Antalya, Turkey 3 Day Itinerary

Antalya, Turkey 3-Day Itinerary

Most visitors to Antalya spend their entire trip in an all-inclusive resort on Lara Beach without once touching the Roman harbour walls of Kaleici. That is their loss. Antalya is a city with a 2,000-year continuous history of habitation, a working old port, and direct access to some of the best-preserved ancient theatres in the world. Three days is enough to do it properly.

Getting from the Airport

Antalya Airport (AYT) sits about 13 km east of the city centre. Official yellow taxis use meters and the fare to Kaleici or central Antalya runs 600-750 Turkish lira (roughly €18-23 at mid-2025 exchange rates). Ask the driver to run the meter before you move; if they quote a “fixed price” in euros, it will be significantly above the metered fare. You can also use BiTaksi or iTaksi (the Turkish ride-hailing apps) to get a pre-agreed price with the driver’s details visible before you enter the vehicle.

The Havas airport bus runs into the city centre and costs around 100-150 TL; it stops at several points including the city bus terminal (otogar) and Kaleici. Journey time by either option is around 25-35 minutes without traffic.

Taxi scam to know: the most common trick in Turkish cities is the “broken meter”: a driver claims the meter does not work and names a high fixed fare. Photograph the licence plate before you get in; drivers typically comply with meter use once they know you have documentation.

Day 1: Kaleici (Old Town) and the Roman Harbour

Kaleici is the right base. The neighbourhood sits inside what remains of the ancient city walls and has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Ottoman-era houses with carved wooden balconies lean over streets that are genuinely too narrow for cars. The pedestrian experience is exceptional.

Start at Hadrian’s Gate (Hadriyanüs Kapisi), a triple-arched marble triumphal monument built in 130 AD to mark the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s visit to the city. It still has its original coffered ceilings. Walk through it from the Atatürk Boulevard side into Kaleici itself and then follow the old walls south toward the harbour.

The Roman Harbour at the base of the cliff is working again as a marina for gulets and tour boats. Stand on the quay and look back up at the cliff face; the Hidirlik Tower at the top is a 2nd-century Roman structure that served successively as a lighthouse, tomb, and bastion. Most visitors walk past it without stopping.

Afternoon: the Antalya Archaeological Museum, about 2 km west of Kaleici, holds one of the richest collections of ancient statuary in Turkey. The Perge Gallery alone justifies the visit: dozens of large marble statues recovered from the city you will visit tomorrow, including a stunning series of gods and emperors. Entrance is around 11 EUR (or the equivalent in Turkish lira at the gate). Opening times vary seasonally; check before going.

For dinner, Parlak Restaurant sits just outside the old walls and serves tandır kebab: lamb slow-cooked for hours in a clay oven until it falls off the bone: with piyaz (white bean salad dressed with tahini and lemon). This combination is Antalya’s signature meal and a regional dish you will not find prepared the same way anywhere else in Turkey. It packs with locals at lunch; slightly calmer in the evening.

7 Mehmet is an Antalya institution since 1958, useful if you want a broader range of Anatolian dishes in a formal setting. The mantı (tiny stuffed dumplings with yogurt and paprika butter) are very good.

Where to stay: Hotels in Kaleici range from small restored Ottoman guesthouses (Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel is reliably reviewed, rooms from around €80-120) to mid-range options near the walls. Staying outside Kaleici saves money but loses the atmosphere, which is the point of being in Antalya rather than a beach resort.

Day 2: Perge and Aspendos

Two of the most significant ancient sites on Turkey’s southern coast are within 45 minutes of Antalya and genuinely merit a full day.

Perge (25 km east, entrance around 11 EUR) was a major Hellenistic and Roman city. The site is large: a colonnaded main street 600 metres long, an agora with a round fountain at its centre, intact baths, and a substantial stadium that once held 12,000 spectators. The marble that the Archaeological Museum is full of came from here. Early morning is best: the columns cast long shadows on the paving stones and tour groups have not yet arrived.

Aspendos (45 km east) has the best-preserved Roman theatre in existence. Built around 155 AD by the local architect Zeno for the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the cavea seats roughly 15,000 and the stage building is almost completely intact with its two-story facade of columns and arches. It still hosts opera and folk performances during the summer Aspendos Festival (usually June and July). The entrance fee runs around the same as Perge.

Getting between sites without a tour: the cheapest option is the dolmus (minibus) from Antalya otogar to Aksu for Perge (runs frequently, under €1), then a taxi from Perge to Aspendos (negotiate beforehand; €25-35 is reasonable for the direct run). Return by dolmus from Serik. This takes planning and flexibility. A hired car or the organised day tours (which often add the town of Side) are simpler if your Turkish is limited.

A detail most guides miss: the Aspendos theatre was saved from ruin in the 13th century by the Seljuk Turks, who used it as a caravanserai. The elaborate interior decoration in red ochre that covers parts of the upper stage wall dates from this period, not from Roman times. The building is genuinely the product of two civilisations.

For lunch near the sites, local restaurants along the main road at Serik and Belkis serve standard kebabs at Turkish prices (significantly cheaper than anywhere in Kaleici). Dinner back in Antalya: Arma Restaurant at the old harbour is worth the splurge for the seafood and the view of the bay from the cliff-face terrace.

Day 3: Duden Waterfalls and the Hammam

Lower Duden Waterfall (Karpuzkaldiran) falls directly into the sea from a 40-metre cliff, which is unusual enough to be worth the short drive east of the city. A boat tour from the old harbour runs past the base of the falls and along the cliff coast, typically 1-2 hours for around €10-15 per person. The upper Duden Waterfall, about 12 km northeast of the city, is larger and set in a park with a gorge you can walk through.

Morning: a Turkish hammam is the right way to start the day if your legs are tired from two days of walking ancient ruins. The Salhane Hamamı in Kaleici is an authentic bathhouse, not a tourist spa, dating from Ottoman times. A full wash and massage runs €25-40; expect to be directed through the process by an attendant. The experience is not particularly private and involves a great deal of scrubbing.

The Cable Car (Tünek Tepe Teleferik): the gondola above the west of the city climbs 605 metres to the ridge with views across the bay and the Taurus Mountains. It is about 5 km from Kaleici by taxi. Worth the 30 minutes if the sky is clear.

Practical Notes

Currency: Turkey uses the Turkish lira (TRY). Card payments work at hotels and most restaurants in tourist areas; carry cash for markets, street food, dolmus, and smaller establishments. ATMs are common but cover your PIN and use machines attached to bank branches rather than standalone street units.

Weather: June through August is very hot (35-40°C at peak). The sea is at its warmest but the ruins at Perge and Aspendos have little shade. September and October offer the best balance of warm weather without the worst heat. Spring (April-May) is excellent.

Language: Turkish. Basic courtesy words are appreciated. Restaurant menus in Kaleici frequently have English translations; staff at hotels and tourist-facing businesses generally manage.

Getting around Antalya: the Antalya tram (AntalyaRay) connects the old town area with the museum to the west. Taxis within the city are metered; insist on the meter. Dolmus (shared minibuses) are cheap and run set routes; useful for the beach and the waterfalls.

Dress code: Kaleici is relaxed, but mosques require modest dress (shoulders and knees covered; shoes removed). The Yivli Minaret Mosque in the old town is the city’s landmark; it is actively used and visitors are welcome outside prayer times.

The single dish to prioritise is breakfast. A proper Turkish kahvalti: spread of white cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, eggs, honey, clotted cream, and freshly baked bread with tea: is available at several Kaleici cafes from around 7 am and costs €5-8. Skip the hotel buffet if you can and sit in a courtyard for it instead.