Finike Between Ancient Traces and Bays

Finike combines visible traces of different eras with places to visit nearby. In the town centre, rock tombs, remnants of walls and a museum tell the story of the area; in the surrounding area, bays and the ancient city of Arykanda offer other discoveries. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus on culture in town or on excursions in the surrounding area.

Historical Traces in the Town Centre

According to local tradition, Finike’s ancient predecessor, Phoinikos, was founded on the site of today’s İskele Mahallesi neighbourhood. Visible historical remains in the town centre include several rock tombs on the northern edge of the rocky escarpment opposite the state hospital, as well as another rock tomb near the former prison. Remnants of walls also point to different eras: they date from the Hellenistic period, while their lower section is attributed to the Roman period and their upper section to the Byzantine period. The tower opposite Atatürk Park brings together traces of two of these eras. Cumhuriyet Park also displays remains attributed to the late Byzantine period.

The Finike Kültür Evi offers another way to explore the area’s history. The building was formerly known as the Historical Customs House and served the customs administration for many years. After a faithful restoration, it now houses a museum displaying cultural objects. Finike Liman Kalesi, mentioned in Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname, is located right next to the building. Visitors interested in historic buildings and local culture can include these stops while exploring the town centre.

Ancient City and Special Experiences

Arykanda lies nearby. Its structures include an odeon, a well-preserved theatre, a stadium and an agora with shops carved into the rock. There is also a bouleuterion, a temple dedicated to the sun god Helios, and villas with partly preserved mosaic floors. The large bath-gymnasium complex is considered Arykanda’s most impressive and best-preserved structure. This variety makes the site interesting to travellers who would like to discover an ancient city with a range of building types in addition to Finike’s historical remains.

The hamam-sauna complex built by the Finike Municipality in 1993 offers a different experience. Its modern interpretation draws on influences from Seljuk and Ottoman architecture; a traditional hamam experience is offered to local and international visitors. This provides a distinct alternative to archaeological sites and excursions into nature.

Bays and Routes Nearby

Nearby Andre Dorya Bay offers opportunities to enjoy the sun on the rocks, swim in the calm water and picnic under the trees. Those looking for a pebble beach with additional amenities will find a facility assigned to the town of Finike at Gökliman, with sun loungers, shade and drinks and food. An hourly municipal service runs from Finike to the bay. The Lycian Way offers a different route: in the wider area, after Finike district, it follows a beach section for about 20 kilometres, running parallel to the sea.

Local Traditions and Getting There

The traditional “Yağlı direkten bayrak alma” competition was held at the 36th Finike Festival: participants climb a greased pole to reach a flag. During the festival, three music evenings took place at Finike Kent Meydanı. The festival and the 100th anniversary of Maritime and Cabotage Day were celebrated over three days with events focused on culture, art and maritime tradition. The Maritime and Cabotage Day celebration also featured a boat-decoration competition, a boat race and a swimming competition.

The nearest airport is Antalya Airport, 127 kilometres away. Buses from Antalya Bus Terminal run to Finike.

More local pages in the directory: Gümüşyaka, Aksu, İbradı, Beykonak Belediyesi, Çıralı, Asmaca, Gömbe, Taşağıl Belediyesi.

See the main travel overview: Antalya.