Antalya Archaeological Museum — Hall-by-Hall Guide
One of Turkey's richest archaeological collections, built around the statues of the gods excavated at Perge, the Hercules Sarcophagus and its mosaics.
Antalya Museum has been closed since 16 July 2025, and on 31 October 2026 muze.gov.tr still lists it as closed to visitors. The 1972 building was judged not earthquake-safe and demolished; a new museum is being built on the same site (DHA). Culture Minister Ersoy said the opening is planned for 2027 (Antalya Körfez, 6 November 2026). Until then about 100,000 objects are kept in climate-controlled containers in the museum garden and are not on display anywhere else. The last entrance fee before the closure was €15.
Set on Konyaaltı Caddesi, the old museum building spread over roughly 7,000 square metres with 13 exhibition halls and an open-air gallery. Its backbone is the Roman sculpture recovered from the excavations at Perge — the Hall of the Gods lines up Zeus, Athena, Tyche and Aphrodite one after another.
Its best-known piece is the Hercules Sarcophagus, smuggled abroad in the 1960s and returned to Turkey in 2011. The same halls held the carved friezes from the theatre at Perge, coins from the Elmalı hoard, Lycian and Phrygian finds, and objects brought from the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre.
Antalya Archaeological Museum entrance fee and opening hours (2026)
| Entrance fee | Museum closed (€15 before the closure) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Closed since 16 July 2025; new museum planned to open in 2027 (November 2026) |
| Suggested time | 2–3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Once the new museum opens; for now, Side Museum or Perge |
Fees for foreign visitors are from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism fee list; opening hours from muze.gov.tr. Check again shortly before your visit.
Last updated:
How do I get to Antalya Archaeological Museum?
The museum stands at the western end of Konyaaltı Caddesi, 2 km from Kaleiçi. The easiest way there is the nostalgic tram: board in Kaleiçi and get off at the "Müze" stop. Konyaaltı Beach is a 10-minute walk away and Antalya bus station a 20-minute drive; the museum has its own car park.
Distances and driving times to Antalya Archaeological Museum
| From Antalya Airport (AYT) | 20 km · about 24 min by car |
|---|---|
| From Side | 79 km · about 1 h 8 min by car |
| From Manavgat | 79 km · about 1 h 5 min by car |
| From Alanya | 139 km · about 1 h 49 min by car |
Road distances and driving times calculated on the OpenStreetMap road network (OSRM), without traffic or stops. Compare all attractions →
Tips for visiting Antalya Archaeological Museum
- While the museum is closed, the Perge statues and the Hercules Sarcophagus cannot be seen; Perge Ancient City itself is open (08:00–17:00).
- The nearest archaeological museum that is open is Side Museum in the ancient city of Side (08:30–17:30).
- We will update this page once the opening date is confirmed; check the Antalya Museum page on muze.gov.tr before you go.
Where is Antalya Archaeological Museum?
Antalya Archaeological Museum — frequently asked questions
Why is Antalya Museum closed?
The 1972 museum building was judged not earthquake-safe. The museum closed to visitors on 16 July 2025, the building was demolished in 2025 and a new museum is being built on the same site; meanwhile the collection is stored in containers in the museum garden.
When will the new Antalya Museum open?
Culture and Tourism Minister Ersoy said the new museum is planned to open in 2027. The delay was put down to legal proceedings, limits on building work during the tourist season and hard travertine ground (Antalya Körfez, 6 November 2026). No exact opening date has been announced.
Are the Santa Claus relics kept here?
Some objects and sarcophagus fragments from the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre belong to the Antalya Museum collection; they are not on display while the museum is closed. The church itself is in Demre, 145 km away, and is open (08:30–19:00).
Is Antalya Museum open?
No. Antalya Museum has been closed since 16 July 2025, and on 31 October 2026 muze.gov.tr still lists it as closed to visitors. The opening date of the new museum has not been confirmed yet.
How far is Antalya Archaeological Museum from Side?
Antalya Archaeological Museum is 79 km from Side by road — about 1 h 8 min by car without stops.
How far is Antalya Archaeological Museum from Antalya Airport?
Antalya Archaeological Museum is 20 km from Antalya Airport (AYT) by road — about 24 min by car without stops.
