The historic city center of Antalya, Kaleici, offers the opposite of everything most people think of when considering a vacation to Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast. Though the Antalya province has lush nature, crystal blue beaches and well-preserved historical remains galore, most sites and spots are a good 1-2 hour drive from downtown and are teeming with tourists. This can imbue the winter season with a strange sadness \u2013 but not in Kaleici, where there’s 365 days of a robust social scene and nightlife.<\/p>\n
Most travelers have at some point thought, “how great would it be to live here” \u2013 but voicing this feeling in\u00a0Kaleici, Antalya was an unexpected surprise. The historical center of Turkey’s biggest summer destination city,\u00a0Kaleici (spelled Kalei\u00e7i in Turkish) was a sketchy, dilapidated neighborhood (not too long ago!).\u00a0 Years of massive restoration with great attention to the area’s ancient history, we can say without a doubt that Kaleici transformed into one of Antalya’s most beautiful and unique places. Together with S\u0131\u011fac\u0131k<\/strong>, in Izmir it is the loveliest historical settlement in the country with layers of history from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine Seljuk and Ottoman times.<\/p>\n Kaleici is now one of the popular centers in Antalya<\/strong><\/a>. Locals and tourists alike come here to hang out. There are old houses, adorable restaurants, quaint souvenir shops and lively bars with tables that spill into the cobblestone streets. And these streets look as if they’ve come straight from a period movie \u2013 you’ll want to take pictures at every corner! It is a small place, and you’ll be able to see everything in 2-3 hours which might make you wonder if you should book your stay there. Its location is so central that you can easily stay here and move around to other places in downtown Antalya. So if you are in Antalya during the winter, don’t think twice because nowhere else is livelier. Alternatively, you can stay in Akra Hotel in Lara, the other center in Antalya, and come to Kaleici for a visit.<\/p>\n If you are in Antalya in the summer, don’t stay more than 1 night in Kaleici. Go out to the wonderful beach towns of the province a such as Kas<\/strong> (highly recommended) or Olympos<\/strong> <\/a>or\u00a0\u00c7\u0131ral\u0131 (Cirali).<\/strong> On your way back to the airport, you can stay one night in Kaleici, but make sure to arrive in the afternoon to avoid the heat.<\/p>\n Party at night. Fly out the next day.<\/p>\n **Important Reminder **<\/strong> This family-run hotel is an ideal place to stay, and is located centrally. The Citrus Garden has traditional architecture as well. Click here for more details and to make a reservation: Booking<\/strong><\/a> or\u00a0Agoda<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n A great place to stay with its Kaleici-style architecture, a rooftop terrace with views of the Taurus mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Click here for more details and to make a reservation: Booking<\/a><\/strong> or Agoda<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n A Greek mansion during the Ottoman Empire, it is now a boutique hotel. Click here for more details and to make a reservation:\u00a0Booking <\/strong><\/a>or\u00a0Agoda<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nCenter of Antalya<\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\nShould I Book My Stay Here?<\/h2>\n
Where to stay in Kaleici<\/h3>\n
\nTurkey has complicated relationships with Booking.com:
\n– If you are abroad, you can book a hotel in Turkey on Booking.com. It is best to do your bookings while you are away.
\n– If you are in Turkey, you can no longer book on Booking.com. So you need to connect with a VPN in order to use Booking.com or you can switch to Agoda which is also owned by Booking.com.<\/p>\nCitrus Garden<\/h4>\n
White Garden Hotel<\/h4>\n
Lavin Suites Hotel<\/h4>\n
13 Great Things to Do in Kaleici, Antalya<\/h2>\n