Turkey with kids: an itinerary along the coast
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 10 of 16 free; 6 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 4 days, 9:30 to 17:08 each day
- Start and finish
- Kemer Clock Tower → Cleopatra Beach
- On foot
- ≈ 1 h 23 min in total
- Transport
- 4 rides, ≈ 2 h 49 min; 3 transfers between cities
- Lunch
- around 12:29
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- May–June and September–October: the sea is warm and the days are not as hot as July and August.
Cities in order
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Kemer09:30–15:05 · 4 places · 5 h 40 min
Kemer Clock Tower
· 15 min · Free
- 18 min on foot
Kemer Marina
· 45 min · Free
- 11 min on foot
Moonlight Park
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 36 min · transport or taxi
Paradise Bay (Cennet Koyu)
· 1 h · Free; boat trip from Kemer from ≈ €20
Day 2 · Antalya09:30–17:08 · 4 places · 7 h 40 min
Morning transfer: bus or taxi · ≈ 1 h
Hıdırlık Tower
· 30 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
Kaleiçi
· 2 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 39 min · transport or taxi
Düden Waterfalls
· 1 h · Lower free, Upper ≈ 60–70 TL
- 56 min · transport or taxi
Perge
· 1 h 30 min · About €11 for foreign visitors
Day 3 · Side09:30–15:19 · 4 places · 5 h 50 min
Morning transfer: bus or taxi · ≈ 1.5 h
Temple of Apollo
· 30 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
Side Harbour
· 45 min · Free
- 5 min on foot
Side Old Town
· 2 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 38 min · transport or taxi
Manavgat Waterfall
· 45 min · 50 TL, students 10 TL
Day 4 · Alanya09:30–16:25 · 4 places · 7 h
Morning transfer: bus or taxi · ≈ 1 h
Alanya Old Town (Tophane)
· 1 h · Free
- 4 min on foot
Red Tower
· 45 min · Paid, price being verified
- 19 min on foot
Damlataş Cave
· 30 min · ≈ 225 TL, children less
- Lunch · 1 h
- 17 min on foot
Cleopatra Beach
· 3 h · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
10 of 16 are free; 6 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 4 | Paradise Bay (Cennet Koyu) | 30 | 1 h | Free; boat trip from Kemer from ≈ €20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Düden Waterfalls | 34 | 1 h | Lower free, Upper ≈ 60–70 TL |
| 8 | Perge | 26 | 1 h 30 min | About €11 for foreign visitors |
| 12 | Manavgat Waterfall | 30 | 45 min | 50 TL, students 10 TL |
| 14 | Red Tower | 38 | 45 min | Paid, price being verified |
| 15 | Damlataş Cave | 38 | 30 min | ≈ 225 TL, children less |
| Other 10 places | 12 h 30 min | Free | ||
| Total | 17 h 50 min | 10 of 16 free |
Who this route is for
- Families with children aged 4–5 and up
- A beach holiday, but not in one hotel
- No long transfers
- Toddlers under three — one resort with short outings is better
- Istanbul and Cappadocia are a different route
May–June and September–October: the sea is warm and the days are not as hot as July and August.
How the family route works
The route runs along the coast from west to east: Kemer — Antalya — Side — Alanya. Each day is the town's family itinerary: short stops, lunch in the middle of the day and water — a boat, waterfalls, a cave or a beach.
Transfers are no longer than an hour and a half, best in the morning while the children are fresh. You can also stay in one hotel near Antalya and make day trips.
Where to stay with kids
If you would rather not pack every day, stay in Antalya or Side: the other resorts are an hour or an hour and a half away. If a beach by the hotel matters most, choose Kemer or Alanya.
Getting around
Intercity buses link the resorts; with children a taxi or a hire car is easier. Inside the resorts almost everything is on foot, except the waterfalls and the ancient sites.
Heat and sun
In July and August walk before 11:00 and after 16:00 and spend midday by the sea or in the shade. Hats, water and sunscreen every day; the Damlataş cave and the waterfalls stay cool even in the heat.
How to do it right
- Move in the morning: the drive is an hour or so and the day stays free for the town.
- Children under 8 usually get into state museums and ancient sites free.
- Boats to Paradise Bay run in season, roughly April to October.
- The Damlataş cave in Alanya takes cards only.
- The Temple of Apollo in Side is under restoration — see it from the promenade.
Questions
Where to go in Turkey with kids?
The Mediterranean coast: Kemer, Antalya, Side and Alanya — warm sea, short transfers and plenty to do with water.
Is Turkey good for families?
Yes: sandy beaches, short distances, and children under 8 usually free at state sites.
How long are the transfers?
Kemer–Antalya about 1 h, Antalya–Side about 1.5 h, Side–Alanya about 1 h.
Do we need to change hotels every day?
No: you can stay in Antalya or Side and make day trips.
What are the best activities for kids?
The boat to Paradise Bay, the Düden and Manavgat waterfalls, Perge and the Damlataş cave.
Is this route good with a toddler?
With under-threes, one resort with short outings is easier.
When is the best time to go with kids?
May–June and September–October.
How do we get around?
By taxi or hire car between resorts, on foot inside them.
Are there free things to do with kids?
Beaches, Moonlight Park in Kemer, the Lower Düden waterfall and the old towns are free.
Can I change the itinerary?
Yes: remove or add a stop in any day and the times recalculate.
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
- Kemer, Antalya, Manavgat and Alanya municipalities: beaches, parks, transport
