22 Best Things to do in Antalya, Turkey, in 2024

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Are you looking for the best things to do in Antalya, Turkey, but not sure where to start?

Turkey is an incredibly popular travel destination.

The country contains so much history, remnants of one of the world’s ancient wonders, is the only city to straddle two continents, and has miles upon miles of beautiful coastline.

And, although Antalya is just one small part of the country, it contains so much!

The seaside city boasts fascinating historical sights, beautiful beaches, and a gorgeous old town that makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time as you wander the narrow streets. 

Plus, the city’s location on the Turkish Riviera makes it an ideal destination whether you love a relaxing holiday, are more of a history buff, or fancy a bit of ancient history combined with chilling on the beach.

The top things to do in Antalya

So, if you’re planning your Antalya itinerary, or simply wondering why over 2 million people visit the city every year, then read on.

These are the 22 best places to visit in Antalya, Turkey.

1. Wander the Old Town (Kaleiçi) 

We’ve already briefly touched on Kaleiçi, but it’s definitely worth including as one of the best attractions in Antalya.

The cobbled streets, quaint red-roofed houses, and winding alleyways are what make this part of the city so special. Visit the markets, explore the bazaar, or simply wander the streets and take in the lovely views.

There are also plenty of restaurants dotted around for you to grab lunch or dinner, or just to have a relaxing drink.

You’ll find everything from seafood restaurants serving fresh fish and squid on the grill, to bars where you can chill out with friends.

2. See the Old Harbour

Located in the Old Town, the harbour is a great place to spend an afternoon. You’ll find a lot of locals here, especially on weekends and in the evenings.

The harbour is also home to Antalya’s fish market, where you can buy fresh seafood from stalls lining the streets.

You can also catch a pirate ship boat cruise from the harbour around the bays and see some of Antalya’s famous waterfalls from the ocean.

3. Explore the Ancient City of Perge

Of course, what you can view in the museum is only part of Antalya’s history. If you want to see a little more, you’ll have to go to Perge.

Easily one of the best things to do in Antalya province, the ancient city of Perge is located about 20 minutes away from the Old Town.

The city was built around the middle of the Hellenistic period and has been well-preserved over time. It’s not as big as some other archaeological sites in Turkey (like Ephesus), but it is a lot less crowded, which makes for a more peaceful experience.

You’ll find everything from temples to theatres on display here, as well as the Roman baths, an agora, and an ancient Roman theatre.

✅ Book a tour to Perge from Antalya here

4. Visit Antalya Archaeological Museum

Easily the most fascinating museum in Antalya, the Museum of Archaeology has over 30,000 artefacts on display. Among these are many statues and stone carvings that date back to some of the earliest civilizations in Turkey.

It features statues and tombs from many of the surrounding archaeological sites, including Perge and Aspendos, and really gives you a feeling of how old the area is.

There are also many examples of gold, silver, and bronze work on display to give you an idea of what life was like for people living here thousands of years ago.

5. Visit Aspendos Theatre

If you’re a fan of ancient theatres, you definitely won’t want to miss Aspendos.

This is one of the best-preserved theatres in the world and the stunning archaeological site dates back to around 160 CE. It was built by order of Marcus Aurelius Severus during his time as governor in this region.

You can still see many of its original decorations in place today – which include marble seating for over 15,000 people, a stage building, and a proscenium arch.

It was also used as a venue for concerts and meetings, which is why it’s such an amazing example of the ancient world.

✅ Book a tour to Aspendos from Antalya here

6. See Hadrian’s Gate

Located in Kaleiçi, Hadrian’s Gate is one of the best examples in Antalya of Roman architecture. The triumphal arch was built in 130 CE to celebrate the visit of Emperor Hadrian. 

The impressive three double stone arches of the gates are decorated with reliefs of the god Dionysus and his wife Ariadne.

Hadrian’s Gate forms part of Antalya’s inner city wall and you can still see the wall remnants too, on either side of the magnificent arch.

✅ I recommend this old town tour of Antalya

7. Sunbathe on Lara Beach

If you want to take a break from the city, head out to Lara Beach. It’s about 30 – 45 minutes by taxi (depending on traffic in town), but well worth it for some time in the sun and sea. 

The white sands stretch as far as the eye can see and are perfect for relaxing or having fun with friends.

There are also a number of beach clubs here where you can grab a drink and watch the sunset.

8. Visit the Lower Duden Waterfalls

Cascading majestically into the ocean, the Lower Duden Waterfalls are one of the most spectacular places to visit in Antalya.

The waterfall is located just outside Üçkuyular, which can be reached by taxi or public bus from Kaleiçi.

The falls are about 20 meters high and provide an amazing backdrop against the blue sea. To view the fall, you will have to walk through Duden Park and along the river.

You will most likely pass stall vendors selling refreshing drinks and snacks. It’s a wonderful place for a picnic, but if you’d rather see the falls from the water, you can also visit via a boat tour.

9. Take a Day trip to Olympus and the Eternal Flame

This was one of my favourite things to do during this trip, and easily one of the best things to do in Antalya.

Getting to Olympos is slightly more difficult because it’s much further away from Antalya than the other attractions I’ve mentioned. It’s about one and a half an hour’s drive, and you can either get there by taxi or guided tour.

We opted for a taxi and hired a driver for the day to take us to lots of different sights south of Antalya.

It wasn’t the cheapest, but it was around the same price as a guided tour that only took us to half of the places on our list – so, in that sense, it was worth it to hire a driver.

What to do in Olympos

Once you arrive in Olympos, you will find yourself surrounded by lush greenery and mountain views. Depending on where you park, you might also cross Olympos Beach, which is a gorgeous stretch of sand and shingle.

Then, as a backdrop to the beach, you’ll find the entire ruined city of Olympos. It takes about 90 minutes to walk around the whole city, but you can easily spend a day here taking it all in.

There are ancient ruins everywhere you look, from old churches to sarcophagi.

After you’ve taken in enough of Olympos, I would also recommend hiking up to see Olympos’ most unique natural wonder – The Eternal Flame.

This is a burning gas vent in the heart of the Taurus Mountains which has burned continuously for thousands of years. It’s an incredible sight.

But be warned, it’s a 1000-meter uphill staircase through the forest to get there, which can be pretty challenging!

Nonetheless, the flames are well worth it, It’s definitely one of the best places to visit in Antalya. It might even be my favourite thing we saw. And the forest paths and mountain views are spectacular along the way!

10. See the Phaselis Ruins

Another ancient site located south of Olympos, Phaselis is a historic harbour town dating back to the Hellenistic era. The city was founded by Rhodian colonists around 1000 BCE and later conquered by Alexander the Great in 333 BCE.

It’s a beautiful site with views of both Antalya and Olympos from different vantage points, as well as beaches nearby for swimming or sunbathing.

The ruins of Phaselis are also less crowded than Olympos. The beach is slightly more crowded, but this is partly because it is smaller.

It’s also slightly closer to Antalya than Olympos is at around one hour, but it’s the same direction, so if you start the day early enough, you can easily do what we did and combine the two into one trip.

11. Ride the Olympos Teleferik Cable Car

For stunning views that literally look out of this world, you can take a ride on the Teleferik Cable Car. It’s one of Antalya’s most unique attractions and has become quite popular over recent years.

The cable car ride runs from Kemer up Mount Tahtali, which is part of the Beydağları Coastal National Park. The car will take you through the clouds to an altitude of 2366 meters. It’s about 30 minutes each way and costs €33 per person.

Once you get to the top, the views are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. You’ll be soaring above the forest and rocks below, and then a panorama of the beautiful turquoise Turkish coast unfolds before you.

Plus, if you choose a clear day, you can actually see Phaselis from the top of the mountain.

Another thing to bear in mind is that the temperatures at the top of the mountain are vastly different from those on the ground.

If you were comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt at a warm 25 degrees, expect the top of the mountain to be a lot chillier. When we went, it was 6 degrees at the top – trust me, I was very thankful that I’d brought a jacket! 

✅ I recommend this tour in Antalya which includes the cable car

12. See Yivli Minare Mosque

Yivli Minare is a 14th-century mosque located in the old part of Antalya city. It’s a beautiful structure and is one of over 80 mosques that can be found in the city today.

It’s open to visitors from sunrise until sunset but closed during services. Inside, this mosque is full of history, has a unique layout, and features incredible carvings.

13. Visit Antalya Aquarium

Famed for having the longest tunnel aquarium in Europe, the Antalya Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in Antalya.

It covers an area of over 11,000 square meters and features hundreds of species of marine life from various parts of the world as well as different ecosystems around Turkey.

It is quite pricey at $35 per person, but it’s a good place to go with kids.

14. Eat Turkish Street Food

How can you go to Turkey and not eat the incredible Turkish street food? There are hundreds of different types of traditional foods that you can find on the streets.

Popular grill items include kofte (meatballs), sucuk (Turkish sausage), ızgara chicken or lamb, and döner kebabs.

All these usually come wrapped in bread or pide, with some salads on the side.

There are many great stalls all over the city, but you’ll find a particularly large selection in Antalya’s old town.

15. Explore Antalya Bazaar

The Antalya Bazaar is a market located in the city centre and sells everything from food to clothes, souvenirs, and more.

It’s incredibly popular among locals as well as tourists because it has such high-quality items for reasonable prices. It also offers great Turkish tea and coffee at some stalls, as well as souvenirs, spices, and fake branded clothing.

If you like shopping and bargaining, this is a place you should visit.

16. Go Canyoning at Goynuk

Another of my absolute favourite things to do in Antalya, this is another experience that you won’t forget in a hurry!

Goynuk Canyon is located around half an hour outside the city centre. The canyon itself is beautiful – it’s full of greenery, stunning waterfalls, and dramatic cliffs.

There are several activities that you can participate in at Goynuk, including canyoning, zip-lining, and boat trips.

We opted for a canyoning and zip-lining combination, which is the best of both worlds. It was an absolutely amazing experience in a beautiful environment, but the water was most certainly cold!

17. See Hidirlik Tower

Hidirlik Tower is a tower located where Kaleiçi meets Karaalioglu Park. It was built during the Roman Empire.

It’s not really open to visitors, but you can see it from outside and see the surrounding ruins that they’re still excavating.

It has served many different purposes over the years. Originally, it was a watchtower for spotting possible invaders, and later on, it was used as a lighthouse.

18. Visit The Upper Duden Waterfalls

Whilst many people will make the trip to the Lower Düden waterfalls during their time in Antalya, not as many people travel to the Upper Duden Falls.

Located about 15 km outside the city, these waterfalls cascade over a cave and are rather impressive to see.

The falls have been formed in a deep gorge carved out by the river and there are several ways to see them. You can either view them from above, go down the canyon and explore along its banks. There’s even a secret cave behind the waterfall.

Like Lower Duden, the falls are also located in a park. This alone can be a super relaxing place to walk around and a very chill way to spend an afternoon.

19. Go on a Boat Trip

One of the best ways to see Antalya’s beautiful coastline as well as its unique bays and coves is by going on a boat trip. There are many companies offering boat trips, but I would suggest going with a smaller company as opposed to the larger ones.

You can find some great deals for half-day and full-day tours of the coastline, where you’ll enjoy swimming in quiet bays and snorkelling amongst the fish. You can also go for a sunset trip with dinner, where you can watch the sun sinking below the water.

All of these are great things to do in Antalya and a wonderful way to see the city from another perspective. Plus, you can enjoy some time on the open ocean before evening sets in.

✅ Book a boat trip in Antalya, here

20. Explore Konyaalti Beach

Antalya’s biggest beach is also one of its best. Konyaaltı  Beach is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing. It’s a popular place to take visitors because it has so many things going on.

There’s shopping in the bazaar, boat trips for snorkelling, water sports, or even fishing along the coast!

There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs that line the beachfront too. It’s one of the best beaches in Turkey and you won’t want to miss it.

We also saw lots of people paragliding here. It’s not quite as impressive views as paragliding from Oludeniz nearby, but it’s still a pretty wonderful experience.

✅ I recommend this paragliding experience in Antalya

21. Take a Day Trip to Side

Side is one of Antalya’s neighbouring ancient cities and it can be reached by bus in just over an hour. It’s located along the seaside but has a perfect combination of culture as well as natural beauty.

There are also some spectacular Roman ruins here. This includes a theatre from Roman times, a castle that’s been well-preserved, and a beautiful Roman temple that sits on the coast against an ocean backdrop.

You can easily spend an entire day visiting these attractions, shopping in the bazaar, or even taking a boat trip around Side for some truly stunning views of this historical city.

✅ Book a day trip to Side from Antalya here.

22. Take a Two Day Tour To Cappadocia

Let’s be real, Cappadocia is on a lot of people’s bucket lists when they visit Turkey. It’s an excellent place to visit and there are so many cool Cappadocia attractions. However, it’s not the easiest to reach.

Nonetheless, did you know that you can actually take a Cappadocia from Antalya tour and visit the fairy chimneys on a two-day trip from Antalya?

This was how we first visited Cappadocia and, despite not being the cheapest thing to do in Antalya by far, it was easily one of the best experiences we had in Turkey.

Plus, we got to cross two places off our bucket list and soar over Cappadocia on a hot air balloon which was an unforgettable experience.

So, if you’re limited on time in Turkey, or want to combine your trip to Antalya with another of Turkey’s magical destinations, I highly recommend this trip.

✅ I recommend this Cappadocia tour from Antalya

How to get to Antalya

Because of its popularity, Antalya is fairly easy to get to from many cities around Europe and the rest of the world.

Antalya Airport also serves many low-cost airlines including Pegasus Airlines and EasyJet. It’s relatively affordable to fly here from most places in Europe or beyond.

If you are unable to get a flight directly, there are plenty of budget Turkish Airlines that fly from Istanbul, so you could always reach it that way.

We actually spent a few days in Istanbul before heading to the Turkish coast and the flights are really affordable. Plus this is another great way to see more of Turkey.

You could also travel there by road, but be prepared for a pretty lengthy 8-9 hour journey.

Antalya is also located on the Mediterranean Coast, which means you could also get here by ferry from nearby islands like Cyprus or Rhodes.

Overall, it’s a very well-connected city, and you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting there.

How to get around Antalya

However, once you’re in Antalya, getting around can be a little more complicated.

The best way to get around the city is by taxi. Taxis are easy to call via a handy button system dotted around town. There are lots of little yellow taxi buttons on lampposts and trees etc, and, to call a taxi, you simply press one and a car will come to you.

The fares are also fairly reasonable. But it’s always best to agree on a price before getting in the cab or ensure that the taxi driver turns on the meter.

If you’re not comfortable with taxis, Antalya also has a public transport system of buses and dolmuş.

To use the public city buses, you’ll need to purchase something called an Antalykart which is basically a pre-paid bus card that you can use for travel. Once you’ve bought the card itself, you can easily top it up at certain booths located around the city.

If you’re travelling by dolmuş, you won’t be able to use these cards. You’ll simply need to flag the minibus down and tell the driver where you want to go. Then, you pay in cash once you’re on board.

Where should you stay in Antalya?

If you’re visiting Antalya for the first time, I recommend staying in either Kaleiçi or Konyaalti.

Kaleiçi is the centre of all of Antalya. It’s busy, it’s connected, and it’s easy to get public transport or taxis around the other parts of the city.

Konyaalti is much less crowded, and not quite as well connected, but still has a tonne of things to do, a beautiful beach, and plenty of high-quality accommodation.

Read my article about the best places to stay in Antalya, Turkey for more info!

Is Antalya worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely. There’s something for everyone in Antalya!

Whether you’re looking to sunbathe, relax by the sea, or go shopping. You’ll love Antalya if you enjoy museum-hopping, sightseeing tours, beautiful architecture, and Old Towns that breathe history and have a certain charm.

Also whether you like your beaches crowded with people and beach clubs or if you prefer secluded expanses of sand and tranquil turquoise waters.

When’s the best time to Visit Antalya?

Antalya is quite a good destination to visit year-round. It experiences quite a mild climate in the winter with temperatures rarely dropping below 10°C even in December.

This makes it a great winter sun destination and one of the best places to visit in January or February for some warm weather.

The summer months in Antalya are hot. Temperatures can surpass 35°C which makes it quite difficult to do anything particularly strenuous. But, of course, it’s pretty good weather for sunbathing, so if you just want to relax on the beaches, this is a good time to go.

In my opinion, spring or autumn are the ideal times to visit Antalya. In April or May and October and November, weather is bearable at around 20-25°C and the prices are much more affordable than peak summer.

We visited in October, had the best time and the weather was perfect. I actually think Turkey is one of the best places to visit in October and this trip definitely supported this.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Antalya, Turkey

Overall, I loved my time in Antalya. The area is stunning with gorgeous beaches and viewpoints that stretch over the ocean as well as so much incredible history within easy reach of the vibrant city.

If you love exploring the plethora of historical sites of Turkey, but also want a pretty old town, great food, and beaches, you’ll love Antalya. It’s one of the most incredible places to visit in Turkey and probably one you’ll end up wanting to come back to.

P.S. For other great places to visit in Turkey, I recommend Izmir, Istanbul, Fethiye, Oludeniz, and Sakliket Gorge.

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