One day in Antalya: an itinerary in the best order
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 4 of 5 free; paid: Düden Waterfalls
- Duration
- 6 h 10 min · 09:30–15:37
- Start and finish
- Hıdırlık Tower → Düden Waterfalls
- On foot
- ≈ 19 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 38 min
- Lunch
- around 12:03
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. In summer start early: Kaleiçi is hot by noon, and the waterfall is best towards evening.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Antalya09:30–15:37 · 5 places · 6 h 10 min
Hıdırlık Tower
· 30 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
Kaleiçi
· 2 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 10 min on foot
Yivli Minaret
· 20 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
Hadrian's Gate
· 20 min · Free
- 38 min · transport or taxi
Düden Waterfalls
· 1 h · Lower free, Upper ≈ 60–70 TL
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
4 of 5 are free; 1 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Hıdırlık Tower | 44 | 30 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kaleiçi | 40 | 2 h | Free |
| 3 | Yivli Minaret | 45 | 20 min | Free |
| 4 | Hadrian's Gate | 48 | 20 min | Free |
| 5 | Düden Waterfalls | 34 | 1 h | Lower free, Upper ≈ 60–70 TL |
| Total | 4 h 10 min | 4 of 5 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Hıdırlık Tower. Start at the Roman tower on the cliff — quiet and cool in the morning. You cannot go inside; you see it from outside, with the view over the bay.
- 2
Kaleiçi. Two hours down the old town lanes to the Roman harbour under the cliff. Boats to the waterfalls leave from the quay — a short trip is possible.
- 3
Yivli Minaret. The fluted red 13th-century minaret, the symbol of Antalya. The mosque is open outside prayer times; a dervish museum is next door.
- 4
Hadrian's Gate. The Roman arch at the edge of Kaleiçi — the last old-town stop. It is lit up in the evening.
- 5
Düden Waterfalls. The Lower Düden waterfall in Lara — 40 minutes by taxi or city bus. The park is free, and the water drops 40 m off a cliff straight into the sea.
Who this route is for
- Staying in Antalya, Kemer or Belek and want a day in town
- On your own, without a tour
- On a budget: almost everything is free
- Ancient sites — Perge and Aspendos are out of town, a separate trip
- A beach day — Konyaaltı or Lara are better for that
Spring and autumn. In summer start early: Kaleiçi is hot by noon, and the waterfall is best towards evening.
What to see in Antalya in one day
The morning is the old town of Kaleiçi. Inside its walls are Hıdırlık Tower, mosques, Ottoman houses and the Roman harbour; at its edge, the Yivli minaret and Hadrian's Gate. All of it is free and on foot: in four hours you cover the whole historic centre without a single ride.
After lunch — the Lower Düden waterfall, 40 minutes east by taxi in the Lara district: the river falls off a 40-metre cliff into the sea. The park around it is free and open around the clock, and it is prettiest at sunset.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Getting to Kaleiçi from Kemer, Belek and Lara
A handy starting point is Kalekapısı square with the clock tower at the top of Kaleiçi: trams and city buses stop here. From Kemer and Belek it is about an hour to the centre by intercity bus or taxi, from Lara 20–30 minutes.
Where to have lunch
Lunch in the plan comes after Kaleiçi. Cafés inside the old town are pricier, especially by the harbour; it is simpler and cheaper beyond Hadrian's Gate and around the clock-tower square.
Antalya in summer: beating the heat
In summer start at 8–9 am and spend the middle of the day in shaded lanes and cafés. The waterfall comes in the afternoon: it is cooler by the water and the light is better towards sunset. Bring water — there is little shade at Hıdırlık Tower and the viewpoints.
Is one day in Antalya enough?
For the old town and the waterfall, yes. The ancient sites are out of town: Perge, 15–18 km away, with a colonnaded street and a stadium, and Aspendos, with one of the best-preserved Roman theatres — a separate day. The Antalya Archaeological Museum is closed while a new building goes up.
How to do it right
- Almost all of the route is free: Kaleiçi, Hıdırlık Tower, Hadrian's Gate, the minaret and the Lower Düden waterfall.
- The Upper Düden waterfall is a different place, 10–12 km north of the centre, with a paid entry.
- Do not enter the Yivli mosque during prayers; cover shoulders and knees.
- Come back to Hıdırlık Tower for the sunset over the mountains across the bay.
- Turkey uses the lira (TRY). Cards work almost everywhere; carry some cash for dolmuş minibuses, boats and small cafés. Museum tickets for foreigners are priced in euros and paid by card.
Questions
Is one day in Antalya enough?
For the old town and the Lower Düden waterfall, yes. Perge, Aspendos and the beaches need more days.
What to do in Antalya in one day?
Walk Kaleiçi with Hıdırlık Tower, the Yivli minaret and Hadrian's Gate, then see the Lower Düden waterfall over the sea.
What are the best free things to do in Antalya?
Almost this whole route: Kaleiçi, Hıdırlık Tower, Hadrian's Gate, the Yivli minaret and the Lower Düden waterfall park.
How long do I need for Kaleiçi?
About two hours for a walk; half a day with a boat trip and dinner by the water.
How do I get to the Lower Düden waterfall?
About 40 minutes from the old town by taxi or city bus to Lara. The park is free and open around the clock.
What is the difference between the Upper and Lower Düden waterfalls?
The Lower one drops off a cliff into the sea in Lara and is free. The Upper one is a shady park with a cave 10–12 km north of the centre, and entry is paid.
Is the Antalya Archaeological Museum open?
No: it is closed while a new building is being built. See antiquity at Perge and Aspendos instead.
How do I get to Antalya from Kemer?
By intercity bus or taxi, about an hour to the centre.
Where to watch the sunset in Antalya?
At Hıdırlık Tower on the cliff at the edge of Kaleiçi.
Is it good with kids?
Yes, the walks are short. There is also a separate 'Antalya with kids' itinerary with the waterfall and ancient Perge.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism: museum and archaeological site hours and tickets
- Antalya Metropolitan Municipality: public transport and parks
- Wikipedia: Kaleiçi, Hadrian's Gate, Düden Waterfalls
