Antalya’s Kaleiçi isn’t just the old town. It’s the heart of the city—a tightly wound coil of streets and steps, alleyways and arches, scents and stones. It’s where the city’s oldest layers press against the present. Where history lives not behind glass but in doorways, garden walls, and the shade of fig trees.
There are many reasons to spend time here, whether you’re a visitor or a longer-term nomad. It’s where the coworking is (Coworking Antalya sits just above the marina), where the city reveals its layers, and where, quite simply, it feels good to wander. Here’s how we think about it.
A working labyrinth
Kaleiçi is famously disorienting. Streets fold in on themselves, change names mid-curve, and disappear entirely. But that’s the point. It’s a place for wandering, for unplanned afternoons, for noticing. You might be heading somewhere—to the marina, the coworking space, your accommodation—but you’ll get there through grapevines, cats, and carpets.
Colorful motifs on wall tiles and woven carpets echo Antalya’s rich tapestry of tradition
There’s a geography of mood here. Some streets feel hushed and residential. Others are more commercial, with clusters of shops selling hand-stitched kilims and copperwork, or cafes playing jazz under cascading bougainvillea.
Rugs spill onto the street under bougainvillea blooms, and simit stacks beckon from shaded corners
The further you go, the more the soundscape changes. You might hear a street musician playing a classical Turkish tune, or kids shouting near one of the small parks. There are benches tucked between orange trees, and little lookouts where the sea appears suddenly, startlingly blue.
Cured gourds, an old stone fountain, and starburst flowers echo Kaleiçi’s small daily wonders
There is so much color, everywhere.
Marina moods
The Kaleiçi Marina is where the old town spills downward. It's all stone steps and terraces until you hit the boats. Some offer day tours. Some are anchored for ambiance. All float below the cliffs, where the old city rests like a crown.
From above, you get the clearest sense of Kaleiçi’s setting—the mountains, the sea, and the sharp drop between them. Some of our favorite viewpoints are just above the marina steps, and near the park at the top of the bluff. Look down, and you’ll see the red roofs of Kaleiçi angling into the Mediterranean.
If you're working remotely, this is also where Coworking Antalya is located.
At the entrance to Coworking Antalya: rainbow stairs, potted plants, and a protective evil eye
It's just up from the marina, offering a bright and breezy workspace within walking distance of everything. You could take a meeting in the morning and be swimming in the afternoon.
Cats, carpets, contours
Kaleiçi has its own rhythm, and it's in the details. Cats lounge under potted plants, beside ceramic displays, or on the edges of the ruins. Local volunteers have even created small sanctuaries—wooden shelters, food bowls, and signage to protect and feed the community cats.
Street kittens play while locals stop to care for the cats at one of the old town’s many kedi evi (cat houses)
Rugs hang on nearly every vertical surface. There are full-on carpet galleries, of course, but also casual displays: bright kilims draped over balconies, or miniatures laid out on old stone steps.
Kilim carpets and fragments drape across walls, their motifs echoing generations of Anatolian design
Each tells a story, and many sellers are happy to share theirs. Some rugs are woven with traditional patterns; others are patchwork modern compositions.
A patchwork of bold geometry and soft wear, these carpets carry the rhythm of lived time
The sheer variety, texture, and color are dizzying.
Handwoven kilims hang like flags of pattern memory, softening stone walls with centuries of color
Nearby, you’ll see handmade ceramics and shops selling Turkish delight in jewel-toned pyramids.
Ceramic stalls in Kaleiçi burst with color and texture—each bowl and plate a hand-painted story
There's a small tea garden under the trees, where older men play backgammon, and a few cafes with rooftop views for sunset.
Spice and tea stalls are also prominent.
Spice and tea stalls in Kaleiçi line the cobbled streets with color, scent, and heat
Hadrian’s Gate and Roman traces
One of the most recognizable landmarks in Kaleiçi is Hadrian’s Gate, a Roman triumphal arch built in honor of the emperor's visit in 130 CE. It stands at one of the main entrances to the old town, its white marble columns and coffered ceilings sharply contrasting with the rougher Ottoman-era walls nearby.
Walking through the gate feels like a shift in time. Look up at the detailed carvings, and you’ll notice floral motifs and lions’ heads. Beneath your feet, glass panels have been installed to show the original Roman road below.
Just beside Hadrian’s Gate, this small city park blooms with lilies, pigeons, and slow afternoon air
Hadrian’s Gate is one of several Roman remnants around Kaleiçi. Others are subtler: bits of column reused in Ottoman structures, an old stone basin near a mosque, the proportions of a wall.
Viewpoints and verticality
Kaleiçi isn't flat. Part of its charm is the verticality—the way streets step down and around, the unexpected views. You’ll find yourself looking down into courtyards, or up at minarets, or suddenly out at the sea.
Several viewpoints are worth pausing at. One favorite is near the upper marina, where a row of benches face west, and the entire coastline seems to stretch and shimmer. Another is by the restaurant terraces higher up, where colorful umbrellas have been strung out like bunting between buildings, and the view drops straight down to the harbor. Lastly, the view from Coworking Antalya is also quite special.
Cafés cling to Antalya’s cliffs and marina edges, including the sea-facing terrace at Coworking Antalya
The light changes constantly. In the morning, it strikes the rooftops and flowers.
Bougainvillea spills across narrow alleys and outdoor cafés, tinting the old town in vivid magenta
In the afternoon, it pools in alleys and makes the stone glow.
And at night, the sunset gives everything a low golden hush.
Details to notice
Street art isn’t widespread in Kaleiçi (or Antalya, for that matter), but we found a set of murals by a single artist, signed devak. They tend to be dreamy and cosmological: women with flowing hair, moons, fish, and strange cartographies. A reminder that even within the heritage zone, voices can emerge in spray paint.
Street art by devak, one of the few muralists whose dreamy, surreal work appears around Antalya’s old town
There’s an old Turkish bath tucked into the neighborhood as well. You’ll recognize it by the painted signage and the dog usually napping nearby. It's a functioning bathhouse, but also a reminder of Kaleiçi's social past—a place for cleansing, gossip, and pause.
There are cats everywhere in Kaleiçi. You’ll find them curled in shop windows, sunning themselves on warm stone steps, weaving between café chairs, or sleeping beneath hanging carpets.
Wandering Antalya’s old town, where souvenir stalls line the paths and cats commandeer scooters
They’re not just tolerated; they’re gently cared for. And for many, these cats feel like an essential part of the old town’s rhythm—soft, slow, and always observing.
If you want a little guidance
If you’re interested in a more structured way to explore, we recommend this Old Town Walking Tour. It takes you through the major sights, but also stops for tastes—perfect for a first or second day in the city, when you're still tuning in.
