Places to See in Antalya: 5 Fantastic Routes That Will Make Your Holiday Unforgettable

Antalya is far more than hotel beach and buffet: ancient cities, waterfalls, mountain villages and one of Turkey’s most beautiful old towns all lie within day-trip range. Here are five routes that have emerged as favourites on our transfers — with realistic driving times from the airport and hotel zones.

Route 1: Kaleiçi & the harbour — historic Antalya

The old town of Kaleiçi is the perfect first outing: Ottoman timber houses, Hadrian’s Gate, the Roman harbour and countless cafés in lanes made for getting lost. In the evening the sunset turns the harbour golden — stay for it. From Lara or the city centre it’s just a 20–25 minute drive.

Route 2: Düden Waterfalls & Lara

The Lower Düden plunges straight into the sea — a photo you take from a boat or the cliff edge. Combine the waterfall with an afternoon on Lara beach and dinner with a sea view. Ideal for families: short distances, big impact.

Route 3: Side & Manavgat — antiquity meets bazaar

Side’s Temple of Apollo belongs in every Antalya photo album, especially at blue hour. Add the ancient theatre, the harbour promenade and, on the way back, the Manavgat waterfall or the grand bazaar. From the airport it’s around 65 km, roughly 55 minutes — everything about the Side region is on our destination page.

Route 4: Kemer, Phaselis & Olympos — mountains and bays

West of Antalya the coast turns dramatic: the Taurus mountains fall straight into the sea. The ancient harbour town of Phaselis with its three bays is a swimming spot with history; further south wait Olympos and the eternal flame of the Chimaera. Kemer is about 50 minutes away — details on the Kemer region here.

Route 5: Alanya — castle hill and Cleopatra Beach

The Seljuk castle above Alanya offers perhaps the best panorama on the Turkish Riviera, with the Red Tower and Cleopatra Beach below. At a good 95 minutes’ drive, Alanya is the classic full-day trip — an early start pays off. More on the Alanya region on our destination page.

Practical: day trips with a private driver

All five routes work with a hire car — they’re more relaxed with a private driver who waits while you sightsee: no parking hunts, no mountain-road nerves, air conditioning and cold water included. How a VIP transfer for excursions and shopping works is explained here — and the right vehicle class for your group is in the fleet overview.

One last tip: put the longest route (Alanya) in the middle of your holiday and start with Kaleiçi — the programme builds, and arrival fatigue never spoils the first trip. Book your airport transfer with a fixed price here.