A new place to meet, relax and enjoy the view in Kaleiçi
After several years of archaeological excavation, restoration and landscaping, Hıdırlık Tower in Antalya has opened to visitors with a completely renewed setting.
The area around the historic tower, which opened in July, has already attracted considerable attention from both local residents and tourists. With its viewing terraces, spacious seating areas and spectacular views, Hıdırlık Tower is quickly becoming a new place in Antalya to meet friends, take a break, watch the sunset or simply enjoy the Mediterranean scenery.
A nearly 2,000 year old Roman monument
Hıdırlık Tower stands on the cliffs where Karaalioğlu Park meets the sea, on the edge of Antalya’s historic Kaleiçi district.
The approximately 2,000 year old Roman monument is believed to have been built in the first or second century as the monumental tomb of a Roman consul.
Over the centuries, however, the tower took on different roles. It was used for military defence and is also thought to have served as a lighthouse and observation tower.
During the Seljuk period, it was used as a pavilion, while in the Ottoman period it served as a military storage facility and warehouse.
Today, with its 14 metre height and imposing cylindrical structure, Hıdırlık Tower is one of Antalya’s important historic landmarks.
Archaeological discoveries around the tower
Archaeological excavations around Hıdırlık Tower began in 2020.
The excavations revealed a number of important remains, including an ancient bath, a cistern, an ice factory and sections of a colonnaded street.
The discoveries have added another layer to the history of the site, showing that the area around the tower was once part of a much larger urban setting.
From archaeological site to open air museum
The excavation and restoration work was completed in 2026, and the area surrounding the tower was transformed into viewing terraces and an open air museum.
The new arrangement allows visitors to experience both the ancient remains and the spectacular natural setting around them.
The site officially opened to visitors in July and has quickly become one of the most popular stops along the walking routes through Kaleiçi.
More than a historic monument
What makes the renewed Hıdırlık Tower area particularly interesting is that it has become more than a place to visit a historic monument.
Its stepped layout and wide open spaces provide places to sit, wait and relax. Local people and visitors are now using the area to meet, spend time together, take a break during a walk through Kaleiçi and enjoy views across the Mediterranean and toward the Beydağları mountains.
It is also becoming a popular place to watch the sunset.
In other words, Hıdırlık Tower has gained a new role in the daily life of Antalya. It remains an important Roman monument, but the newly restored surroundings have turned it into a public space where history, city life and the Mediterranean landscape come together.
