The Antalya Archaeology Museum won the European Council Special Prize in 1988 and remains one of Turkey's most important museums. Its 14 exhibition halls cover the region from the Stone Age through the Ottoman period, with more than 5,000 artifacts on display and thousands more in storage. The strongest sections are the Roman ones: carved marble sarcophagi and life-size statues of emperors and Greek gods. The building also houses Turkey's first children's museum, with hands-on activities and drawing workshops, plus exhibits of sacred relics and traditional Turkish life. Everything is air conditioned, which makes it a practical midday stop in summer. Foreign visitors pay about 15 to 16 euros (500 to 550 lira); Museum Card holders enter free. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit.

The museums and sites here hold artifacts from the Lycian, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Most were excavated within a short drive of the city, so the objects sit close to where they were found.

Visitors interested in Roman and Ottoman architecture will find plenty here. Photographers tend to come late in the afternoon, when the stone catches low light.

First-time visitors and solo travelers both manage easily here. The area is walkable, and staff at most sites are used to tourists.

Nearby bazaars sell Turkish crafts and souvenirs. Tea houses in the side streets are a good place to rest between sights.