2,000 years ago and 2,000 years later, Antalya is still “heaven on earth”. Until now, I had never known of such a heavenly place and I wish I did, as it is one of my favorite cities/places I have ever visited. Located at the end of the famous Lycian Trail, Antalya is tucked away amongst one of the world’s most scenic coasts, the Lycian Penisula. 

A Long History

Over 2,200 years ago (around 200 BC), King Attalus II of Pergamon ordered several men to find the most beautiful place on earth, i.e. “heaven on earth”. They returned several years later to inform the king that they had succeeded, bringing him to the land they later named Antalya (Attalia) in his honor. It is not just Antalya that is supposedly heaven, but in fact, the entire coast which is all, downright, magnificent. This place has had many thousands of years of history, and throughout the years, they have built many unique ancient buildings. One of the particularly famous ruins is the Petra-like, cliff-carved tombs sprawling all over the Lycian Peninsula. You can hike up to some of these Greek-inspired tombs and observe all of their decorations such as the columns, some of which are hanging from the ceiling, as they are for the sole purpose of looks. 

What Makes Antalya Heaven?

If you’re not convinced that Antalya is “heaven on earth”, walking by the ocean will persuade you instantly. The jagged peaks emerging straight from the ocean as a backdrop are already enough for you to stop and gaze, but the raging waterfalls falling into the sea definitely sell it. Above all, the food here is excellent. There might not have been restaurants when this place was first discovered, but modern-day Antalya has one of the highest standards of food quality in a city I’ve ever visited. In every restaurant or food-selling place I went to, the food was marvelous, to the point where I believed I was in heaven. Speaking of present-day Antalya, living here must be a dream as the entire stretch of land by the sea was converted to a park, infested with cats and full of public amenities such as outdoor gyms and benches. Many locals were hanging out and relaxing, as it was a perfect place to enjoy the scenic views while chilling. 

There are many beautiful beaches too, some of which are the prettiest I’ve ever seen, such as Konyaalti Beach, a gravel beach with extraordinary turquoise-blue water, overlooking the spectacular and grand mountains. We stayed here until sunset, when the bright red sun slowly submerged behind the mountains, illuminating the cloudy sky with a magnificent orange hue. We visited Antalya in mid-November, and the sea was still warm enough to swim enjoyingly. So, if you ever are considering visiting Antalya, I highly recommend coming to this beach to observe the glorious sunset or float around in the water. 

It seemed like this place was already popular with Europeans, especially Russians, but I had never heard of this place and I wish I could stay longer. This place has been a popular summer vacation spot for the past thousands of years and still is, which further backs up my claim that Antalya is indeed, “heaven on earth”. 

What To Do Along The Lycian Coast 

As Antalya is supposed “heaven”, you might be wondering what you can do in such a heavenly place. During my stay here, I have accumulated some of the best things to do in Antalya and the rest of the Lycian Peninsula. 

  1. Try Piyazci

This chickpea soup may look ordinary and perhaps even boring, but trust me, you have to try this. Only in Antalya, this dish is served like this, and it has become quite famous. I have never had a soup with this many ingredients inside before, but all the flavors blend nicely together – the sourness from the lemon and vinegar, the tang from the beans, the pungent taste from the onions, and the bread that soaks everything in. We went to a restaurant called Piyazci Almet which judging by their name, specializes in making this soup delicious and fast. 

  1. Observe the sunset at Konyaalti Beach

Observing the sunset from this beach is a true spectacle. As I said earlier, seeing the sun set behind the lofty peaks in the background is absolutely stunning, especially when the waves glow from the sky’s radiation. If you’re ever staying in Antalya even for a day, you have to come here to gaze at the wonderful sunset views.

  1. Visit the Duden Waterfalls 

One of the main things to do here, these stunning falls cascading into the sea are a must-see if you’re in Antalya. The striking views of the mountains overlooking these rapids are incredible, and above all, you can have a stroll in the park which is right by these cascades. 

  1. Wander through bazaars 

Antalya is not just about the beautiful scenery and nature, but also the city itself. There are an endless amount of interesting streets and alleys to get lost in, and that was one of my favorite things I did here. Walking around the old town and the several bazaars was unexpectedly nice, and we spent most of the night here. Like I said earlier, there are so many delicious restaurants in this city, that many of the places throughout the old town were exceptional. We wandered around Kaleiçi old town and visited Yivliminare Mosque, Hadrian’s Gate, Hidirlik Tower, a clocktower, and the port. 

  1. Swim in Ölüdeniz

Although this is not in Antalya, swimming in Ölüdeniz is one of the best things to do if you are traveling here. The enormous mountains towering over you are remarkable and picturesque, perfect if you are looking for a “Lycian view”. 

  1. Go to the tombs

Sprawling all over the Lycian peninsula are these majestic tombs overlooking fantastic views of the coast. We went to the Amyntas Rock Tombs which is right beside Fethiye, but you do need a ticket which isn’t at all expensive. Another famous spot to see these tombs is the Caunos Tombs of the Kings in Dalyan. There are many more here than in Fethiye, but the town is a bit out of the way. 

  1. Relax at the park

Last but not least, relaxing at the park is a perfect way to end your day or hang out and do nothing. You get incredible views of the sea and there are many public amenities there too, such as workout equipment and benches. 

There are plenty more things that make Antlaya and the rest of the Lycian Coast “heaven” which I haven’t mentioned, but hopefully, you now understand why this place has been “heaven on earth” ever since it was discovered over 2000 years ago. This place was an unexpected destination and we were shocked at how nice it was, especially driving along the incredibly scenic coastline. I wish I could come back one day to explore the rest of the town and gaze at the awesome views this place has to offer. I could not and still can not believe this place exists, as it is surely too good to be true, yet it is. This place is so heavenly in fact, Santa is even from here (true fact)! There is an endless amount of amazing activities to do here and there is no way you can get bored, even if you’re a local, and I assure you, once you visit, you’ll definitely believe this place is the one and only, “heaven on earth”. 

Additional Info

When to visit – The perfect time to visit is during autumn, precisely October or November. It’s the best temperature to be strolling around as it is not too hot nor too cold – just right. The water is still warm too, meaning you can enjoy the beach the whole day. 

Time it takes – We spent only two days in Antalya which is enough, but if you want a more relaxing time, I recommend staying a couple of days longer. 

Favorite restaurants – LUNA GARDEN (They sell hot chocolate with cotton candy in a relaxing garden setting!), The Royal Castle Bistro (They have one of the largest menus I’ve ever seen, but everything they sell is amazing!), Çıtır Balık (They sell delicious seafood for an incredibly cheap price!), and Piyazci Almet (a local restaurant that sells delicious Piyazci!).