Hatay Day Tour — Nature & Adventure

Arrival in Hatay and check-in. The day covers Church of St. Peter (Cave Church), Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum & The Museum Hotel Antakya (world's largest single-piece mosaic) and Antakya Old Town (Ancient Antioch). Carved into the lower slope of Mount Habib-i Neccar (ancient Silpius/Starius) on the northeastern edge of Antakya, the Church of St. Transfer at the end of the tour.

1. 08:00 - 08:40 Church of St. Peter (Cave Church)· 40 dk

   Tour coaches can drive up to the entrance car park; since the final stretch of the approach road is narrow, morning hours are preferred. Parking: Parking is available at the church entrance (Küçükdalyan road).

   The entrance terrace and stone facade (together with the rock mass above); the altar and marble statue of St. Peter inside the cave; a panorama of the Antakya plain from the facade.

   Limited; the stone stairs leading to the entrance and the sloped approach are difficult for wheelchairs, and the cave floor is uneven.

2. 09:10 - 10:10 Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum & The Museum Hotel Antakya (world's largest single-piece mosaic)· 60 dk

   Well suited to tour coaches; direct entry and exit at the museum car park, with trouble-free drop-off and pick-up. Parking: The Necmi Asfuroğlu Museum car park (city's northern entrance) — suitable for cars and coaches, with ample capacity.

   The suspended walkways where light filtering between the steel columns frames the mosaics; the upper terrace overlooking the world's largest single-piece floor mosaic; the exterior showing the hotel 'floating' above the ruins and the forest of columns; the display case of the intact Eros statue.

3. 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine.

4. 10:40 - 13:40 Antakya Old Town (Ancient Antioch)· 180 dk

   Tour coaches cannot enter the old town's fabric; they use the Archaeology Museum / Necmi Asfuroğlu car park or the St. Peter car park, and groups continue on foot from there. Parking: The Hatay Archaeology Museum / Necmi Asfuroğlu car park (north entrance) and the St. Peter Church car park (at the foot of the hill) are the main parking points.

   Narrow stone lanes and dead ends, han courtyards, Uzun Çarşı façades, the Habib-i Neccar minaret and dome, the Kurtuluş Avenue axis, the old town's silhouette from the bridge over the Asi (Orontes) River.

   Limited. Narrow, sloping and quake-damaged stone surfaces are challenging for wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility; an escort is recommended.

5. 14:10 - 15:55 Free time — bazaar, centre & shopping· 105 dk

   Free time to explore the bazaar and support local trade (~1.5–2 hours).

   Street texture, tradespeople and handicrafts.

Route Hatay, Antakya