1. WATERFALLS
Duden Waterfall
Antalya is a well-known destination due to its good weather and beautiful beaches which can be enjoyed for a long period during one year, but are there only fancy resorts or there is more to discover? The answer is definitely YES and I might have just the right ideas for your next journey! ๐บ๏ธ
Something that not many people know is that Antalya is crossed by an important river and it flows into the Mediterranean Sea here. As a consequence, it forms 2 waterfalls that wear its name: Upper and Lower Duden, each of them with its particular beauty.
The landscapes are simply breathtaking and are super worth seeing! These images suffered no editing, yet you can convince yourself by how nature creates the best landmarks ๐๏ธ
Lower Duden is the one going straight into the sea from a really big height and it’s located in the East side of the city, so closer to the tourists’ eyes. Surrounded by a park and chilling area with cafes, seems like the perfect place to spend the noon and take some cool photos (I know you want that๐). On the other side, Upper Duden is found in North Antalya and about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the central area. ๐
2. The Kurศunlu Natural PARK
While Duden Waterfalls are easy to reach even by public transportation, Kurศunlu Waterfall’s location requires more orientation skills๐งญ
Yet, even if the way is a bit longer, the overall experience will be exceptional. I found myself in the midst of a pine forest with rivers and falls of water all around and it felt almost like a fairytale place. Honestly, in my mind, the place looked like some Avatar or Atlantis movie scenes, simply iconic ๐
By me, there are 2 ways to reach this paradise:
๐ if you are group, is better to split and take taxies, but be careful and negotiate the price as the drivers will extra charge you for being foreigners, or go by personal cars (40 minutes ride either way)
๐ use the tramway+a bus, but this will cost some time of that day (2 hours to go and come back) as you have to take the tram almost till the end of the line (Kurศunlu Stop) and then a 10-15 minutes bus that leaves you in front of the natural park.
Besides the delight for the eyes and heart, I should mention about the high humidity in the air and that wearing light clothes is a must!๐ฅต Feels like a sauna during summerโ๏ธ
Staying still in order not to sweat is not an option either๐ Once we were there, we wanted just to see more and more and started exploring the entire forest. ๐ณ Stairs to Heaven wait at each corner and some of them took us to spots that felt like the top of the world. The pick of the heal gave me also a breath of fresh air and a bit of wind to recharge by energy level ๐
3. Olympos side
While some of us were wandering around in Kurศunlu Park, some of my friends decided to go as well out of the city, but in Olympos (not the Greek one). The area is known for its bohemian vibes, attractiveness for young hearts in general, and for being protected due to the natural beauties.
Few things you can enjoy here are:
- ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ค๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ก
- ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐ข and sunbath on a virgin bitch, away from the rest of the world
- ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ the open-air museum of ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๏ธ
- ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ ๐ถ for just 20 TL (2 Euros)
- See the ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฅ
- Riding the ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ญ๐๐ฅฤฑ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง and get an astonishing view โฐ๏ธ
- they have shuttles even directly from Antalya (take Kemer Ekspres Otobรผsรผ)
- the working program ends at 7:00 PM
- the price per person is around 65 Turkish Lira (6 Euros)
- ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ช- since you are already on the top of the mountain, why not to reach the bottom uniquely?
4. Mediterranean Sea
Yet, if you are looking for a more relaxing vacation, with not so much walking and early mornings, there are still ways to enjoy the Turkish coast.๐ I recommend trying different beaches as each one has something different. For example, on Lara Beach, there are people selling Oyster snacks for 1 TL and the ground is sandy (like we are used to). On the other hand, Konyaaltฤฑ Beach (which is actually a pretty new one) has stones instead of sand, has more facilities like toilets, changing rooms and showers, plus restaurants and an observatory.
5. Old Center of Antalya
Take at least half of a day to walk around the downtown area.๐As main spots, you have to pass by ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐๐ง’๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ (photo), ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค, Antalya Kaleiรงi where is the ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค, the ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ and you can explore the area by foot up through the narrow paved streets or from down next to the sea, next to ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ of ancient Antalya. Here it is also easy to find cheap traditional food in good-looking restaurants. ๐น๐ท
6. Museums
When traveling in a new country, is good to understand as well a bit of its culture, history and traditions.๐Antalya has a great way to represent the country with numerous museums such as: the ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ exhibition (one pf the biggest in Turkey), the ๐ญ๐จ๐ฒ’๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฒ, Ataturk house, ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง’๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ (๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค), plus the ones dedicated to art, science and nature.๐งฟ
From the art galleries, I suggest going to the open-air ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ (next to the Lara Beach) which will reveal you pieces of past through icon figures of rulers and places long time ago forgotten. ๐ฟ
7. CLIFF RESTAURANtS & NIGHTLIFE
On your way from the History Museum to the central area, I advise enjoying the view by walk and to try a unique experience by having a meal in one of the cliff restaurants.๐ฅYou will pass by Ataturk Park as well and there is an ” I love Antalya” sign where of course tourists take photos.๐คณ
Also, for those who prefer night walks, there are plenty of places where to spend the time in the evening.๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ are just few of the options, next to the parks who are always full of life, especially during summer.
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