# Hadrian’s Gate, Antalya > Hadrian’s Gate is a three-arched Roman triumphal gate and the eastern entrance to Kaleiçi, Antalya’s old town. It stands on Atatürk Caddesi, five minutes’ walk from the Clock Tower. It’s free and open around the clock — it’s a street, not a ticketed site. Fifteen to twenty minutes is enough; it’s floodlit after dark. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/antalya-hadrians-gate - City: [Antalya](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya), Turkey - YesGo score: 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 20 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, no ticket - Opening hours: 24/7; the passage under the arch is not closed - Time needed: 15–20 minutes, up to 30 with sunset photos - Location: Atatürk Caddesi, eastern edge of Kaleiçi, Muratpaşa district - Getting there: ≈ 5 min walk from Kalekapısı Square and the Clock Tower; the T2 heritage tram is suspended, bus NT07 runs instead - Turkish name: Hadrian Kapısı, also Üçkapılar (“Three Gates”) - Accessibility: A walkway runs over the Roman paving; with a buggy, go round the side - Coordinates: 36.88531, 30.70835 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **AD 130** — Emperor Hadrian visited Attaleia — the gate honours that visit (source: English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia; Daily Sabah (via Anadolu Agency); Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism (on the visit)) - **4.15 × 6.18 m** — width and height of each of the three identical arches; the flanking towers are about 15 m tall (source: Daily Sabah (via Anadolu Agency)) - **3 arches** — over four piers, with columns on both façades (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **The only** — surviving gate of the walls that once ringed the city and harbour (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **≈ 8 m** — tall (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia; Daily Sabah) - **Julia Sancta** — the name of the Roman southern tower, probably built separately from the gate (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **13th century** — the top of the northern tower was rebuilt under the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I, with an Arabic inscription (source: English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia) - **1959** — the gate was restored and freed from later masonry (source: English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia) - **Cart ruts** — worn into the Roman road surface under the arch (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Granite and marble** — granite columns, white marble everywhere else (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Bronze letters** — from the dedication to Hadrian are now in Vienna, Berlin, London and Oxford (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) ## Is Hadrian’s Gate free, and when is it open? Yes, it’s **free**, and there are no opening hours to worry about. The gate stands on a public street at the edge of the old town, so you can walk through at any time of day or night — no ticket office, no queue, no closing day. The best times are early morning, when the passage is empty, and after sunset, when the arch is floodlit — the Antalya Governorship added new lighting for its carved details in 2026. Around midday it’s busy with groups heading into Kaleiçi, and in summer the arch and paving are in full sun; the only shade is the small park across the boulevard. ## What is Hadrian’s Gate? A **Roman triumphal gate** raised to honour Emperor Hadrian, who visited the city — then called Attaleia — in AD 130. It has three arches over four piers, columns on both faces, and is built of white marble with granite column shafts. It stands about eight metres high. There was once a second storey, probably carrying statues of the emperor and his family; it is gone. What survives is the carved entablature, with a floral frieze and a cornice studded with lion heads, and rosettes carved into the vaults. Look up as you walk through. The gate survived because it was walled into the city fortifications early on and the passage blocked. Today it is the **only surviving gate** of the ancient walls. Two towers flank it: the Roman southern one, known as Julia Sancta, and a northern one whose upper part the Seljuks rebuilt in the 13th century. ## Hadrian’s Gate history in brief Attaleia was founded by King Attalus II of Pergamon in the 2nd century BC and later became Roman. **Hadrian** spent much of his reign touring the provinces, and his visit in 130 was a big occasion — hence the ceremonial arch. Sources differ on the building date: the Russian and Turkish Wikipedia articles, Daily Sabah and Turkey Travel Planner say 130, the English Wikipedia says around 150. The dedication was spelled out in bronze letters fixed to the stone. Some were found at the foot of the gate and are now scattered across museums in Vienna, Berlin, the British Museum and the Ashmolean in Oxford — none are in Antalya. In the first half of the 13th century the Seljuk sultan **Alaeddin Keykubad I** rebuilt the top of the northern tower; its Arabic inscription is still there. The surrounding walls were pulled down in the 20th century, and in 1959 the gate was restored and the later paving lifted to expose the Roman road beneath. ## What to see at Hadrian’s Gate - **The cart ruts** — deep grooves worn by wheels in the Roman paving, seen from the walkway under the main arch. - **The cornice** with its row of lion heads, and the floral frieze above the arches. - **Rosettes in the vaults** — stand right under the arch and look up. - **The northern tower**: Roman stonework below, Seljuk masonry and an Arabic inscription above. - **The Julia Sancta tower** on the south side — plain, heavy Roman masonry. - Fragments of the lost upper storey lying in front of the gate on the street side. - The view through the arch into Kaleiçi, with the lane dropping away towards the harbour. ## How to get to Hadrian’s Gate 1. Take the AntRay T1 tram to **İsmetpaşa** — from the airport it takes about 50 minutes. The T2 heritage tram, whose **Üç Kapılar** stop is right at the gate, has been suspended since 17 July 2026 while its old cars are overhauled; bus **NT07** runs along its route instead. 2. Walk to Kalekapısı Square — look for the Clock Tower, with the [Yivli Minaret](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/yivli-minaret) just behind it. 3. Follow Atatürk Caddesi along the old-town wall, keeping Kaleiçi on your right. 4. After about 5 minutes (roughly 400 m) you reach three marble arches between two towers. 5. Cross the walkway under the arch and you’re in Kaleiçi — the lanes lead downhill to the harbour. ## Is Hadrian’s Gate worth visiting? Yes, if you’re already in the old town: it sits right at the entrance to Kaleiçi, so there’s no detour, and it’s the best-preserved Roman monument in the city itself. Twenty minutes covers the ruts, the cornice and both towers. It’s not worth a special trip from a resort such as Kemer or Belek on its own — it’s a single gate, not an ancient city. For Roman Antalya on a bigger scale, give a day to [Perge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/perge) and [Aspendos](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/aspendos), and walk through the gate on your way into [Kaleiçi](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/kaleici). > **Pay for the tram with your bank card** Antalya’s trams take contactless bank cards at the validator, so you don’t need to buy an Antalyakart for a short stay. Paper single tickets exist too, but they don’t allow free transfers. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Contactless bank card or Antalyakart for the tram - [ ] Good shoes — Kaleiçi’s cobbles are uneven and slippery - [ ] Water and a hat in summer — the arch itself is in full sun - [ ] 20 minutes at the gate, 1–2 hours for Kaleiçi - [ ] Phone charged for the evening floodlights ## Hadrian’s Gate vs Hıdırlık Tower vs Yivli Minaret | | Hadrian’s Gate | Hıdırlık Tower | Yivli Minaret | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Roman triumphal gate | Roman tower above the sea | Seljuk brick minaret | | Era | 2nd century | 2nd century | 13th century | | Where | Eastern entrance to Kaleiçi | South-west edge of Kaleiçi, on the cliff | By Kalekapısı Square | | Time needed | 15–20 min | 15–30 min | 10–15 min outside | | Best time | Morning, or evening floodlights | Sunset over the bay | Daytime | All three fit into one walk through Kaleiçi. Start at the gate and finish with sunset at Hıdırlık Tower. ## Antalya’s historic sights compared Every historic sight in Antalya rated by YesGo. - [Hadrian's Gate](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/antalya-hadrians-gate) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Yivli Minaret](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/yivli-minaret) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Hıdırlık Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/hidirlik-tower) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, outside only - [Kaleiçi](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/kaleici) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free, open 24/7 - [Antalya Museum](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/antalya-museum) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Closed: demolished, new one being built - [Perge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/perge) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · About €11 for foreign visitors - [Aspendos](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/aspendos) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · €15 for foreigners, checking - [Termessos](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/termessos) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Paid, price being verified ## The old town in half a day In through Hadrian’s Gate, the minaret by the Clock Tower, Kaleiçi’s lanes, then sunset at Hıdırlık Tower. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks. 1. [Hadrian's Gate](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/antalya-hadrians-gate) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 2. [Yivli Minaret](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/yivli-minaret) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 3. [Kaleiçi](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/kaleici) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free, open 24/7 4. [Hıdırlık Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/hidirlik-tower) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, outside only ## Not to be confused with Athens has its own Arch of Hadrian, near the Temple of Olympian Zeus — a different monument. This page is about the gate in Antalya, locally called Üçkapılar. ## Tips - Start your Kaleiçi walk at the gate: the lane behind it runs downhill to the harbour, which is easier on the legs. - The cart ruts show up best in low, raking light — early morning or late afternoon. - For the whole arch in one frame, step back across Atatürk Caddesi towards the green strip opposite. - Read the northern tower from bottom to top: Roman blocks below, Seljuk work above. - In summer, skip the midday heat. If you need a break, the shady park on the boulevard side has a roving tea seller. ## Questions ### Is Hadrian’s Gate in Antalya free? Yes. It’s an arch on a public street — no ticket, and you can walk through at any time. ### What are Hadrian’s Gate opening hours? There are none: it’s open 24/7. It’s floodlit after dark, and early morning is the quietest time. ### Where is Hadrian’s Gate in Antalya? On Atatürk Caddesi, at the eastern edge of Kaleiçi old town, about five minutes’ walk from the Clock Tower at Kalekapısı. ### How do I get to Hadrian’s Gate? Take tram T1 to İsmetpaşa, walk to the Clock Tower at Kalekapısı, then about 5 minutes along Atatürk Caddesi. ### Is there a tram stop at Hadrian’s Gate? The T2 heritage tram has a stop called Üç Kapılar right by the gate, but the line has been suspended since 17 July 2026. Bus NT07 covers the same route; no restart date has been announced. ### When was Hadrian’s Gate built? For Emperor Hadrian’s visit in AD 130. Some sources date the gate itself to around 150; the visit year is the firm date. ### Why is it called Üçkapılar? Üçkapılar means “Three Gates” in Turkish, after its three arches. The official name is Hadrian Kapısı. ### How long do you need at Hadrian’s Gate? 15–20 minutes. Combined with Kaleiçi and sunset at Hıdırlık Tower, plan half a day. ### Is Hadrian’s Gate worth visiting? Yes, as the start of a Kaleiçi walk. It’s not worth a separate trip from a resort — for that, Perge and Aspendos are better. ### What can you see under the arch? The original Roman road, with ruts worn by cart wheels, viewed from the walkway under the main arch. ## How we checked Facts are checked against the English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia articles, the Antalya Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Daily Sabah (via Anadolu Agency) and Turkey Travel Planner. The building date differs — 130 in the Russian and Turkish Wikipedia, Daily Sabah and Turkey Travel Planner, around 150 in the English Wikipedia — so we show both and treat only Hadrian’s visit in 130 as firm. Sources also disagree on when the gate was first described (1812 or 1817) and when it was freed from the walls (1882, 1937 or the 1950s), so we leave those out. The arch and tower sizes come from Daily Sabah alone, as credited. No source names the column order, so neither do we. Entry is free because the gate is on a public street, as nearly every guide says; one blog mentions a fee, but there is no ticket office, so we don’t follow it. The hours and walking route are marked “verifying”, as the monument has no official visitor page. The Üç Kapılar stop and the T2 suspension from 17 July 2026 are confirmed by Wikipedia, Urban Transport Magazine and DHA; we found no report of a restart as of October 2026. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Hadrian’s Gate - Russian Wikipedia: Ворота Адриана - Turkish Wikipedia: Hadrian Kapısı - Wikidata: Q1283114 - Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism: Muratpaşa sights - Daily Sabah (via Anadolu Agency): “Nearly 2,000 years on, Hadrian’s Gate lights up Türkiye’s Antalya”, 31.08.2026 - Turkey Travel Planner: Hadrian’s Gate, Antalya - English Wikipedia: Trams in Antalya - Urban Transport Magazine: on the heritage tram suspension, 01.08.2026 - DHA: Antalya municipality statement on the heritage tram, 20.07.2026 - Wikivoyage: Antalya — trams, fares and airport --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.