Döşemealtı

Döşemealtı is the area 20–25 minutes north of central Antalya, where the plain rises into the mountains. Because it sits outside beach tourism it is usually skipped — yet the densest history at the shortest distance from the city is here. The hand-woven Döşemealtı carpet is a craft that carries the area's name.

Its three main stops belong to very different eras. Karain Cave is one of the oldest human settlements in Anatolia. Termessos is a Pisidian city on the slopes of Güllük Mountain that never came under Roman rule; its sheer setting and forest theatre make it Antalya's most striking ancient site. Ariassos, on the Çubuk Beli pass, is a mountain city known for its monumental gate.

Döşemealtı works as a half-day escape for anyone staying in the city. The altitude keeps it a few degrees cooler than the centre in summer, and in spring wildflowers and green cover transform it. Walking at Termessos and Ariassos is on steep ground, so sturdy shoes are needed.