Yacht Charter Antalya

Yacht Charter in Antalya

Antalya is the largest city on the Turkish Mediterranean coast and the capital of Turkey's most visited tourist region — yet for yacht charter it remains comparatively undiscovered, offering a genuinely different sailing experience from the busier waters of Marmaris and Bodrum. Set between the Taurus Mountains to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Antalya occupies one of the most dramatically positioned urban settings in Turkey: the old harbour, Kaleici, is surrounded by Roman walls, Byzantine churches, and Ottoman mansions cascading down a cliff to the water's edge, with the snow-capped peaks of the Taurus visible on clear days from the marina.

Kaleici and the Old Harbour

The old city of Kaleici is one of the best-preserved historic urban centres in Turkey — a labyrinth of cobblestone alleys, restored Ottoman houses, Roman ruins, and Byzantine churches within a walled enclosure that has been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years. The Hadrian's Gate, built in 130 AD to commemorate the emperor's visit to the city, stands intact at the edge of the old city. The old harbour below the walls is now used primarily by tourist excursion boats and traditional wooden gulets, but it remains one of the most atmospheric moorings on the coast and the starting point for excursions up the Duden Waterfalls.

Sailing East of Antalya

The coast east of Antalya — known as the Pamphylian and Cilician coasts — is less explored by charter yachts than the Aegean region but offers equally spectacular scenery and a greater sense of adventure. Ancient cities accessible from the sea include Side, Aspendos (with its almost perfectly preserved Roman theatre), Perge, and Alanya, the dramatic castle-topped peninsula that marks the transition from the Pamphylian to the Cilician coast. The beaches here are longer and wider than those in the west, and the water remains beautifully clear and warm throughout the season.

Archaeological Riches

Antalya province has an extraordinary density of ancient sites — more UNESCO-listed properties and archaeological sites than any other province in Turkey. The Antalya Museum, one of the finest archaeological museums in the country, houses artefacts from the dozens of ancient cities within the province, including the finest collection of Roman statues outside Rome itself. Termessos, a hilltop city in the mountains above Antalya that Alexander the Great failed to conquer, is accessible by a short drive from the marina and offers some of the most dramatically positioned ruins in the Mediterranean world.

Charter Season and Climate

Antalya has the longest charter season on the Turkish coast — from April to November — thanks to its more southerly position and the shelter provided by the Taurus Mountains from northern winds. The city has the highest sunshine hours of any city in Turkey, and the summer heat here is intense, often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in July and August. The sea is correspondingly warm, reaching 28 to 29 degrees Celsius at peak season. Spring and autumn are the finest times to charter in the Antalya region, when the almond and orange blossoms scent the air and the mountains above the city are still capped with snow.