Below is a list of Antalya must do's when you visit the city.

Take a trip to the Ruins at Perge

These ruins are located along roughly 11 miles of the Antalya Highway, in the district of Aksu. You can rent a car or join a guided trip to see the ruins. These ruins, dating back to the fourth century, present one of the best-preserved archeological sites in Turkey. Perge (or Pergae) is said to have been home to one of the first Christian communities, and a destination of St Paul and Barnabas when they fled from Antioch. Hikers can even follow the St Paul trail for a true historical experience. 

Enjoy the "Monster" at Olympos

Another Antalya must-do is visiting "Chimaera," a mythical fire-spewing "monster" close to the ancient city of Olympos. According to legend, the Chimaera was killed by Bellerophon riding his winged horse called Pegasus. The fires seen here are actually from the combustion of mostly methane gas seeping from the earth and igniting at the point of contact between various rocks. The route to the site is at the farthest end of modern Çirali, about a 20-minute hike from the beach end of Olympos. Don't forget a flashlight when going to see the "monster."

Enjoy Kaleiçi, the Old City

The previous centre of Antalya, Kaleici could have also been in ruins now, but has been rebuilt and well preserved. New extensions were added to existing Roman walls, and this process of preservation brought home a prestigious award from the Turkish Tourism "Oscars." This beautiful amalgam of old Turkish and Greek crimson-roofed houses, linked by quaint cobbled streets, is situated above the marina. Visit the plethora of restaurants and quaint little hotels in Kaleici. Even if you don’t stay over, it's worth a visit. Hadrian’s Gate, the Roman arch in memory of this emperor’s visit, is worth a photograph because of its marble décor, and the 13th-Century Yivli Minaret and the Roman Clock Tower are also great photographic sights. Take the tram for some sightseeing down the seafront to Konyaalti, the main beach, and end up at Antalya’s museum, filled with marvels from the region's Roman and Greek history.

Shop in the City

The puny cobbled streets in the old citadel called Kaleiçi make up the ultimate shopper's paradise, with boutiques, antique shops, craft markets, and souvenir stores. The recently restored Old Harbor below Kaleiçi boasts hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and bazaars, and has become a center of bustling tourist activity. This, too, is a shopper’s paradise, with many a bargain to be had.

Enjoy and Appreciate Calista

Turkey took the bull by the horns in "green" tourism by demarkating large coastline areas as no-building zones. After signing the Kyoto Agreement to reduce their CO2 emissions, the Calista resort in Pine forests at Belek converted to an eco-friendly accommodation, and won a Green Star Award for its efforts. Calista received high scores for recycling, water preservation, renewable energy, self-sufficient produce, and staff eco-awareness. Visiting Calista is another must do before leaving Antalya.