Antalya Cave
The city of Antalya is considered one of the most important and recognized historical and tourism destinations in Turkey. In 2011, Antalya ranked at number 3 as a most visited city by the number of international visitors.
Altinbeșik Antalya cave highlights
Altinbeșik Cave is one of the most distinctive tourism sites in Antalya characterized by extraordinary formations of stalactites hanging like icicles and stalagmites sculpted naturally over millions of years in different shapes and colors.
The cave which is a horizontal and partly active cave system lies on the western side of Manavgat Hill about 7km from the district of Ibradi.
Tourists can rent rafts to enjoy the beauty and amazing views inside the cave up to 200 m deep across 3 levels.
Antalya cave discovery
The cave was discovered by coincidence while sourcing out water for the Oymapınar Dam back in 1966. It was appropriated by the Tourism Sector in 2002. It has been rumored that a Czech explorer has managed to reach 550m deep
Serder Koçoğlu – an executive at the Ibradi Municipality – said: “The cave and lake park are the largest in Turkey and 3rd largest in the world. The limestone crystallized formations make it an idyllic place attracting tourists from all over the world. The waters inside the cave are considered to be therapeutic in treating psoriasis and asthma due to its alkaline nature. The temperature inside the cave is maintained at 16 degrees all year long.
Antalya cave visiting hours
The cave can be visited anytime of the year and is open from 9 am to 6 pm on daily basis (timings can vary on public and national holidays). In 2017, the cave received over 12000 visitors and numbers are expected to increase over the coming years.