The old port of Antalya or the port of the old city of Antalya (Old City Marina, Turkish name: Kaleiçi Yat Limanı Antalya) is a harbor in Antalya, located under the former fortress walls and now is one of the main attractions of the city, where guests of the city like to walk and relax locals.
It is known from ancient sources that before the foundation of the ancient city of Atleis in Antalya Kaleichi there was a pirate harbor known as Korikos, which means "rock vault".
The city has been continuously inhabited since the 2nd century BC and has been well preserved to this day. The harbor has been one of the gates of Anatolia (Antalya) to the sea throughout history.
A harbor surrounded by rocky shores and walls (you can climb the wall and admire the views of the port and the sea), was important both from the point of view of the sea route and the natural structure of the rocks, which created a good shelter and overview.
The harbor is part of the old city of Antalya (Kaleichi), so the port is also called Kaleichi Marina or the port of the old city of Antalya.
Today it is, for the most part, a tourist area with places for walking and recreation, restaurants, a park with a playground, shops, monuments, museums, a panoramic elevator, a beach, travel agencies, parking and toilets.
There are many small boats and yachts moored at the marina, including fishing and tourist ones in the form of a pirate ship, on which you can take a sea excursion along the Antalya coast; there are tours with swimming, lunch, to the Duden waterfalls, Turtle Island, beaches and caves.
You can walk along the breakwater, which is used by tourists as an observation deck and on the "nose" of which there is a lighthouse.
At the lighthouse on the breakwater there is a statue of Fatma Doman, who was born in 1927 in Antalya and was the last guard of the Kaleichi Pier lighthouse - from 1956 to 1983.
You can walk along the pier and admire the moored boats and yachts from the sea, and from the old town you can see the powerful city walls on a rocky hill.
The port also has restaurants and cafes with seafood and traditional cuisine, souvenir shops, an amphitheater, a fountain, a playground, toy museum (Antalya Oyuncak Müzesi) with a collection of antique toys of domestic and foreign production from the period of the 1860-1990s (admission is free), Museum of Marine Biology (Antalya Deniz Biyolojisi Müzesi), yacht club, paid toilets,
a small old mosque Iskele (Iskele camii) with a small minaret.
The mosque was built in the late 19th century from stone. It has supports in the form of corner columns, between which a natural spring gushes out of the ground. The entrance to the prayer hall of the mosque is possible by stairs. They say that the source fulfills wishes! More about the Iskel Mosque and the source...
Also notable in the port is a monument to Captain Mustafa Ekizler, who lived in Antalya from 1905 to 2000. He became a ship's captain at the age of 18. After the commercial port of Antalya was moved to a new location in 1972, Mustafa worked as a volunteer guard at the old port of Antalya and the Iskele Mosque and served as a muezzin for many years without pay. Mustafa Ekizler earned his living by the sea for 85 years and died on December 12, 2000.
Powerful stone steps lead from the old town to the port.
In addition to the stairs, you can go down to the port (climb from the port) on the Kaleici Panoramic Elevator, which connects the old port with Kaleici Street and Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı).
At the top of the elevator there is a glass observation deck, which offers panoramic views of the port, the sea and the old town of Antalya.
The elevator is free. More about the elevator and the views...
The beach near the old port of Antalya
Near the old port, at the foot of the cliffs, there is a small paid beach of Mermerli (Mermerli Plajı) with a restaurant and spectacular views. More about the beach and the restaurant of Mermerli…
Practical information
Access to the old port of Antalya is free.
There is paid parking for cars in the port. Rent a car in Antalya (all places) →
Address of the old port of Antalya: Selçuk, Tuzkapısı Sk., 07000 Muratpaşa/Antalya, Turkey.
Coordinates of the old port of Antalya: 36°53'05.3"N 30°42'10.5"E (36.884811, 30.702918).
Hotels near the old port of Antalya
Puding Marina Residence, housed in a historic mansion, has an outdoor pool and pool bar. Room rates include buffet breakfast. Link to the hotel
Tekeli Konaklari, located in the restored residence of Osman Pasha, with a swimming pool, courtyard, restaurant and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
Kaleiçi Marina Boutique Hotel - Restaurant with a terrace overlooking the marina. The hotel is built in an old castle and has rooms with historical fittings. The hotel retains the historic walls and tunnels. Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
Adalya Port Hotel which overlooks the old port. The hotel features a rooftop restaurant-bar with panoramic views, a 24-hour front desk and free parking. Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
All accommodation facilities in Antalya (hotels, apartments, villas, guest houses, etc.), including in the old town, near beaches and more remotely from those, can be view and book here
