Things to Do in Antalya (2026): Best Trips, Free Sights & Prices

Looking for the best things to do in Antalya? The city and the coast around it pack in Roman ruins, waterfalls that fall straight into the sea, boat trips, canyons, a cable car to a 2,365-metre summit and long beaches.

Quick answer: the best things to do in Antalya are walking around Kaleiçi old town and the old harbour (free), seeing the Düden waterfalls, a boat trip past the falls or to Suluada island, a day at Perge, Aspendos and Side, the Olympos cable car near Kemer and rafting in Köprülü Canyon. Most guided trips with hotel pickup cost about £15–55 per person online. Pamukkale is possible as a very long day trip. Note that the Antalya Museum and the Tünektepe cable car are closed in 2026.

Things to do in Antalya at a glance

Free things to do in Antalya

Some of the best things to do in Antalya cost nothing at all:

• Kaleiçi old town. Walk the lanes of the walled old town, with Ottoman houses, small hotels and cafés. Enter through Hadrian’s Gate, built for the Roman emperor’s visit in AD 130, and look for the Fluted Minaret (Yivli Minare) and the clock tower.
• The old harbour. Below Kaleiçi, the Roman harbour is full of gulets and fishing boats. It is lovely at sunset and is where the walk-up boat trips leave from.
• Lower Düden Waterfall. In Lara, the Düden River drops about 40 metres off the cliffs straight into the sea. The clifftop park is free and open all day. Our Duden Waterfalls guide explains both falls.
• Karaalioğlu Park. A clifftop park next to Kaleiçi with sea views and Hıdırlık Tower; a good place to watch the sun set over the mountains.
• Konyaaltı Beach. A long pebble beach west of the centre with a promenade, cafés and the Taurus Mountains as a backdrop. Sunbeds cost extra but the beach is public.

Boat trips from Antalya

A day on the water is one of the most popular things to do in Antalya. Choose the trip by what you want to see:

• Old harbour to the Düden falls. Walk-up boats from the old harbour charge roughly ₺600 to ₺1,200 for the two-hour trip along the cliffs, which passes in front of the lower falls but not close (2026, reports differ). The cheaper 45-minute trips, about ₺300 to ₺600, usually turn back before the waterfall.
• Suluada island. A full day to the clear water and white beach of Suluada off Adrasan. It is about two hours each way by road, so pick a tour with pickup. Read our Suluada boat trip guide or check Suluada tours.
• Pirate boat from Lara. A fun family day with swim stops, lunch and a foam party; the Lara pirate boat trip picks up from the Lara area.
• Green Canyon. A boat trip on a turquoise reservoir in the mountains above Manavgat. It is easiest from Side or Alanya; this Green Canyon jeep and boat day is rated 4.9 from over 4,000 reviews. Read our Green Canyon boat trip guide before you book.

Day trips from Antalya: history and big sights

• Perge, Aspendos and Side. Three of the best ancient sites on the coast in one day, including the Aspendos theatre, one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world. Tours start from about £16, but check whether the entrance fees (about €15 for Aspendos and €11 for Perge) are included. Full details in our Aspendos tour guide.
• Pamukkale. The white travertine terraces and the Roman city of Hierapolis. It is a long day of 11–14 hours with 3–3.5 hours on the coach each way. Read is a Pamukkale day trip worth it? before you book.
• Termessos. A Roman-era city high in the mountains northwest of Antalya, in a national park. It is a real hike over rough paths, but the views and the quiet are special. This guided Termessos hike is rated 5 out of 5 from over 200 reviews.
• Antalya city tour. If you are staying in a resort, a guided day combines Kaleiçi, the Düden waterfall and a boat trip or the Olympos cable car. This city tour starts from about £21 with hotel pickup and lunch.

Adventure: rafting, the cable car and canyons

• Köprülü Canyon rafting. About 1.5 hours from Antalya, the river in Köprülü Canyon National Park has gentle rapids that suit beginners and families. Most trips combine about 14 km of rafting with a zipline and an optional jeep, quad or buggy ride. This 4-in-1 rafting tour is rated 4.7 from over 3,700 reviews and starts from about £15–19 with lunch. Our Antalya rafting guide covers age limits and what to bring.
• Olympos cable car (Tahtalı Mountain). Near Kemer, a cable car climbs from 726 metres to the 2,365-metre summit in about 10 minutes. On a clear day you can see much of the coast. The official adult ticket is ₺2,456 (about £38) in 2026; tickets with optional hotel pickup start from about £36 online. It can be cold and windy at the top even in summer, and it closes in bad weather. Our Olympos cable car guide has the opening times and how to get there.
• Sapadere Canyon and Dim Cave. From Alanya, a day to a narrow canyon with waterfalls, a cave and lunch by the Dim River; the 3-in-1 Sapadere tour is rated 4.5 from over 4,000 reviews.

Things to do in Antalya with kids

• Land of Legends. The big theme park and water park in Belek. Book tickets online, arrive before the gates open and note that the evening shows outside are free. Read our Land of Legends guide or check Land of Legends tickets.
• Pirate boat and beach days. Short boat trips with swim stops work well for younger children; for teenagers, the rafting tours above are a big hit.
• Antalya Aquarium. Near Konyaaltı Beach, with a long tunnel tank. It is a good choice for a hot afternoon or a rare rainy day.

For family areas, the best months and car seats on the airport transfer, read our full guide to Antalya with kids.

Relaxing things to do

• A Turkish bath. A traditional hamam with a scrub and foam massage is the perfect way to end a holiday. Many hotels have one, but stand-alone hamams with pickup are often better value; see our Turkish bath guide or check hamam experiences.
• Beach days. Konyaaltı is pebbly with mountain views; Lara is long and sandy, with hotels along most of it and public beach parks in between.
• Sunset in Kaleiçi. Have dinner or a drink on one of the terraces above the old harbour.

What is closed in Antalya in 2026

Two well-known sights are closed, even though older websites still list them:

• Antalya Museum. The archaeology museum closed in July 2025 and the old building has been knocked down to make way for a new one. The Minister of Culture and Tourism said on 1 November 2026 that the new museum is due to open in 2027. No date has been given. Many of its famous finds came from Perge, so the site itself is the best alternative for now.
• Tünektepe cable car. The cable car at the western end of Konyaaltı has been closed since an accident in April 2024. A new system is planned, but there is no confirmed opening date. City tours that include a cable car use the Olympos cable car near Kemer instead.

Things to do near your resort

Where you stay changes which trips are easy. Each of our transfer guides has a section on what to do nearby, and our guide to where to stay in Antalya compares the areas:

• Lara: the Düden falls, the pirate boat and Kaleiçi are all close.
• Belek: Land of Legends and Aspendos are on your doorstep.
• Side: Side old town, the Green Canyon and Manavgat waterfall.
• Kemer: the Olympos cable car, Phaselis and boat trips to the bays.
• Alanya: Sapadere Canyon, Dim Cave and the castle.
• Antalya city: most tours on this page pick up from city hotels.

Tips for booking tours in Antalya

• Compare the total price. Cheap headline prices often leave out entrance fees or the boat or cable car option.
• Check the pickup area. Many tours only collect from certain resorts, or charge more from Side and Alanya.
• Expect a shopping stop. Many budget tours visit a leather, silver or jewellery shop. You never have to buy anything; our Antalya scams guide lists the common traps.
• Carry some cash. Euros or lira help with fees and tips; read euros or lira in Turkey.
• Pick the right month. July and August are very hot for ruins and canyons, so go early in the day. Spring and autumn are ideal; see Antalya weather by month.
• Prefer your own pace? A hire car makes Termessos, Phaselis and the cable car easy; see our car hire guide.

Planning your week in Antalya

Start with the free classics: Kaleiçi, the old harbour and the Düden falls. Then add one boat day, one history day at Perge, Aspendos and Side, and one adventure such as the Olympos cable car or Köprülü rafting. Book well-reviewed tours with pickup from your resort, compare the total price and avoid the midday heat in summer.

FAQ: things to do in Antalya

What is Antalya best known for?

Antalya is best known for its beaches, Kaleiçi old town and the Roman harbour, the Düden waterfalls and its ancient sites such as Perge and Aspendos. It is also the gateway to resorts like Belek, Side, Kemer and Alanya.

What can you do in Antalya for free?

You can walk around Kaleiçi old town and Hadrian’s Gate, watch the sunset from the old harbour or Karaalioğlu Park, see the Lower Düden Waterfall in Lara and spend the day on Konyaaltı Beach, all for free.

Is the Antalya Museum open in 2026?

No. The Antalya Museum closed in July 2025 and is being rebuilt. The Minister of Culture and Tourism said on 1 November 2026 that the new museum is due to open in 2027, with no date given yet, so check before you go.

Is the Antalya cable car open?

The Tünektepe cable car in Konyaaltı has been closed since April 2024. The Olympos cable car (Tahtalı Mountain) near Kemer is open, weather permitting, and the official adult ticket costs ₺2,456 (about £38) in 2026.

How many days do you need in Antalya?

Three to four days is enough to see Kaleiçi, the Düden waterfalls, a boat trip and Perge, Aspendos and Side. Add more days for Pamukkale, the Olympos cable car or rafting.

More AYT Survival Guides

• Antalya with Kids: Best Areas, Months & Family Days Out
• Antalya Rafting in Köprülü Canyon: Prices, Tours & Tips
• Olympos Cable Car (Tahtalı): Tickets, Prices & Times
• Green Canyon Boat Trip: Prices, Tours & Tips
• Duden Waterfalls Antalya: Boat Trips, Tours & Prices
• Aspendos Tour from Antalya: Perge, Aspendos & Side
• Pamukkale Day Trip from Antalya: Is It Worth It?
• Turkish Bath in Antalya: What to Expect & Prices

Sources: tour details, ratings and prices from GetYourGuide listings; harbour boat prices from Antalya Kent Haber’s 2026 report and a Kaleiçi harbour operator listing; the Upper Düden entrance fee from Antalya Körfez (August 2026); Antalya Museum status from Türkiye Today and local press; Tünektepe cable car status from Antalya local news; Olympos cable car gate prices from 2026 operator and agency listings and the official Olympos Teleferik website. Checked on 10 October 2026; Düden prices rechecked on 29 October 2026; museum reopening date rechecked on 11 November 2026. Prices change quickly in Turkey, so always confirm before you pay.

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