The Best Day Trips from Antalya

In short: From Antalya you can reach some of Turkey’s finest ancient sites in under an hour: Perge and the great Roman theatre of Aspendos. Add Side and the Manavgat waterfall for a full day. For nature, go rafting in Köprülü Canyon; for the sea, follow the coast west to Phaselis and Olympos, or take a long day to Demre and Kekova. Pamukkale is possible too, but it is a long day on the road.

Last checked: 10 November 2026. Distances and times are approximate.

Day trips at a glance

Perge and Aspendos

Perge, just outside the city, is a large ancient city with a long colonnaded street, Roman baths and a stadium. Aspendos, further east, has one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world; it is still used for concerts and performances today. The two fit easily into one day, and many tours add Side.

Side and the Manavgat waterfall

The old town of Side sits on a small peninsula, with the columns of the Temple of Apollo right by the sea, a lovely place at sunset. On the way, the Manavgat waterfall is a wide, low waterfall on the Manavgat River, with cafés and shady paths around it. River boat trips also run from Manavgat.

Rafting in Köprülü Canyon

In the mountains north-east of Antalya, the Köprüçay River runs through Köprülü Canyon National Park, past an old Roman bridge. Rafting trips here are fun rather than extreme, and many families do them. Most trips include transfers, equipment, a guide and lunch by the river; rafting runs in the warmer months.

Waterfalls in the city

The Düden waterfalls are the easiest trip of all: the upper falls are in a park, and the lower falls drop straight into the sea near Lara. The Kurşunlu waterfall, a little further out, sits in a green nature park. See our Düden waterfalls guide.

Termessos

High on a mountain in a national park, Termessos is an ancient city that Alexander the Great is said to have failed to conquer. Its theatre looks out over the peaks. Expect an uphill walk on rough paths; wear good shoes and take water.

West along the coast: Phaselis, Olympos and Kemer

Past Kemer, the ruins of Phaselis sit among pine trees around three small bays where you can swim. Further on, Olympos and Çıralı combine a long beach with ruins in the forest. A cable car also climbs Tahtalı mountain for wide views over the coast.

Demre, Myra and Kekova

A long but rewarding day: the Church of St Nicholas in Demre, the rock-cut tombs and theatre of ancient Myra, and a boat trip over the sunken city of Kekova, with ruins visible under the clear water. Most visitors join an organised tour for this one.

Pamukkale from Antalya

Many tours offer Pamukkale as a day trip, but it is several hours each way by road, so you will spend most of the day on the bus. If you can, stay a night near Pamukkale instead and see the terraces in the quieter morning or evening light.

What travellers say

• “Aspendos is unforgettable.” The theatre is the most praised sight near Antalya.
• “Rafting was the highlight for the kids.” Families often call Köprülü Canyon the best day of the trip.
• “Pamukkale in a day is too much.” Many wish they had stayed overnight.
• “Hire a car for the ruins.” With a car you can visit Perge and Aspendos at your own pace and avoid the busiest hours.

Summarised in our own words from travellers’ reviews and travel guides. We do not list prices, because they change often.

Day trips from Antalya: questions

More Antalya guides: Antalya · Antalya airport transfers · Kaleiçi

Cover photo: the Roman theatre of Aspendos, by Lee Vilenski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons