Antalya’s 7 Wonders

From Waterfalls And Caves To Palisades And Estuaries, Antalya Has It All. Here Are 7 Cool Suggestions For A Hot Antalya Summer.

THE PALISADES
Whether at Kaleiçi inside the old castle or on the Lara shore, you will never tire of gazing at the palisades in Antalya, which attracts millions of visitors every year for its natural and historic beauty. Millions of tiny droplets are tossed up by the steep rocks and fall into the sea, delighting viewers and exuding a sense of coolness on even the hottest summer days.

MANAVGAT FALLS
This waterfall in the township of Manavgat cascades over two to ten meter high palisades. The sources that feed Manavgat Çayı, a small stream winding through the forest, burst from karstic underground caves as foam and mist to mingle with the river. Picnic grounds, a rustic coffeehouse and a restaurant form a green peninsula next to the falls.

KURŞUNLU FALLS
One of Antalya’s most beautiful waterfalls, Kurşunlu is reached by turning left off the Antalya-Isparta highway at the 24th kilometer and following the signs. Approximately 18 meters high, it joins together a series of cataracts and small lakes. Located in a deep canyon, it was declared a national park and opened to visitors in 1986.

DAMLATAŞ CAVE
This cave is a natural treasure located near Alanya Castle, which was once a Seljuk dockyard. Interesting for its honey-hued stalactites and stalagmites, it has a constant temperature of 20-23 º C. summer and winter. Emitting a mix of chemical gases and negative ions, the cave is said to be good for asthma and rheumatism. After exploring its mysterious labyrinths, you can take a dip in the sea and sunbathe on Alanya’s famous beaches.

DÜDEN FALLS
This waterfall 12 kilometers north of Antalya city center is named for the swallow holes (düden in Turkish) in the river bed. The waters, which disappear twice in underground channels after leaving their source, reemerge on the surface at Düdenbaşı to cascade down a steep, 20-meter-high wall of rock. And the pine forest where the falls are hidden is a refreshing park. Next door neighbor of Çıralı in Antalya province, Olimpos is a magnificent Mediterranean shore with a pebble beach and a sea like a sheet of glass. Stretching out along a strip of orange and clementine orchards, the beach is also the habitat of the Caretta caretta sea turtle. There are ruins of the Lycian civilization, too, at Olimpos, which is a key stop for blue cruise boats.

DON’T MISS

• Going rafting beneath the historic Roman bridges in Köprülü Canyon.
• Picking up some interesting eggplant, watermelon and tomato jams in Antalya city center.
• Going scuba diving at Kaş and seeing the colorful underwater life.
• Making a jeep safari in the Kalkan highlands and visiting the tents of the Yörük nomads.
• Touring the Lycian capital Xanthos, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

KARAİN CAVE
This cave in Termessos National Park is near the village of Yağca in Korkuteli province. It consists of three inter-connected main galleries with a narrow entrance on the slopes of Mt. Güllük overlooking the Mediterranean. Other smaller galleries with stalactites and stalagmites follow at greater depths. Said to be a million years old, the cave is thought to have been used by humans from the Paleolithic up to the Iron Age.