8 Must-Do Excursions from Antalya

At just over two hours’ drive, the Lycian tombs are one of the easiest Antalya day trips. You’ll drive along a stunning stretch of coast, until you reach Demre, home to Ancient Myra City archaeological park with preserved tombs from over 2500 years ago. Explore the Indianna-Jones-worthy backdrop where final resting places cling to the steep hillside, marvelling at how the intricate carvings have survived and the size of the amphitheatre. In town, you’ll also find the Lycian Civilization Museum, which makes for a nice break from the heat in summer. You can always cool off with a dip in the water at taşdibi plajı, the town’s expansive, pebble beach backed by plenty of restaurants, before you head back to Antalya.

Perge is one of the easiest Antalya day trips, taking only an hour on public transport and just 20 minutes to drive. History buffs will delight in the vast site of ruins to be found at the ancient city of Perge. The Roman ruins date back over 3000 years and Alexander the Great is said to have graced the city with his presence. It’s a must-see spot with towering and atmospheric ruins, an enchanting amphitheatre set into the hillside. Not to mention mosaics, columns and arches galore. Entry is just 100 Turkish lira (~£4.40) and one of the best times of year to see it is in spring, when the whole site feels green and is carpeted in pretty wildflowers.

Another of the easiest and closest Antalya day trips is the Düden Park Waterfall, just under half an hour by bus from the city centre on a route that hugs the coastline. You’ll arrive at a pretty, municipal green space stretching along the clifftop, with fantastic views out to sea. The park is speckled with palm trees and plenty of benches for a picnic; some parts have wide, buggy/wheelchair-friendly paths while other parts are more suitable for walking. The main attraction here is the huge torrent of water, tumbling from the clifftop into the sea below, looking distinctly out of place in its urban surrounds. It’s the ideal, sunny spot for a walk and picnic, and to snap a photo of the impressive falls.

You’ll have noticed that this region of Türkiye has no shortage of antiquities. But the Kekova is a little different. Make your way to Demre, just over two hours along the coast from Antalya, and take a boat tour around the sunken ancient city of Kekova, which was first destroyed by an earthquake during the 2nd century, and then rebuilt and eventually abandoned. You can’t swim here, but you can take a boat or kayak through the semi-submerged antiquities, with parts of former buildings visible just under the surface or rising from the turquoise sea. Even if the ruins weren’t here, this is an incredibly stunning part of the coast, with gorgeous, wild islands that are beautiful to sail around.

At just under 3 hours away, the bustling seaside resort of Fethiye is a popular excursion from Antalya. This is some of the most beautiful and popular coast in Türkiye, with myriad hotels and restaurants lining the back of the long promenade. Besides fabulous food and drink with harbour views and colourful central streets lined with shops, there’s a museum, castle and more, stunning rock-carved tombs. You can also snap a picture in Umbrella Street, a pretty street installation near the fish market. If you have time after all the shopping and food sampling, head for the verdant, wooded peninsula for some of the best beaches in the area. Dip in the sparkling sea at coves like Kuleli Plajı and Boncuklu koyu.

Soar into the clouds and experience some of the best views in the region, all in an easy Antalya day trip. Just an hour’s drive from the city will land you at Olympos Teleferik cablecar station, where already, the view is pretty amazing. The cable car serves up some spectacular views as you travel 4350 metres to the peak of Mount Olympos or Tahtali Mountain (at an altitude of 2365 m). The journey only takes ten minutes and the result at the top is phenomenal, with a truly epic panorama from the observation deck. From here you can hike, mountain bike or even paraglide with the splendour of the Turkish countryside below.

Cappadocia is one of the most iconic sights in all of Türkiye, and it’s a bucket-list destination. It’s one of the longer excursions from Antalya by car (7.5 hours) but an internal flight will take you there in 1 hour 15 minutes, with early and late flights running for keen day-trippers. At this breath-taking open-air museum of Byzantine beauty, a Star-Wars-like scene greets you. There’s world of alien-esque rocks, sculpted by the wind, and mysterious cave dwellings in the Goreme Historical National Park. Walk the epic valleys, tour the remnants of ancient settlements or watch hundreds of hot air balloons rising above the exquisite landscape. You can book a quad bike tour, horseback excursion or dip into various museums.

Another one of the country’s less-hidden gems is the mesmerising UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pamukkale. As it’s only 3 hours by car or bus, it’s one of the most popular excursions from Antalya. Here, mineral-rich thermal waters flow down white travertine terraces. The otherworldly, sparkling-white terraces stand out in the green and amber landscape making for a spectacular panorama. You can bathe in the hot springs while you’re here, in either the public travertine pools, which are included with your entrance ticket, or Cleopatra's Pool. You’ll get two antiquities in one day trip, as the ancient city of Hierapolis is just next door. The former spa town was destroyed by an earthquake centuries ago but you can still see the well-preserved theatre, necropolis and tombs.