Antakya

Understand

Acts 11:26: "So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians." Seleucus I Nicator was a general serving Alexander the Great, who after Alexander died controlled a swathe of Asia stretching clear to India. He fought rivals for territory further south and west, and his war elephants from India helped him win the Battle of Ipsos in 301 BC and gain Syria. He founded four cities in Syria, making Antioch capital of his Seleucid Empire. Indeed he's said to have founded 16 cities called Antioch (plus nine Seleucias and six Laodiceas), but many were later creations associating themselves with his famous name, as others did with his boss Alexander.

In 63 BC the Seleucid Empire succumbed to the Romans, who continued to treat Antioch as a major metropolis, surpassing Alexandria. At that time it was a seaport, with a cosmopolitan mix of population, including Jews escaping unrest in Jerusalem. Many in Antioch might feel that their traditional gods hadn't done much for them, and be a ready audience for radicals preaching a new creed. Around 42 AD, Barnabas the Apostle met up with Saul / Paul of Tarsus and brought him to Antioch to continue their missionary work together. Crucially, they sought to convert gentiles direct to their creed, so Christianity was no longer just a sect within Judaism. It spread across Asia Minor to become a global religion. The River Orontes (nowadays Asi) made the area fertile but inundated the city again and again, and silted up the port. Earthquakes in 526 and 528 also wrecked the port, and the city dwindled thereafter; it's nowadays almost 30 km from the sea. It sits on the active Dead Sea fault line near the tri-point with two other faults, with the latest in a long series of major earthquakes in 2023. Its conquerors have included Arab dynasties, the Byzantines and Seljuks, then the Ottomans from 1516. It was always more Syrian than Turkish so when the Ottoman Empire fell after the First World War, Antioch and the province of Hatay were subject to French control of Syria. In 1938 / 39 Hatay was briefly an independent state then ceded to Turkey during Great Power horse-trading.

Getting there

By plane 1 Hatay Airport (HTY IATA). Turkish Airlines fly three times a day from Istanbul (IST) and twice from Istanbul (SAW), taking 1 hr 50 min. One flight a day is from Ankara. Pegasus also fly twice a day from Istanbul (SAW). No international flights but Istanbul has excellent connections. Hatay airport has been patched up after the earthquake but has only basic facilities. (updated Jun 2026) The airport is 25 km north of city centre. The Havas bus is supposed to meet flights and run downtown, taking an hour to the stop at İnönü Cd 30, near the main square and Hacı Durmuş bridge. Good luck with that. Otherwise look for a dolmuş or taxi.

By train The nearest station is in Iskenderun, but trains from Adana and Mersin remain suspended because of interminable track works.

By bus Buses from Istanbul run every couple of hours and take 14 hours via Ankara, Niğde, Adana and Iskenderun. Buses no longer run from Beirut or Aleppo. Bus lines are Metro Turizm, Kamil Koç (now part of Flixbus) and Has Turizm. For online tickets select "Hatay" as the destination, bus websites don't recognise "Antakya". 2 Antakya Otogarı is the intercity bus station, on the bypass 5 km northwest of city centre. It was badly damaged by the earthquake, and as of June 2026 is not yet rebuilt, with makeshift facilities. Dolmuşes run downtown.

By road From Istanbul or Ankara take the motorway (toll) to Adana then O-52 east onto E91, a fast divided highway. It joins D817 south of İskenderun, to twist and turn over Belen Pass (the ancient Syrian Gates) through the Amanos Mountains and join D825. A scenic detour is to follow the coast road south from İskenderun via Arsuz, Çevlik and Samandağ then take D420 east to Antakya. From Gaziantep, quickest is to take D400 or O-52 (toll) west to Nurdağı to join D825, which heads south across the dusty plains east of the mountains. Or you could could go south on D850 to Kilis, then follow D410 along the Syrian border to join D825. From Latakia in Syria take Highway 1 to Yayladağı border post where it becomes E91 / D825, and from Aleppo take M45 to Cilvegözü border post where it becomes D420. You'll need your personal and vehicle documents sorted in advance.

Getting around

The centre is walkable, but the Church of St Peter is several km northeast, no fun to walk through industrial areas with the sun beating down. Dolmuşes and taxis are plentiful. You probably want your own car to tour a wider area, especially as so much in the city has been wrecked. Parking in town is plentiful on rubble vacant lots, which used to be people's homes.

See

City

1 Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Republic Square, is the roundabout at the centre of town. It was surrounded by civic buildings such as town hall, all destroyed in the earthquake. The statue of Atatürk has been restored to his central plinth but the rest is a gritty work in progress. Ata Bridge across the River Orontes is a drab modern structure, the ancient bridge was demolished circa 1960. Council for Culture and Arts Center has been rebuilt north side of the roundabout. It's on the site of the former Assembly of the short-lived Hatay state, but was already in use as a cultural centre before the original building was lost in the earthquake. 2 Büyük Antakya Parkı or Atatürk Park is a peaceful bosky space by the river, open 24 hours. 3 Habib-i Nejjar Mosque, Kurtuluş Cd (corner of Kemal Paşa Cd). This mosque was rebuilt after it was wrecked by earthquakes in 1853 and again in 2023, so what you see now is a squeaky-clean version of 2026. It's on the site of an ancient pagan temple and became one of the first Christian churches, and from the 7th century one of the first mosques in the region, flipflopping between those religions as control of the city ebbed back and forth. Habib Al-Najjar ("the beloved carpenter") in legend lived 5-35 AD. When the Apostles visited Antioch they cured his son and he converted to Christianity, but was slain by the townsfolk for preaching that creed. Islamic tradition also reveres him for worshipping the true God, as described in Qur'an, sura Ya-Sin (36), ayah 20-27. His tomb is in the basement, and four sarcophagi are said to be Apostles or Islamic prophets who died nowhere remotely near Antioch. Free. (updated Jun 2026) Kurtuluş Cd stretches north and south from Habib-i Nejjar Mosque. It's the old spine of Antakya, overlying the Roman colonnades of Herod Street, and used to be lined with historic buildings. Many collapsed in 2023: here and there a facade has been preserved but it's a sad sight with crumbling walls and rubble under foot. 4 Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeological Museum, Süreyya Halefoğlu Cd 64. Daily 08:30-17:00. They were preparing to build a hotel in 2009 when they found remains of ancient Antioch, so they mounted the hotel on steel pillars and created a museum below. There's an ancient road pavement, a ruined bathhouse, and Roman floor mosaics. (updated Jun 2026) 5 Church of Saint Peter, Senpiyar Cd, ☏ +90 326 225 1568. Daily 08:30-17:00. One of the oldest churches of Christianity, where St Peter preached, though its earliest structures are from 4th or 5th century. It's a cave on a cliff face recessing 13 m. Around 11

Do

Football: Hatayspor were relegated in 2025 and again in 2026, so they now play soccer in TFF 2. Lig the third tier. Their New Hatay Stadium was badly damaged by the earthquake so for the time being they play at Fuat Tosyalı Stadium in İskenderun. Beach: Samandağ beach (27 km west) is 14 km long. Few facilities are open.

Buy

Laurel soap (defne sabunu) is a local specialty. Some people are allergic to it, skin-test a small patch before buying. Bim at Yavuz Sultan Selim Cd 128 is the most central supermarket, open daily 09:00-21:00. Uzun Çarşı the atmospheric "Long Market" straggling through the old centre was wrecked in the earthquake and its traders have gone elsewhere.

Eat

Hatay has the usual Turkish staple foods but also Arab-influenced cuisine. So you'll find humus and tahini here, and künefe a shredded pastry with cheese melted within. City centre restaurants in business in 2026 include Serenat at Gazipaşa Cd 62, Antik Han Plaza at Uzun Çarşı Cd 182, Gariban Kebap at Küçük Sanayi Cd 14, Ahmet Usta'nin Yeri on Abdurrahman Melek Cd, and Pöç Kasap at İzzet Güçlü Cd 28/4. The Fish Market area and eating strip along Hürriyet Cd were utterly destroyed.

Drink & nightlife

Restaurants and cafes serve alcohol. Antakya before the earthquake had several free-standing bars. Almost all were lost, but one survivor is Antiocha Bar at 6th Sk 7, a block west of Şükrü Güçlü Blv bridge. It's open daily 09:00-00:00.

Sleep

1 Luwi Antakya Hotel, Kurtuluş Cd 32, ☏ +90 326 241 4848. Comfy welcoming place. (updated Jun 2026) Tetrapole is opposite Luwi at Leylek Sk 3. Çankaya Konakları Otel is 50 m south of Luwi at Kurtuluş Cd 14. Maison Gali is 200 m south of Luwi at Akıncılar Sk 2, off Kurtuluş Cd. Affan Hotel is 50 m north of Luwi at Kara Ahmet Çk 8, off Kurtuluş Cd. Le Reve Hotel, Ülkü Sk 33/3, off Kurtuluş Cd (100 m north of Luwi), ☏ +90 538 391 8818. Smart clean central hotel. B&B double 4000 TL. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Sam Frans Otel, Kurtuluş Cd 86, ☏ +90 533 033 0339. Charming hotel in a 19th century building. B&B double €100. (updated Jun 2026) Museum Hotel, Hacılar Sk 26 (within Necmi Asfuroglu Museum), ☏ +90 326 290 0000. They stumbled upon Roman ruins while building it, so they created a museum and perched the hotel on top. Mostly good reviews. B&B double €180. (updated Jun 2026) Hotel Mozaik, İstiklal Caddesi 18 (Sultan Sofrası Üstü), ☏ +90 326 215-50-20. Located in the city center, the hotel rooms are very clean. 75 TL with breakfast for a single room, 100 TL for a double.. (updated Nov 2010) 3 Antakya Otel, 6125th Cd 8, off Istiklal Cd, ☏ +90 501 039 6464. Smart, clean and central. (updated Jun 2026) 4 Artes Hotel, Topardıç Cd 2, ☏ +90 549 110 5140. Efficient place on the bypass, convenient for motorists. B&B double €130. (updated Jun 2026) 5 Some Hotel, 2699th Sk 6, ☏ +90 549 110 5140. Modern chalets at the north end of the bypass. Double (room only) 3600 TL. (updated Jun 2026)

Go next

Adana 200 km northwest makes a good stop-off heading for Anatolia and the Med resorts. The airbase and associated industries means a wide selection of hotels. Gaziantep 200 km northeast has fascinating Roman mosaics, rescued from inundation by a dam. Latakia 100 km south is the closest major city in Syria. This coastal route continues through Tartus to Tripoli and Beirut. Aleppo 123 km east in peaceful times was a fascinating old town and the natural route to Palmyra and Damascus.