Perge
Not to be missed by any historian!
An important city of ancient Pamphylia, Perge
is situated 18 kilometres from Antalya and was originally settled
by the Hittites around 1500 BC, St Paul preached his first sermons
here. Most of today's Perge belongs to the Roman Period and anyone
interested in history will love to explore the long colonnaded street,
once paved with marble and lined with shops, the agora, the stadium,
the public baths and the amphitheatre.
 
One tip - try to avoid this tour in the middle
of the day in peak summer.
Aspendos
25 miles east of Antalya is Aspendos, an amphitheatre that rivals
any other single construction on the Turkish coast. Built in the
2nd century and seating 15000 people, the theatre is still 95% complete.
The theatre has amazing acoustics and during the summer months concerts
are held here - listening to an opera or a musical in such an ancient
setting is an evening not to be missed.
Antalya
With its wide palm lined boulevards, an internationally acclaimed
marina, the historical old quarter as well as a wide selection of
shops, bars, nightclubs and restaurants, Antalya is one of Turkeys
most beautiful cities and is a major tourist centre. The historical
centre of the city, known as Kaleici, is now a major tourist attraction
and the original Roman harbour is now considered to be one of the
loveliest marinas in Turkey and is a great place to sit and enjoy
a lunch time beer. The old city walls, lit up at night, give an
atmosphere of timelessness and serenity and must not be missed.
Behind the city loom the Taurus mountains and towards the East rise
a dramatic expanse of cliffs with waterfalls tumbling down to the
sea.
 
Termessos
The plateau behind Antalya is as studded with the remains of old
cities as are the shores of the Mediterranean. One of the most remarkable
of these inland sites is Termessos, high in the mountains above
Antalya with even higher peaks around it and with a distant view
of the coastline. The defences of the city so daunted Alexander
the Great in 333BC that he passed it by, it is not hard to understand
why, with the steep winding roads on the approach to the city. At
its' peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, Termessos boasted as
many as 150,000 inhabitants and many of the buildings date back
to this time. Of all the ruins, the most Impressive by far is the
theatre which is hewn out of the rock and offers spectacular views
as far as Antalya.
Taurus Mountains
and white water rafting
Only a 30 minute drive from Side, turn off towards Beskonak and
you start to travel up into the spectacular scenery of the Taurus
Mountains. Visit the stunning Köprülü Canyon and
join in an experience never to be forgotten - rafting down the white
rapids through the astoundingly beautiful canyon. Truly a day out
for the adventurous but an experience you will never forget.
Aquapark
Only 1 hour from Side is one of the largest Aquaparks in the area.
This is a great day out for all the family with a vast choice of
pools and water slides to discover and enjoy. To make the day even
more memorable, see the dolphin and sealion show and why not take
the opportunity to swim with the dolphins.
Manavgat Waterfalls
and river boat tours
Just 10 minutes drive from Side is the local town of Manavgat where
you can practise your haggling skills to pick up some great bargains
in the markets on Mondays and Thursdays. Also from here you can
take boat trips along the emerald green waters of the Manavgat river
to the stunning Manavgat waterfalls or to the sea. Cruising along
the river under the blue skies with views over open countryside
top the mountains....a day out not to be missed.
Selukia and the Olympinar
Dam
Follow the road inland from Manavgat and you come to the steep winding
road up to the ruins of the ancient city of Seleukia. Set high up
on the top of a hill, with spectacular views down to the coast,
spend half a day exploring in the footsteps of your ancestors.
 
After Seleukia, follow the road to visit the hydro electric dam
that produces the electricity for the region. The 2nd largest dam
in Turkey, it took 20 years to build and 85 men died during the
construction. From the top, there are amazing views of the lake
on one side and the valley on the other. These two sites are off
the normal tourist trail but are well worth a visit for a memorable
day out.
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