Antalya Holidays

Köprülü Canyon near Serik is where many visitors swap the beach for cold river water and a paddle. Rafting routes pass through wooded canyon scenery and Class II and III rapids, with calmer stretches in between to catch a breath and take in the surroundings.

For something more physical, trips around Köprülü Canyon often combine canyoning with ziplining and rafting. Visitors spend part of the day scrambling through rocky sections and getting wet before crossing the canyon by zipline, making this a good choice for those who enjoy being constantly on the move.

Suluada is best enjoyed from the water. Boats leaving from Adrasan stop in small bays where passengers can jump straight into the clear Mediterranean, swim or snorkel for a while, then dry off on deck before moving on to the next cove.

Paragliding above Kleopatra Beach in Alanya gives a completely different view of Antalya’s coastline. After take-off, the busy beachfront quickly falls away below, replaced by open sea, the curve of the shore and long views across the town before the flight returns towards the coast.

Konyaaltı is a handy place for visitors who want more than a swim. Jet skiing and windsurfing are available along the beachfront, while diving takes things below the surface, where the pace changes completely and the Mediterranean becomes quieter than the busy shore above.

The Lycian Way passes through some of the Antalya region’s most memorable coastal country, including stretches near Kemer, Çıralı and Olympos. Visitors do not need to tackle the whole route. Even a shorter walk can include pine-covered hills, ancient ruins and open Mediterranean views.

The Olympos Teleferik near Kemer climbs Tahtalı Mountain surprisingly quickly, leaving the warm coast far below. At the top, the air feels different and the scale of the landscape becomes obvious, with the Taurus Mountains on one side and the Mediterranean stretching out on the other.

Kekova is one of those places where the boat ride is part of the sightseeing. Routes between Kaş and Demre pass quiet coves, Simena’s hillside castle and ancient remains visible beneath the water, with swimming stops giving passengers time away from the deck.

Hadrian’s Gate feels almost misplaced among the traffic and shops of modern Antalya. Built in 130 CE for Emperor Hadrian’s visit, its three marble arches still lead directly into Kaleiçi, making the jump from present-day city streets to Roman Antalya surprisingly immediate.

The fluted Yivli Minaret is hard to miss when walking around Antalya’s old centre. It belongs to a wider Seljuk complex of religious buildings, including a mosque, tombs, madrasas and a Mevlevi lodge, rather than standing as an isolated monument.

The first thing that stands out at Perge is its size. Long colonnaded streets lead past baths, agoras and old water channels, while the theatre and vast stadium show just how important the city once was. Many sculptures found here now sit in Antalya Museum.

Aspendos Theatre tends to steal the attention, and for good reason. Rows of stone seating rise almost intact around the stage, giving a rare sense of how a Roman audience experienced the space. Beyond it, aqueducts and other remains spread across the ancient city.

Reaching Termessos involves more effort than most ruins around Antalya, but the mountain setting changes the whole experience. The ancient city sits high above the surrounding countryside, with a theatre, tombs and temples scattered among the slopes. It is also on UNESCO’s Tentative List.

At Phaselis, ancient ruins sit unusually close to the sea. The old road runs between three former harbours, passing a theatre, agora and other Roman remains beneath the trees. It is easy to see why this coastal position mattered to a trading city.

Olympos does not reveal itself all at once. Ruins appear between trees and beside the river as the path approaches the beach, including tombs, walls and the remains of a temple gateway. The slightly overgrown setting gives the former port a character quite different from larger archaeological sites.

Near Demre, Myra is remembered for its rock-cut Lycian tombs, many carved directly into the cliff above the Roman theatre. Nearby, St Nicholas Church adds a completely different chapter, linked to the bishop of Myra who later became associated with the story of Santa Claus.

Xanthos and Letoon are best visited together because their histories are closely connected. Xanthos served as an important Lycian capital, while Letoon was its religious centre. Temples dedicated to Leto, Apollo and Artemis survive here, and both sites share UNESCO World Heritage status.

Few ancient sites blend into everyday resort life quite like Side. Roman streets, columns and the large theatre sit beside cafés, shops and the waterfront, while the remains of temples appear near the harbour. Visitors can wander through centuries of history without leaving the modern town.

Patara spreads across a broad archaeological area close to one of the region’s longest beaches. Once an important Lycian city, it contains a theatre and other civic remains, while the protected shoreline nearby is also an important nesting area for Caretta caretta sea turtles.

Around Simena and Kekova, part of the history is best seen from the water. Stone steps, walls and building remains can still be spotted beneath the surface, while Simena’s castle rises above the small settlement of Kaleköy, looking out across the scattered islands and coves.

Alanya Castle wraps around the rocky peninsula above the town, so the setting is as memorable as the fortress itself. Its walls reflect several periods of occupation, although the strongest impression comes from the Seljuk era, when Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad greatly expanded the complex.

In Elmalı, Ömer Paşa Mosque offers a change from the Roman and Lycian ruins found closer to the coast. Its painted details, carved decoration and Ottoman design give visitors a look at another period of Antalya’s history, tucked into the quieter mountain town.

AKS gives Antalya a noticeably contemporary cultural space away from the old town and archaeological sites. Its galleries regularly change with Turkish and international exhibitions, while talks, workshops and other events bring people into the building for more than simply looking at art.

Inside Kaleiçi, this small museum feels closely tied to the neighbourhood around it. Restored buildings hold displays on local traditions, ceramics, paintings and photography, while the old Saint George church in the garden occasionally becomes a setting for exhibitions and cultural events.

A hammam visit is quite different from a conventional spa treatment. There is plenty of steam, followed by a firm scrub and clouds of soap foam on the heated stone. Older bathhouses around Kaleiçi add surroundings that make the ritual feel rooted in local tradition.

Turkish coffee arrives small, dark and with a thick layer of grounds left at the bottom. Once the cup is finished, it may be turned upside down and read for shapes and signs, keeping a playful fortune-telling tradition alive alongside the everyday habit of drinking coffee.

Mosaic lamp workshops turn one of Türkiye’s familiar decorative objects into something visitors can make themselves. Small pieces of coloured glass are arranged into patterns by hand, usually in a relaxed workshop setting where tea, conversation and a slightly uneven first attempt are all part of it.

Kilims are easy to spot around Kaleiçi, stacked in shops or hanging from walls in a jumble of colours and patterns. Looking more closely reveals the weaving and detail behind them, and browsing often comes with tea and a conversation about where individual pieces were made.

Opera, ballet, classical music and theatre have a regular place in Antalya rather than appearing only for tourists. The city has its own state orchestra, opera and ballet company and theatre, with some larger performances moving into historic settings such as Aspendos.

Art in Antalya is not confined to one large museum. Smaller galleries appear around Kaleiçi and elsewhere in the city, while municipal spaces host changing exhibitions of painting and sculpture. At certain times of year, displays also spill outdoors into parks and public areas.

Usually held in September, this major festival brings opera and ballet to the ancient theatre of Aspendos. Evening performances return the Roman venue to its original purpose, with the stone auditorium and open sky becoming part of the experience.

Held each May, the festival welcomes theatre companies from Türkiye and overseas to venues across Antalya. Alongside full productions, the programme often includes workshops and outdoor performances, giving visitors several ways to experience contemporary theatre during their stay.

The Phaselis Festival takes place in September, bringing live music into the ancient city near Kemer. Concerts are staged among the archaeological remains and typically mix classical, traditional and world music in a setting surrounded by pine forest and Mediterranean coastline.

Held in October, the Golden Orange Film Festival is one of Türkiye’s longest-running cinema events. Screenings, filmmaker talks, workshops and other cultural activities take place around Antalya, bringing established names and emerging filmmakers together for one of the city’s biggest arts events.

Each October, Kaleiçi’s historic streets fill with concerts, exhibitions, dance and cultural events. The festival also brings representatives from historic cities around the world together, making Antalya’s old town feel especially lively for several days.

Usually held in November, the International Antalya Piano Festival brings leading Turkish and international musicians to the city. Classical piano remains central to the programme, although jazz, Latin music and other styles regularly broaden the performances beyond traditional recitals.

Running from May to October, Antalya’s sand sculpture festival fills a large exhibition space with enormous works created around a changing theme. Evening lighting makes the sculptures particularly striking, while Sandland continues to display sand art outside the main festival period.

Usually held in late spring or early summer, Akra Jazz Festival brings Turkish and international musicians to an open-air stage in Antalya. Jazz sits at the centre, with funk, soul, Latin and world music also appearing across the programme.

The Land of Legends in Kadriye is difficult to do quietly. Rollercoasters, pools and water slides keep the parks busy through the day, then the atmosphere shifts after dark when the shopping avenue fills with fountains, illuminated boats, music and evening performances.

Antalya Aquarium is more than a quick look at fish tanks. Visitors walk through its long underwater tunnel with marine life overhead and on both sides, then move on to areas devoted to reptiles and Snow World, where the temperature drops along with the scenery.

Near Konyaaltı, Aktur Park has the familiar feel of a traditional funfair. There are bumper cars, faster rides and a large Ferris wheel that stands out above the park. It tends to come alive later in the day, once the afternoon heat begins to ease.

After dark, Kaleiçi becomes much louder than its daytime version. Music drifts from bars tucked into old buildings, tables spill into courtyards and the streets around the harbour stay busy late into the evening. Different venues sit close enough together to wander between them.

Beach clubs around Konyaaltı and Lara keep the coast busy after the sun starts dropping. Days spent on loungers often roll into dinner, drinks and music without much change of setting, particularly in summer when many venues continue well into the evening.

Watching a performance at Aspendos feels very different from visiting the theatre during the day. The ancient stone seating fills again for opera, ballet and large productions, including the International Opera and Ballet Festival, giving the Roman theatre a working life rather than leaving it as ruins.

Summer concerts in Antalya often move outdoors once the evenings become warm. Venues such as Konyaaltı Open Air Theatre and Arif Nihat Asya Open Air Theatre host live performances, while resort hotels and other spaces add their own music programmes throughout the busier months.

Not all of Antalya’s entertainment depends on summer weather. Antalya Cultural Centre, Haşim İşcan Cultural Centre and the Glass Pyramid host concerts, theatre, ballet, exhibitions and festival events during the year, giving visitors somewhere to look when they want an evening away from the beachfront.