Visitors heading to Antalya in 2026 should be aware that the Antalya Archaeology Museum is closed for the full year while a major seismic safety rebuild takes place. The museum, which holds one of the most significant collections of Graeco-Roman artefacts in Turkey, is expected to remain shut through at least the end of the year.
What the Museum Contains
The Antalya Archaeology Museum is usually one of the first stops for visitors interested in the region’s ancient past. Its collection spans finds from Karain Cave (among the oldest inhabited sites in Turkey), Perge, Aspendos, and the broader Pamphylian plain, including a celebrated hall of imperial and divine statuary. The closure is a significant gap for history-focused itineraries.
What to Do Instead
The good news is that Antalya sits at the edge of one of Turkey’s richest archaeological landscapes, and most major sites are outdoors and fully open:
Perge (Perge Antik Kenti), around 17 km east of Antalya city, is a substantial Roman-era city with a colonnaded street, stadium, and theatre. Day trips are straightforward by minibus from the otogar or by private transfer.
Aspendos, about 47 km east, has the best-preserved Roman theatre in the ancient world. It still hosts summer concerts and requires no advance booking for daytime entry.
Termessos, in the Güllük Dağı National Park roughly 30 km northwest, is a Pisidian hilltop city that Alexander the Great chose not to besiege. The climb to the ruins is steep but the setting is extraordinary.
The Kaleiçi district in the city centre preserves a Roman harbour, Hadrian’s Gate, and the Fluted Minaret (Yivli Minare), and is fully accessible on foot.
Practical Notes
Antalya Airport (AYT) remains open and is one of Turkey’s busiest international gateways, with direct flights from across Europe and the UK throughout the summer and autumn season. The Mediterranean coast remains warm through October.
The Antalya Museum website and the official Türkiye tourism portal are the best sources for reopening updates, though a 2026 reopening is not expected based on current information.
For more on planning your time on the Turkish Riviera, see our Antalya city guide and our roundup of the best tours in Antalya.