Antalya Day Trips: Perge, Aspendos and Side
Which trips fit in one day
From Antalya, the day trips that work are the ancient cities and coastal sites within about 90 km. Anything much farther is better treated as an overnight. Distances below are by road, and summer heat is the main constraint, so start early. State sites charge foreign visitors in euros.
East of the city: Perge, Aspendos and Side
- Perge (about 18 km, 20 to 30 minutes): a Roman stadium, twin gate towers and a colonnaded street. Foreign adults pay €11, and the theatre is closed for restoration.
- Aspendos (about 47 km, roughly 45 minutes): a very well preserved Roman theatre. Foreign adults pay €15.
- Side (about 76 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes): a resort town built among Roman ruins, with a harbour-point temple area that is popular at sunset. The combined museum and site ticket is €10.
Perge and Aspendos make a comfortable half day. Adding Side makes a full day with a lot of driving, and it works best with a morning start and a late lunch by the sea.
North-west: Termessos
Termessos is a mountain city about 38 km north-west of Antalya, reached by a winding road. It costs €3 for foreign adults and is much quieter than the coastal sites. The path from the car park is steep and rocky, and the ticket office closes earlier than at other sites: 17:00 in summer and 15:30 in winter. Bring water and good shoes.
South-west: Phaselis, Olympos and Yanartaş
- Phaselis (about 55 km, near Tekirova): ruins around three small harbours among pine trees, for €10. Swimming in the bays beside the ruins is common.
- Olympos and Yanartaş (about 80 km south via Kemer, near Çıralı): the Olympos ruins cost €10. Yanartaş is a hillside of natural gas flames reached by a climb of 30 to 45 minutes, best after dark with a torch. The entry fee is unconfirmed, so check at the gate. The nesting beach at Çıralı is closed to the public at night during the nesting season, which in 2026 ran from 20:00 to 08:00 through September.
Phaselis and Olympos fit together in a long coastal day.
Inland: Köprülü Canyon
Köprülü Canyon National Park is about 90 km from the city, roughly 1.5 hours by road. Rafting is the main draw, and guide sites call it suitable for beginners and families. Operators supply helmets and life jackets. The river is cold even in summer.
Closer to town
Kurşunlu Waterfall is about 20 km from the city, around 30 minutes away. Lower Düden Park in Lara is free and fenced, and the river there drops about 40 m into the sea.
A very long day: Pamukkale
Pamukkale and the Hierapolis ruins are about 225 to 250 km away, roughly 3 to 4 hours in each direction. Commercial day tours exist, but expect a day of 12 to 15 hours, much of it in a vehicle. The combined ticket for the travertine terraces and Hierapolis is €30. An overnight in Pamukkale village or Denizli is far more comfortable. Cleopatra’s Antique Pool is a separate ticket whose status and price should be confirmed before you plan around it.
Trips that need a night
Cappadocia is 8 to 9 hours away by road, so it needs at least two nights. Kaş and the Kekova boat tours are about 3 hours or more each way. Saklıkent Gorge is in Muğla province, on the Fethiye side. See the multi-day trips page for these.
Read more: Attraction tours in Antalya .
Compare packaged tours by searching Antalya day trips on Viator . Perge hours are on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism page . For distances and park details see the Köprülü Canyon article on Wikipedia .