Mount Habib Neccar and the city walls which climb the hillsides symbolise Antakya; making the city a formidable fortress built on a series of hills running north-east to south-west. Antakya was originally centred on the east bank of the river.

Since the 19th century; the city has expanded with new neighbourhoods built on the plains across the river to the south-west; and four bridges connect the old and new cities. Both Turkish and Arabic are still widely spoken in Antakya; although written Arabic is rarely used. A mixed community of faiths and denominations co-exist peacefully here. Although almost all the inhabitants are Muslim; a substantial proportion adhere to the Alevi and the Arab Nusayri traditions; and in 'Harbiye' there is a place to honour the Nusayri saint Hizir.

Numerous tombs of Muslim saints; both Sunni and Alevi; are located throughout the city. Several small Christian communities are active in the city; with the largest church being St Peter and St Paul on Hurriyet Caddesi. With its long history of spiritual and religious movements; Antakya is a place of pilgrimage for Christians and Muslims. It has a reputation in Turkey as a place for spells; fortune telling; miracles and spirits.

Antakya - ancient Antioch - was regarded as the western terminus of the great Silk Road; linking the Mediterranean world with distant Chang 'An (Xi'an) in China.