Antalya Museum 🇹🇷

The Antalya Museum, located in Muratpaşa, Antalya, stands as one of Turkey's most vital cultural institutions, designed to illuminate the rich history of Anatolia's Mediterranean and Pamphylia regions. While the site is currently closed for a major rebuilding project due to high earthquake risks, learning about its world-class collection reveals why it won the prestigious European Council Special Prize. When fully open, the complex features thirteen exhibition halls and an open-air gallery exhibiting five thousand works of art.

Inside, you can discover artifacts spanning from the Palaeolithic age through the Ottoman era. Key displays feature ancient animal fossils and kitchen utensils from Karain Cave, Early Bronze Age objects from Hacılar, and Hellenistic works including a statuette of Apollo. The museum is especially famous for its magnificent Roman period statuary excavated at Perge, showcasing mythological figures like Zeus and Aphrodite, as well as grand statues of Emperor Hadrian and local administrator Plancia Magna.

You can also admire Roman sarcophagi illustrating the Twelve Labours of Hercules, Byzantine mosaics, relics of Saint Nicholas, historic coins, Seljuk tiles, and Turkey's first Children's Museum section.

What to see at Antalya Museum

• Roman statues from Perge excavations depicting figures like Zeus, Aphrodite, and Plancia Magna
• The Twelve Labours of Hercules displayed on ancient Roman sarcophagi
• Pre-historic animal fossils and kitchen utensils from Karain Cave
• Sacred relics and boxed artifacts of Saint Nicholas
• Turkey's first Children's Museum section featuring restoration activities and antique moneyboxes

Visiting tips

Note that the museum site is currently closed for rebuilding, with all holdings moved to on-site temporary storage.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Antalya Museum is easy to reach on Antalya’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Perge and Antalya Mosque. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Antalya travel guide.