Antalya Activities: Ruins, Coast and Hills

October 18, 2026

Start in Kaleiçi

Antalya is a large modern city on the Mediterranean with a small walled old town, Kaleiçi, at its core. Plan the first morning there. Hadrian’s Gate (Üçkapılar) is a triple-arched Roman gateway from AD 130 and costs nothing to see. The lanes behind it lead down to the old harbour, past Ottoman houses, small museums and the fluted red-brick Yivli Minare, which dates from about 1230. The Mevlevihane Museum in the same complex is free. Turkey’s government travel warnings cover the Syrian and Iraqi border strips, far from Antalya, so the usual seasonal care (sun, heat, summer wildfire news) is the main thing to watch.

Two closures are worth knowing before you plan. The Antalya Museum has been closed since July 2025 and has no reopening date. The Tünektepe cable car above Konyaaltı is closed too. For views, walk the clifftop paths of Karaalioğlu Park beside Kaleiçi, which are free.

Ruins around the city

Perge, Aspendos and Side are the three big Roman sites within an easy drive. State sites charge foreign visitors in euros: Perge is €11 and Aspendos €15. Open hours are roughly 08:00 to 19:00 in summer. Go early, because the white stone gives almost no shade. The attraction tours page covers tickets, the MuseumPass and each site in more detail.

On the water and in the hills

Phaselis (about 55 km south-west, €10): three small harbours among pines, and swimming from the bays beside the ruins is common. It combines ruins and a beach in one stop.
Köprülü Canyon rafting (about 90 km, roughly 1.5 hours by road): boat trips run on the Köprüçay river, with the rafting stretch reported at 7 to 10 km. Guide sites describe it as suitable for beginners and families. The river is cold, so expect a helmet, life jacket and briefing from the operator. Check prices when you book, because they vary widely.
Olympos Teleferik near Tekirova and Kemer (about 57 km from the city): a cable car up Mount Tahtalı to 2,365 m. Hours are 09:00 to 18:00 from June to September and shorter in winter, and maintenance closures are posted on the operator’s timetable page . It is much cooler at the top, so bring a windproof layer. Check the operator for the current ticket price.
Harbour boat trips: short cruises leave the old marina and run along the cliffs. Some go east to the mouth of Lower Düden, where the river drops about 40 m off a cliff straight into the sea. You see it from the boat.
Hiking and climbing: the Lycian Way ends near Geyikbayırı, about 25 km west of the city, which also has hundreds of bolted climbing routes. Spring and autumn are the comfortable seasons.

The Düden falls

There are two Düden Waterfalls. Upper Düden in Kepez is a ticketed park, with a walkway behind the fall when it is open. Lower Düden in Lara is a free park open all day, with fenced viewing points over the drop into the sea. At both, stay behind the barriers and enjoy the view. The operator advises against swimming under either fall.

Beaches

Konyaaltı is a free beach about 7 km long and made of pebbles rather than sand, backed by the Akdeniz Boulevard promenade. Water shoes make the entry much easier. Lara, east of the city, is sandy and is lined mostly with resort hotels, though public sections have sunbeds for rent.

Getting around

The Antray tram (line T1) links the airport, the city centre and the bus station. Buy an AntalyaKart before you board, because there is no cash on board. Dolmuş minibuses take lira cash. The nostalgic T2 tram is suspended and buses cover its route.

To compare guided options, search for Antalya tours on GetYourGuide . The Ministry of Culture and Tourism lists Phaselis hours and tickets.