Karaalioğlu Park

Antalya's Open-Air Living Room

To describe Karaalioğlu Park, you first need to pause and think. Perched on the cliffs just south of Kaleiçi, gazing out at the infinite blue of the Gulf of Antalya, this park is more than a green space — it is the city's open-air living room. On one side stands the ancient Roman Hıdırlık Tower; on the other, a sweeping panorama stretching to the Konyaaltı coastline. Finding another spot in Antalya where you can take in both views at once is no easy task.

The park dates back to the 1940s, originally opened as İnönü Park in honor of Turkey's second president, İsmet İnönü. It was later renamed Karaalioğlu after a former landowner whose property contributed to the site. Locals, however, have long affectionately shortened this to "Karaoğlan."

Sculptures and Silhouettes

Much has changed across this 145,000-square-meter green space since the 1940s, but some things have remained. Three sculptures placed in the park during the 1970s still stand today: Mehmet Aksoy's Worker and His Son, Kuzgun Acar's Hand Sculpture dedicated to Haşim İşcan, and Cahvar Göktaş's Don Quixote. In 2010, on the 47th anniversary of the poet's death, a monument to Nâzım Hikmet Ran was added to the northern observation terrace. Reading a poem with the sea in view is something else entirely.

The City's Gathering Place

Karaalioğlu belongs to early-morning walkers, afternoon families, couples sipping tea at dusk, and friends talking late into the evening. With over 139,000 Foursquare check-ins, it has long been Antalya's most visited park. Tea gardens, viewing terraces, children's playgrounds, and flower gardens are the park's defining features. The grounds also house a stadium, an indoor sports hall, a wedding venue, and various Antalya Metropolitan Municipality administrative offices — making it something closer to a civic hub than a simple park.

Practical Information

• Location: Kılıçarslan Mahallesi, just south of Kaleiçi, Muratpaşa. Within walking distance of the city center.
• Getting There: Bus lines L08, LF09, LC07, and CV14 stop nearby. The Nostalji Tram from Kaleiçi takes approximately 10 minutes. The park is directly accessible on foot from Kaleiçi, along the route passing Hıdırlık Tower.
• Entrance: Free.
• Opening Hours: Open year-round.
• Best Time to Visit: Sunset hours, when the light plays across the Gulf of Antalya, are extraordinary. Early mornings offer a quieter experience.
• Combine With: Kaleiçi, Hıdırlık Tower, and Mermerli Beach all make ideal stops on the same walk.