Things to do in Antalya: top sights and where to go
Antalya's old town, Kaleiçi, rises above the old harbour: Hadrian's Gate, the Yivli Minaret and Hıdırlık Tower are all within a 15-minute walk, and the Antalya Museum is a short tram ride west. Spend the first day on the old town, the museum and the Düden waterfalls; on the second, drive out to the theatre at Aspendos and the ruins of Perge or Termessos.
Sights
Antalya itineraries
Antalya travel guide
Before you go: areas and beaches, the airport, transport, weather and sea by month, food and day trips.
Antalya on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 2–3 days in town plus 2–3 for day trips
- When to go
- May–June and September–October
- Airport
- AYT, ≈ 13 km from the old town
- Where to stay
- Kaleiçi for atmosphere; Lara or Konyaaltı for the beach
- Transport
- AntalyaKart card for trams and buses
- Beaches
- Konyaaltı is pebble, Lara is sand
- Visa
- Visa-free or e-Visa, depending on your passport
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Money
- Turkish lira; tours are often priced in euros
- Time zone
- UTC+3 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Mobile data
- eSIM before you fly or a local SIM at the airport
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Antalya”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Hadrian’s Gate (Antalya)”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Yivli Minaret”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Düden Waterfalls”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Konyaaltı”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Termessos”Things to do in Antalya
Antalya’s highlights are Kaleiçi, the old town with its harbour and Hadrian’s Gate, the Antalya Museum and the Düden Waterfalls. Within an hour of the city are ancient Perge, Aspendos and Termessos. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.
| Kaleiçi | Old town, Hadrian’s Gate, Yivli | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Seafront | Hıdırlık Tower, Museum | ½ day |
| Lara | Düden Waterfalls | 2 h |
| Above the city | Tünektepe — view over the bay | 1–2 h |
| Ancient sites | Perge, Aspendos | ½–1 day |
| Taurus Mountains | Termessos | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries, with places in a sensible order, lunch and time for each stop.
Where to stay in Antalya
In Antalya itself, stay in one of three areas: Kaleiçi old town for atmosphere and evenings, Konyaaltı by the long pebble beach with mountain views, or Lara by the sandy beach and big resorts. Belek, Kemer, Side and Alanya are separate resorts one to two hours away.
| Kaleiçi | Couples, short stays, walking, restaurants | Hardly any beach; narrow lanes |
|---|---|---|
| Konyaaltı | Beach plus city: museum and tram nearby | Pebbles, the sea gets deep fast |
| Lara | Sand, all-inclusive resorts, families | ≈ 30 min by bus to the centre |
| Belek | Golf and big beachfront resorts | Far from town, needs a transfer |
| Kemer | Mountains by the sea, coves, quiet | ≈ 1 h from the airport |
| Side & Alanya | Sandy beaches and ruins | ≈ 1–2 h from the airport |
Antalya airport to the city and resorts
Antalya Airport (AYT) is ≈ 13 km from the old town and ≈ 10 km from Lara. A tram and city buses run to the centre, but with luggage or kids a transfer or taxi is easier: 20–30 minutes to Kaleiçi and Lara, about an hour to Kemer and Side, about two to Alanya.
| Centre, Kaleiçi | AntRay tram, bus | ≈ 40–60 min |
|---|---|---|
| Lara, Kaleiçi | Taxi, transfer | ≈ 20–30 min |
| Belek | Transfer | ≈ 30 min |
| Kemer | Transfer | ≈ 1 h |
| Side | Transfer | ≈ 1 h |
| Alanya | Transfer, bus | ≈ 2 h |
International flights use Terminals 1 and 2, domestic flights a separate terminal — check your ticket. City transport is paid with an AntalyaKart. Car rental desks are in the arrivals halls.
Antalya public transport
In town you ride trams and buses and pay with an AntalyaKart, sold at kiosks and machines by the stops. Dolmuş minibuses and intercity coaches from the bus station link the resorts. Taxis run on the meter.
| AntRay tram | Airport — centre (İsmet Paşa) — bus station |
|---|---|
| Heritage tram | Along the old town: from the museum to Kaleiçi and the parks |
| City buses | Konyaaltı, Lara, Düden Waterfalls |
| Dolmuş | Nearby resorts and villages; pay the driver |
| Bus station (otogar) | Coaches to Kemer, Side, Alanya, Kaş, Pamukkale |
Antalya weather by month
The best time to visit Antalya for the beach is late May to October, most comfortable in June and September–October. July and August are over 30 °C by day with the sea around 28 °C. In October the sea is still about 24 °C, in November about 21 °C. Winters are mild but rainy.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 15° | 16° | 18° | 22° | 26° | 31° | 34° | 34° | 31° | 27° | 21° | 17° |
| Night | 6° | 7° | 9° | 12° | 16° | 20° | 23° | 23° | 19° | 15° | 10° | 7° |
| Sea | 17° | 17° | 17° | 18° | 21° | 24° | 27° | 28° | 27° | 24° | 21° | 18° |
| Rain | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: May–June and September–October
- day ≈ 15°
- night ≈ 6°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 10 days
Mild winter but frequent rain. A month for Kaleiçi, the museum and the waterfalls without crowds. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 7°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 9 days
Cool and rainy, snow on the mountains. Quiet season: the ancient cities are almost empty. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 9°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 7 days
Spring: green hills and the first warm days. Comfortable for Perge, Aspendos and Termessos. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 12°
- sea ≈ 18°
- rain 5 days
About 22° by day, the sea still cool. The best time for walking and the mountains. Too cold to swim, water — about 18°.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 16°
- sea ≈ 21°
- rain 3 days
The beach season starts without the heat. One of the best months. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 21°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 20°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 1 days
Warm sea and long days. Beach in the morning and evening, shade at midday. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 0 days
Peak heat, about 34° by day. Tours with an early start; the sea in the afternoon. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 0 days
The hottest month and the warmest sea. On tours, take water and a hat. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 19°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 1 days
The heat eases while the sea stays warm. Good for both beach and tours. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 4 days
About 27° by day — warm, not hot. Comfortable for exploring the coast. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 10°
- sea ≈ 21°
- rain 6 days
Rain begins, about 21° by day. A month for tours and walks. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 21°.
- day ≈ 17°
- night ≈ 7°
- sea ≈ 18°
- rain 10 days
Cool and rainy. A quiet old town, the museum and views of snowy peaks. Too cold to swim, water — about 18°.
Kemer, Side and Alanya share Antalya’s climate. The sea is warmest in August and coolest in February–March.
Antalya beaches
Antalya has two big city beaches: pebbly Konyaaltı to the west and sandy Lara to the east. Entry is free; loungers and umbrellas cost extra. Below the Kaleiçi cliffs there are paid beach clubs with steps down to the water.
- Konyaaltı — ≈ 7 km of pebbles facing the Taurus Mountains; clear water that gets deep quickly.
- Lara — sand and a gentle slope, good with kids; the Lower Düden Waterfall is nearby.
- Below Kaleiçi — Mermerli beach with a lift and stairs to the sea; paid entry.
- Further out — the coves of Kemer, the sand at Side, Cleopatra Beach in Alanya.
What to eat in Antalya
For good, cheap food, look for a lokanta with ready dishes or a kebab house away from the tourist lanes. Fish is eaten in the old Kaleiçi harbour and along Konyaaltı. Try the local piyaz — a bean salad with tahini served with şiş köfte.
- Piyaz and şiş köfte — Antalya’s signature: grilled meatballs on skewers with beans in tahini, lemon and egg.
- Tandır kebab — slow-cooked meat from the oven, served in old lokantas around Kaleiçi.
- Fish — in the Kaleiçi harbour and on the seafront; ask the price per portion before ordering.
- Ice cream and pomegranate — stretchy Maraş ice cream in the streets and fresh pomegranate juice in autumn.
- Tipping — about 10% if service isn’t on the bill.
Antalya attraction ticket prices
The old town, harbour and seafront are free. You pay for the museum, the ancient cities and the waterfalls. Perge and Aspendos have the highest prices; the Museum Pass Mediterranean covers state museums and ancient sites in the region.
| Antalya Museum | 35 | 1 h 30 min | Closed: demolished, new one being built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Düden Waterfalls | 34 | 1 h | Lower free, Upper ≈ 60–70 TL |
| Perge | 26 | 1 h 30 min | About €11 for foreign visitors |
| Aspendos | 22 | 2 h | €15 for foreigners, checking |
| Tünektepe | 22 | 1 h 30 min | Closed: cable car not running |
| Termessos | 21 | 3 h | Paid, price being verified |
Free — 4 places: Hadrian's Gate, Yivli Minaret, Hıdırlık Tower, Kaleiçi.
The Museum Pass Mediterranean is valid in state museums and archaeological sites of the region for several days from the first entry. Private attractions need their own ticket.
Day trips from Antalya
The favourite day trips are the Pamukkale travertines, Lycian Myra and the sunken city by Kekova, the canyons and the neighbouring resorts. Perge and Aspendos are half a day, close to the city. Cappadocia is better as a two-day trip or by plane.
- Perge & Aspendos — a Roman city and a theatre for about 7,000; ≈ 30–50 min, half a day.
- Pamukkale — white travertines and Hierapolis; ≈ 4 h each way, a full day.
- Demre, Myra & Kekova — rock tombs, St Nicholas Church and a boat over the sunken city; a full day.
- Köprülü Canyon — rafting; ≈ 1.5 h, a full day.
- Kemer — the Tahtalı cable car and ancient Phaselis; ≈ 1 h.
- Cappadocia — hot-air balloons; plan 2 days, ≈ 9 h by bus or ≈ 1 h by plane.
Tips
- Visit Kaleiçi in the morning or at sunset: summer afternoons are hot and crowded, evenings bring restaurants and harbour views.
- Perge and Aspendos are close together — combine them in one half-day trip.
- In July–August pick tours with an early start and keep midday for the sea and shade.
- Compare tour prices at your hotel desk with local agencies — the difference can be large.
FAQ
Is Antalya worth visiting?
Yes: it combines a lively old town and a harbour with long city beaches, waterfalls and some of Turkey’s best Roman sites within an hour. It works out of season too — mild winters suit museums, ruins and walks.
What are the best free things to do in Antalya?
Walk Kaleiçi old town and the harbour, see Hadrian’s Gate and the Yivli Minaret, stroll the seafront parks by Hıdırlık Tower and spend a day on Konyaaltı or Lara beach — entry to both is free.
What is the weather like in Antalya in October, November and December?
October is about 27 °C by day with the sea around 24 °C — fine for swimming. November is about 21 °C with rain starting. December is about 17 °C and rainy — a month for the old town, museums and ruins.
Where to stay in Antalya with a family?
Lara, for its sandy beach with a gentle slope and big family resorts; or Konyaaltı if you want the beach and the city together. Kaleiçi suits couples more than families.
How do I get from Antalya Airport to the city?
By the AntRay tram or a city bus in about 40–60 minutes, paying with an AntalyaKart. A taxi or transfer takes 20–30 minutes to Kaleiçi and Lara, about an hour to Kemer and Side, and about two to Alanya.
When is the sea warmest in Antalya?
In August, at about 28 °C; June and October are around 24 °C. The coolest water, about 17 °C, is from January to March.
Can you do a day trip from Antalya to Pamukkale or Cappadocia?
Pamukkale, yes — it is a long but common day trip, about 4 hours each way. Cappadocia is too far for a day by road; plan two days or fly.
Is it safe to walk around Antalya?
The old town, seafront and beach areas are busy and generally safe, including in the evening; take the usual precautions with valuables and use metered taxis.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Antalya”; “Hadrian’s Gate (Antalya)”; “Yivli Minaret”; “Termessos”; Antalya climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Antalya Airport — official website
- Antalya Metropolitan Municipality — AntRay tram and AntalyaKart
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, muze.gov.tr — Museum Pass Mediterranean
- Republic of Türkiye e-Visa — official application site