular Düden Waterfalls, 12km away, or spend a day exploring the impressive (though unrestored) ruined city of Termessos, almost 40km inland from the city.