You may be heading to Antalya for an All Inclusive break, but if you don’t fancy spending all your time in the resort, there’s plenty on offer. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Antalya for every budget.
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The Best Things To Do in Antalya
If you want to explore your surroundings, there’s plenty to do here, from historic sights to beautiful nature spots and activities like rafting or a boat trip.
The Best Free Things To Do In Antalya
Visit Antalya’s Old Town
The Old Town, Kaleici, is a picturesque place with cobbled streets, buildings that date back to the Ottoman era and multiple cats. You don’t really need an itinerary – just enjoy wondering and getting lost for a while – and the authenticity is a nice contrast to the slickness of a resort.
Step back 2,000 years in time at Hadrian’s Gate
You’ll pass it as you enter the Old Town – Hadrian’s Gate is all that survives from the ancient Roman city walls that were once here. It was the main entrance to the city if you were arriving from the east, and it’s very grand – and used to be twice its current height. You can even see deep grooves in the stone on the ground made by chariot wheels.
Ride the panoramic elevator
Antalya is split between a high and low town – the city centre is perched on top of cliffs, high above the marina below – and there’s an elevator to transport you between the two. It’s free and you get to enjoy sea views the whole way – plus you don’t have to huff and puff doing the journey yourself. Close to the elevator at Kecili Park, there’s a glass viewing platform that gives you amazing views of the harbour, marina and Mermerli beach – if you can stomach it!
Watch the sunset
It never fails as a free activity on holiday – watching a sunset can be one of the most special moments of your whole trip, and it costs nothing! Head to the marina or the clifftop walls in Kaleici to watch the sky put on a show.
Check out the shops at Land of Legends theme park
If you’re staying around Belek, then you might spot Land of Legends theme park. If you don’t want to pay for a day out on the rides, you can still go to see its shopping area for free. So, why not take the kids to explore the fairytale castle and canals – and in the evenings there’s even a free light and water show.
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The Best Cheap Things To Do In Antalya
Sip a Turkish tea and snack on a simit
Try an authentic cay (Turkish tea) in one of Kaleici’s tea spots – somewhere like Cay-Tea’s Boutique Cafe – and try a simit (a bit like a bagel) too. It’s a cheap and cheerful way to get a slice of local life.
Barter at the bazaar
The Old Town has plenty of shops where you can buy traditional goods and souvenirs to take home – from leather items like bags and slippers to ceramics and spices.
Remember haggling is all part of the buying process here, so have a go – just know how much you’re prepared to spend and don’t be tempted to go over it!
Chase some waterfalls
Lower Düden Falls are an impressive cascade of water crashing from the Duden river into the Mediterranean sea below. This natural spot is just outside Antalya, and the easiest way to see them is to jump on a tour, which also takes you to see the Upper Düden Falls further inland. You can nab a ticket from about £7 and there’s even lunch thrown in.
- Waterfalls tour from £7
Check out an ancient Roman theatre
Around an hour away from Antalya, you’ll find the city of Aspendos, which has one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world. It dates back to 2AD if you can believe it! I’s still used for performances today, and at well over 2,000 years old, it’s definitely a cool place to tick off your list.
- Entry costs £13
The Best Affordable Things To Do In Antalya
Take a boat trip
In Antalya there are plenty of day cruises that take you out along the shoreline, including sights like the Lower Duden Falls as well as a few stops for a swim. This is a great way to get a change of scene from the hotel but not have to do anything very strenuous!
- Boat trip from £15
See Pamukkale cliffs
Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for white cliffs formed by thermal waters – the white colour is calcium that’s left behind. It’s a popular spot and you can visit it on a day trip from Antalya – just prepared to be out the whole day. It’s a cool experience to walk amongst the rocks barefoot, and it’s a very surreal and impressive sight.
- Pamukkale trip from £15
Chase some thrills on a rafting trip
For a hit of adrenaline go rafting or canyoning at nearby Köprülü Canyon. It’s calm enough for first timers and kids, and most tours incorporate a lunch by the river and transfers from your hotel, so it’s an easy place to add to your Antalya itinerary.
And if a bit of rafting doesn’t quite cut it for you, then book a combination adventure that packs in rafting, a jeep safari, ziplining and quad biking too.
- Rafting from £15
Ride the Olympos cable car
The Olympos cable car departs from near Kemer and climbs nearly 2,500 metres up into the mountain, giving you a jaw-dropping view back down over the Antalya coastline and the Med.
It’s around £38 for an adult ticket, and £27 for a child – which seems expensive for what it is, but the view at the top is one of a kind.
- Cable car ticket from £38
The Best Luxury Things To Do In Antalya
See a world-class dance show
The Fire of Anatolia is a Turkish dance group of over 100 dancers who have performed all over the world. They put on a select number of performances at the ancient Aspendos Theatre between April and November – so it’s worth checking if your trip coincides. Watch their breathtakingly fast dances and understand more about the history of Antalya and Turkey through dance.
- Show from £47 per person
Get scrubbed at a hamam
If you want a proper Turkish bath experience, with steam, scrubbing and maybe even a massage – then pop to a hammam. Be prepared you’ll probably need to get naked, and those therapists can be thorough, so just be prepared for a proper going over!
- Hammam from £47 per person
Ride the rollercoasters at Land of Legends
Go all in on a day out at Land of Legends theme park – it’s Turkey’s answer to Disneyland for a reason, and surprisingly dear which is why it’s in the luxury section. Burn off some energy by enjoying the water park slides and rollercoasters, and remember to stick around for the evening light and water show.
Ticket prices vary according to the season – you can get adult tickets from around £55 but in high summer that rises to as much as £77 – although you can get 10% off online.
- Entry from £55
Charter a boat
If you’ve got cash to splash, skip the shared boat trip and book a private charter along the dreamy Antalya coast instead. You’ll get a skipper to steer you all around, swim stops in little coves and lunch on board too.
- Boat charter from £389 for a group of six
Try Out The Best Things To Do in Antalya for Every Budget
Whether you’re planning to spend most of your holiday at your resort or you plan to venture out explore, keep these best things to do in Antalya in your back pocket for when you want to change things up.
From popping to the city for an affordable day exploring to splashing out on a treat like a boat trip, Antalya is waiting for you!
