Antalya Museum: What to See with Kids
Don’t miss the Antalya Museum during your trip to Antalya to learn about the region’s rich history. The museum is the largest in the region and holds all the most important artifacts discovered near Antalya, Turkey.
In this article, learn all the Antalya Museum details on what to see, when to go, and how to get there.
Know Before You Go
COST: See Musuem of Turkey App
HOURS: 8:30am – 8pm
BEST TIME TO GO: Year round
LOCATION: Antalya, Turkey City Center
PARKING: Free
TIME NEEDED TO VISIT: 1 -2 hours
- Kid Friendly | The Antalya Museum is kid friendly. There is large garden area at the exit to let the kids run and explore afterwards.
- Accessibility | You can easily take a stroller or wheelchair through the museum.
- Food & Drinks | There is a tea garden for snacks and water.
- Restrooms | There are restrooms on-site.
- Itinerary | Right across the street is the path that leads down to Konyaalti Beach. Visit the Antalya Museum, then go to the Antalya Teleferik near the beach for some amazing views of the city.
Why Go to the Antalya Museum
The Antalya Archaeological Museum has a great display of artifacts from sites close to Antalya including the ancient regions of Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisidia. Most importantly, to see the best artifacts from Perge, Aspendos, and Karain Cave, make the museum one of your first stops on your visit to Antalya.
In addition, the exhibits the museum has on display, the gardens, and the café outside of the museum is beautiful. Because of the way the entrance is positioned, we didn’t know the outdoor area existed until we exited the museum into the garden. It was an unexpected and delightful surprise!
Next, we’ll look at the best things to do at the museum when you visit.
What to Do at the Antalya Museum
The Antalya Archaeology Museum is much bigger than we expected. It is one of the larger archaeology museums in Turkey. After the first Prehistoric Hall, the museum opens into several different corridors and rooms with artifacts from the Neolithic, Lycia, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations. Visiting the Antalya Museum gives a great overview of the history of the Mediterranean coastal region in Turkey.
What to See at the Museum with Kids
The kids enjoyed the Antalya Archeological Museum and for very different reasons than we did. It was fun to see the museum through their eyes as we walked through. Next, we’ll look at the kids’ Antalya Museum highlights.
The Children’s Room
First, the Children’s Room is off to the right of the Prehistoric Hall. It’s a small room that has toys from antiquity and small miniature displays of popular sites like Perge, Aspendos, and Side. The kids enjoyed looking at each of the displays and imagining what it was like to play with the different toys shown in the room.
Bronze Age Burial Display
Secondly, at the end of the Prehistoric Hall is a display of a burial pot used during the Bronze Age. This caught the kids’ attention, and we did a deep dive into all the information about the display and the life-size burial jug the museum has next to the burial excavation exhibit.
Alexander the Great Statue
Next, since we have visited many ancient sites in the Mediterranean region that were conquered by Alexander the Great. The kids were excited to see the massive statue of Alexander in the Hall of Statues in the Antalya Museum. Our favorite cities to explore so far are Perge and Aspendos that Alexander conquered, as well as Termessos and Sillyon which he could not conquer.
Statue Heads and Bust Display
Also, after walking through multiple halls of intricately carved marble statues, the kids noticed that several of them are missing their heads. The big question was, “Where are the statue heads?” When we came to the bust display, their questions were answered! While some of the heads were busts and didn’t technically belong to the statues displayed in the Antalya Archaeological Museum, it was a surprise find for the kids that created some excitement during our visit.
Perge Sarcophagi
Finally, in the Hall of Sarcophagi is an extensive collection of detailed sarcophagi. The kids enjoyed looking at the carvings and telling their version of the story each sarcophagus told in its carvings. They were imaginative and creative in their storytelling and had fun at the same time.
Museum Hall Highlights
Prehistoric Hall
Many of the artifacts in the prehistoric hall come from Karain Cave. A neolithic cave about 45 minutes from Antalya. See prehistoric tools and fossils found in the cave and learn about the ongoing excavation happening at Karain Cave.
Halls of Statues
There are several halls displaying statues throughout the museum. See the gods and goddesses, emperors and empresses, and the Perge Theater statues, with over 20 statues in each hall to view the intricate marble carvings that were brought from ancient sites in the Mediterranean coastal region.
Regional Excavations Hall
The Regional Excavations Hall includes a partial skull from Karain Cave and items from Perge. You’ll see items found in rescue excavations and university excavations in the regions. Artifacts and jewelry such as bronze, silver, and gold are on display from the Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisidia regions.
Hall of Sarcophagi
The hall of Sarcophagi at the Antalya Archeological Museum showcases intricately carved sarcophagi from the ancient city of Perge.
Coins, Small Artifacts, and Icons Hall
After walking through the Hall of Sarcophagi, head upstairs to the vast collection of coins from Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycian regions, plus extended regions of the Mediterranean coast.
Museum Café and Gardens
Upon exiting the museum, take a stroll through the beautiful Antalya Museum gardens. There are many different types of plants and we pulled out our Naturist app to identify and learn what they were. There is a small area with different types of birds as well as the local peacock strolling the museum grounds.
After exploring the garden, head to the café and have a glass of Turkish tea or coffee in the garden, and let the kids explore.
Museum Shop
Also, in the Antalya Museum shop, you can buy souvenirs. One interesting book we found was about the local ancient sites around Antalya. The book had pictures of the ancient ruins and then rendered drawings of what the site looked like they overlay the ruins. All things considered; we enjoyed seeing what it looked like in its prime.
History of the Antalya Museum
Founded by Suleyman Fikri ERTEN in 1922, the Antalya Museum opened in Kaleici and then moved to the Yivli Minaret Complex in 1937. The museum was moved to its current location in the Konyaalti district in 1972. After this, its collection grew and excavations in the Mediterranean coastal region increased. As a result, in 1988, the Antalya Museum received the European Council Special Award.
How to Get to the Antayla Museum
The Antalya Museum is located on Konyaalti Street, near the cliffs to head down to Konyaalti Beach. The museum is about a 20-minute walk from Kaleici, or you can take the nostalgic tramway or tramway from the city center. The stop marked “Muze” is direct across from the Museum.
Also, if you drive to the museum, there is a parking lot at the front entrance. Parking is free.
Museum Tickets and Tours
Next, buy a museum ticket at the door or use the Museum Pass for admission to the Antalya Museum. You can skip the lines and go straight in. Ultimately, if you are interested in taking a deep dive into all that you are seeing at the Antalya Museum, you can purchase the audio guide that takes you on a journey through the museum. For current pricing, check the Antalya museum’s official website.
Antalya Museum Open Hours
The Antalya Archaeology Museum is busiest during the weekends, so we suggest a weekday visit in the morning, especially if you are visiting during the summer. During the winter the museum is open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Summer open hours are from 8:30 am to 8:00 am.
Final Thoughts on the Antalya Museum
In conclusion, the Antalya Museum is a must-visit during your trip to Antalya. It will give you a great overview of the rich history and the ancient civilizations of the region.
Also, don’t miss other our guide on Things to Do in Antalya with Kids.
After your visit to Antalya, don’t miss our route guides to head to our other favorite destinations:
FAQs
What is the Antalya Museum ticket price?
The current museum ticket price as of 2022 is 90 TL. Check the Museum App or the official museum website for the most updated information.
Why visit the Antalya Museum?
The Antalya Archaeological Museum hosts an extensive collection of artifacts from ancient cities along the Mediterranean coastal region of Turkey. You’ll find the ancient civilizations of Lycia, Pamphylia and Pisidia represented at the museum.
Where is the Antalya Museum?
The Antalya Museum is located along Konyaalti Caddesi in Antalya, Turkey. Reach the museum by taking the tramway or walking from the Antalya city center. If you drive, there is a parking lot at the front entrance of the museum.
What to do in Antalya with family?
In addition to visiting the Antalya Museum, visit the ancient sites that have artifacts displayed at the museum. We suggest Perge and Aspendos near Antalya to learn more about the history of the region.
Take a ride on the Tunek Tepe Cable Car in Antalya to see some amazing views of the city and Mediterranean coastline.
