Antalya 7-day itinerary

Start at Hadrian's Gate, the ornate triple-arched Roman gate built in 130 AD. Walk through into Kaleiçi's labyrinth of cobblestone lanes, restored Ottoman mansions with wooden shutters, and tucked-away courtyards. Visit the Yivli Minare Mosque — the fluted 13th-century Seljuk minaret is the city's symbol. Grab a Turkish breakfast spread at Çakırlar Kahvaltı Evi (₺250 for two).

Descend to the Old Harbour where colourful fishing boats and gulet yachts bob in turquoise water. Walk or take the nostalgic tram to Antalya Museum (₺300) — one of Turkey's best archaeological museums. The Hall of the Gods features marble statues from Perge, including a stunning Heracles. Allow two hours. The Roman sarcophagi collection rivals anything in Rome itself.

Walk to Karaalioğlu Park, the clifftop green space stretching along the Mediterranean. Find a bench on the cliff edge for a spectacular sunset over the bay and Beydağları Mountains. Dinner at Parlak Restaurant near the bazaar — legendary İskender kebab since 1922 for ₺180. Evening stroll through the lamp-lit streets of Kaleiçi — the atmosphere after dark is magical.

Take a dolmuş (₺25) to Upper Düden Waterfall — a cascade plunging into a lush valley with walking paths behind the falls. The cool mist is glorious on a warm morning. Then head to Lower Düden Waterfall on the coast, where the river plunges directly off a cliff into the Mediterranean. The cliffside viewing platform gives you a front-row seat to one of nature's most dramatic scenes.

Antalya's main beach stretches 7km with the Taurus Mountains behind. The pebbly shore meets crystal-clear turquoise water. Rent a sunbed at a beach club (₺200–300) or use free public sections. Beach Park area has restaurants right on the shore. Cold Efes beer (₺100) and grilled fish sandwiches from beach vendors (₺80–120) are the perfect lazy afternoon combo.

Dinner at Vanilla Lounge on Hesapçı Sokak — a courtyard restaurant in a restored Ottoman house with meze plates (₺80–120 each) and grilled lamb (₺280). Then head to Bar Street in Selçuk Mahallesi. The rooftop bars overlooking the harbour and cliffs come alive after 10pm. Try a cocktail at Club Ally (₺180) or keep it simple with rakı and meze at a traditional meyhane.

Dolmuş from Antalya Otogar to Perge (₺20, 30 minutes) — a spectacular Greco-Roman city with a 15,000-seat stadium, colonnaded streets, Roman baths, and an agora. This is where many of the Antalya Museum's statues were found. The site is vast and uncrowded compared to Ephesus. Allow 2–3 hours to wander the ruins. Bring water — there's virtually no shade.

Continue to Aspendos (another ₺20 dolmuş, 30 minutes) — home to the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world. Built in 155 AD for 15,000 spectators, the acoustics are so perfect that a coin dropped on stage can be heard in the top row. Entry ₺300. Lunch at a roadside lokanta near Aspendos — home-cooked Turkish dishes like güveç stew and pide for ₺120–180.

If time allows, visit Manavgat Waterfall (₺15 entry) — a wide, powerful cascade perfect for cooling off. Then have dinner at one of the riverside fish restaurants in Manavgat town. Fresh trout grilled over charcoal with salad and bread for ₺200–300. Return to Antalya by dolmuş (₺30, 1.5 hours) — or take a taxi to split with other travelers.

Take a bus from Antalya Otogar to Olimpos (₺80, 1.5 hours) — a bohemian beach village nestled in a forested valley. Walk through the ancient Lycian ruins of Olympos (₺130 entry) — scattered amongst pine and laurel trees along a riverbed. The path leads to a pristine beach where the ruins meet the sea. This is Turkey at its most magical.

Walk or drive to neighbouring Çıralı — a protected beach backed by orange orchards and the Taurus Mountains. This is a sea turtle nesting site, so the beach remains undeveloped. Swim in the clear water, lunch at one of the beachfront pansiyons — gözleme (Turkish flatbread, ₺60) and fresh orange juice (₺40). The pace here is blissfully slow compared to Antalya.

At dusk, hike up to Yanartaş (Chimaera) — natural gas flames that have been burning from the rocky hillside for millennia. Ancient sailors used them as a lighthouse. The 30-minute uphill hike rewards you with dozens of flickering flames emerging from the rocks against a star-filled sky. Bring marshmallows — toasting them on the ancient flames is a backpacker tradition.

Early bus from Olimpos to Kaş (₺120, 3 hours) — one of the most scenic coastal drives in the Mediterranean. Kaş is a charming harbour town built around ancient Lycian rock tombs. Check into a pansiyon in the old town (₺800–1,200/night) and explore the narrow streets filled with bougainvillea, craft shops, and tucked-away cafes. The Lycian sarcophagus sits right in the main street.

Walk 20 minutes to Küçükçakıl Beach — a small pebbly cove with luminous water and a dramatic cliff backdrop. Or head to the Limanağzı area for swimming platforms cut into the rocks over deep turquoise water. The cliff-jumping spots near the harbour are popular with locals. Rent snorkelling gear (₺100) and explore the underwater caves and rocky coastline.

Kaş comes alive at dusk. Walk along the harbour where wooden gulets are moored. Dinner at Bahçe Balık on the waterfront — fresh fish, meze, and rakı with views across to Meis island (₺400–600 for a full spread). The antique theatre above town offers a quiet spot for sunset. Afterwards, the cosy bars along Uzun Çarşı Street serve cocktails from ₺150.

Book a boat trip to Kekova and the Sunken City (₺400–600 full day, including lunch). The boat cruises along the turquoise coast past Lycian rock tombs carved into cliffsides, then over the submerged ruins of Simena — ancient walls visible through the crystal water. Stop at Kaleköy, a tiny village accessible only by boat, with a Byzantine castle perched above.

The boat makes multiple swimming stops in secluded bays. The water is impossibly clear — you can see the bottom at 10+ metres. Lunch is typically fresh fish or chicken with salad served on board. Some tours include kayaking over the sunken city, which gives you a closer view of the submerged ruins. Return to Kaş harbour by late afternoon.

Take the evening bus from Kaş back to Antalya (₺120, 3.5 hours). The coastal road is stunning at sunset — try to get a window seat on the right side. Arrive in Antalya and settle back into Kaleiçi. Grab a late dinner at one of the kebab shops near the clock tower — Dönerciler Çarşısı has several open late with döner kebabs from ₺80.

Rent a car or join a group tour (₺300) to Termessos, 34km northwest in the mountains — a remote hilltop city that even Alexander the Great couldn't conquer. The ruins cling to a mountainside at 1,000m elevation surrounded by pine forest. The theatre overlooking a sweeping mountain panorama is one of the most dramatic ancient sites you'll ever see.

Return to Antalya for a final afternoon at Mermerli Beach — the tiny beach accessible through Mermerli Restaurant in Kaleiçi (₺100 entry includes a drink). It's the most scenic swimming spot in the city centre, tucked beneath the cliffs. Shop for souvenirs — hand-painted ceramics, Turkish delight from the bazaar, and saffron from the Spice Market.

Final dinner at 7 Mehmet — a beloved local institution since 1942 serving traditional Antalyan cuisine. Try piyaz (white bean salad with tahini — the city's signature dish), şiş kebab, and künefe for dessert (hot cheese pastry with syrup). End the evening with Turkish coffee in a Kaleiçi courtyard café as the call to prayer echoes across the old town.