LOS ANGELES 7 Days Travel Guide
Why Antalya Works Better Than Most Turkish Resorts
Antalya is Turkey is Mediterranean playground—beaches, ancient ruins, all-inclusive resorts, and tourists from Russia, Germany, and the Gulf states. It is also surprisingly more than just resorts. The old town (Kaleiçi) has Ottoman-era charm, nearby ruins rival anything in Greece, and the food is excellent if you avoid hotel buffets.
Most people do a week-long beach resort vacation and never leave the compound. That is fine if you want poolside relaxation. But Antalya offers enough history, nature, and culture to fill a week beyond the beach chair.
This guide shows you how to balance beach time with exploration, where to eat actual Turkish food, and which ruins are worth the trip.
🌤️ Best Time to Visit Antalya
Spring (Apr-May): 18-26°C, warm enough for swimming, fewer crowds. Summer (Jun-Aug): 28-35°C, peak beach season, very hot, very crowded. Autumn (Sep-Oct): 22-30°C, ideal weather, sea still warm. Winter (Nov-Mar): 10-18°C, mild, off-season, many hotels closed but budget prices.
Day 1: Kaleiçi Old Town
Start in Kaleiçi, the historic old quarter. Narrow cobblestone streets, Ottoman houses converted to boutique hotels, restaurants, and shops. It is touristy but genuinely charming.
Hadrians Gate is a Roman-era archway from 130 AD marking the entrance to the old city. Free to walk through, worth a photo.
Walk down to the old harbor. Small marina with yachts, tour boats offering day trips, and waterfront restaurants. Scenic but overpriced for food. Better to eat inland in Kaleiçi streets.
Hidirlik Tower is a 2nd-century Roman tower, now just a stone structure you can walk around. The real value is the view over the harbor and Mediterranean.
Lunch: Skip the harbor restaurants. Walk into Kaleiçi side streets for places like Vanilla Lounge or Seraser Fine Dining for proper Turkish cuisine. Meze platters, grilled fish, kebabs.
Afternoon: Wander the old town. Shops sell carpets, ceramics, spices, leather goods. Bargaining expected. Do not pay the first price.
Day 2: Beaches (Choose Your Vibe)
Konyaaltı Beach is the long pebble beach west of the city center. Public, free, backdrop of mountains. Pebbles not sand, so bring beach shoes. Beach clubs rent loungers and umbrellas for 50-100 TL. Water is clear and clean.
Lara Beach is east of the city—sandy, more resort-heavy, popular with Russian tourists. Some sections are public, others belong to hotels. Good for families.
If you want pristine and less crowded, take a boat or drive to nearby beaches like Phaselis (combines beach with ancient ruins) or Olympos Beach (hippie vibe, treehouses, backpackers).
Beach clubs serve food and drinks. Prices are reasonable compared to Western Europe but higher than local restaurants.
Day 3: Perge and Aspendos Ruins
Perge is an ancient Greco-Roman city 15km east of Antalya. Well-preserved stadium, Roman baths, colonnaded streets, theater. Not as famous as Ephesus but far fewer tourists. Entry 100 TL.
The site is large—budget 2 hours. Bring water, hat, sunscreen. Minimal shade.
Aspendos is 45km from Antalya and has one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world. Still used for concerts and opera festivals. The acoustics are incredible—whisper on stage and hear it in the top row. Entry 100 TL.
You can visit both in one day by rental car or organized tour. Tours cost around 300-500 TL per person and include transport and guide. Self-driving is cheaper if you are comfortable navigating.
Day 4: Duden Waterfalls and Boat Trip
Upper Duden Waterfalls (Düden Şelalesi) are 10km north of the city center. Park with waterfalls, walking paths, caves behind the falls. Entry 20 TL. Popular with locals for picnics. It is pretty but not jaw-dropping.
Lower Duden Waterfalls are where the river drops directly into the Mediterranean. Best seen from a boat. Many boat tours from the old harbor visit the waterfall, cruise the coastline, and stop for swimming. Tours cost 100-200 TL and last 2-4 hours.
Boat trips are touristy but enjoyable. Lunch often included (mediocre quality). Bring sunscreen and swimsuit.
Day 5: Termessos (For the Adventurous)
Termessos is an ancient city built high in the mountains, 30km northwest of Antalya. It was never conquered—Alexander the Great tried and gave up because the location was too defensible.
The ruins are spectacular and the setting is dramatic—perched at 1000 meters with views over mountains and sea. Theater, temples, necropolis with tombs scattered on cliffs.
The downside: It is a hike. Steep, rocky, 30-40 minutes uphill from the parking area. Wear good shoes. Bring water. Only visit if you are reasonably fit and okay with effort.
Entry is 100 TL. Almost no tourists compared to other sites. If you like history and hiking, this is the best ruin near Antalya.
Day 6: Olympos and Chimaera Flames
Olympos is 80km south—a mix of ancient ruins and a beach. The ruins are scattered in a river valley leading to the sea. Entry 75 TL. Less impressive than Perge or Aspendos but the setting is beautiful.
The beach is pebbly but surrounded by mountains and forest. It is popular with backpackers staying in the nearby treehouses and bungalows.
After visiting Olympos, drive or hike to Chimaera (Yanartaş)—eternal flames coming out of the mountainside due to natural gas seeping through rocks. The flames have been burning for thousands of years. Entry 30 TL.
The hike to the flames is short (20 minutes uphill). Visit at dusk or night when the flames are more visible. It is a weird, cool natural phenomenon.
Day 7: Antalya Museum and Leisure
Antalya Museum is one of Turkey is best archaeology museums. Statues, sarcophagi, mosaics, coins from ancient Lycia, Pamphylia, and Rome. Well-organized, air-conditioned, and worth 2 hours. Entry 100 TL.
Afternoon: Relax. Go back to the beach, walk the old town, get a Turkish bath (hammam) at a traditional bathhouse. Sefa Hammam in Kaleiçi is well-regarded. Expect to pay 200-400 TL for the full treatment (scrub, foam massage, oil massage).
Evening: Dinner at a proper Turkish restaurant. Try piyaz (white bean salad, Antalya specialty), tandır kebab, or fresh grilled fish. Finish with baklava and Turkish coffee.
Getting Around Antalya
Trams connect the city center, old town, and Konyaaltı Beach. Cheap and efficient. Buy an Antalyakart (public transport card) for 20 TL and load credit.
Dolmuş (shared minibuses) go everywhere buses and trams do not. Pay the driver in cash. Fares are around 10-20 TL depending on distance.
Rental cars are useful for visiting ruins outside the city. Prices start around 300-500 TL per day. Roads are decent. Driving in Antalya city traffic is chaotic but manageable.
Taxis are available but can overcharge tourists. Agree on price before starting or insist on using the meter.
Food Reality
Hotel buffets are convenient but mediocre. Venture out to local restaurants for better quality and lower prices.
Must-try Antalya dishes: Piyaz (bean salad), tandır kebab (slow-cooked lamb), şiş köfte (grilled meatballs), fresh fish, gözleme (stuffed flatbread).
Turkish breakfast is a feast—cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, honey, jams, bread. Many hotels do this well.
Street food: Döner kebab, simit (sesame bread rings), roasted chestnuts, fresh pomegranate juice.
Money and Costs
Turkey uses Turkish Lira (TL). Exchange rates fluctuate. Check current rates.
Antalya is affordable. Budget meals 100-200 TL, mid-range dinners 300-500 TL. Beers 50-80 TL in bars, cheaper in supermarkets.
All-inclusive resorts range from budget (€30-50/night) to luxury (€200+/night).
Archaeological sites mostly cost 75-100 TL. Museum Pass covers many sites if you plan to visit several.
🗺️ Nearby Destinations from Antalya
Combine your Antalya trip with these nearby cities:
Final Truth
Antalya is a beach resort city. Accept that. But it is also a gateway to incredible ancient ruins, dramatic mountain scenery, and real Turkish culture if you make the effort to look beyond the all-inclusive compound.
Balance beach days with exploration. Eat at local restaurants. Visit at least one or two ancient sites. And you will leave with more than just a tan.