Antalya tours and tickets
Antalya is a city of short, easy sights and a few longer outings. The old town, the museum and the waterfalls need no planning. The day trip to the Roman sites at Perge and Aspendos, and the boat from the old harbor, are the two things to arrange ahead in summer. Most museum entries are bought at the gate, and tour pickups from hotels are common.
Book these first
- Aspendos theater and Perge day trip
- a week ahead in high season. A guided minibus avoids parking and finds you shade.
- Boat trip from the old harbor
- a day or two ahead in summer. Small boats fill early in July and August.
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Museums and galleries
Antalya Museum
A large archaeological museum west of the center, with Roman statues from Perge, a hall of sarcophagi and finds from the Taurus coast. It is open most days, and an audio guide is sold at the desk.
Which to pick. Buy at the door and go in the morning before the heat. Give it two hours. It is the best background for the Perge trip, so see it before, not after.
Not needed, buy at the doorVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorKaleiçi old town walk
The old walled quarter of Ottoman houses, Hadrian's Gate and the Yivli Minaret. Guided walks last two or three hours and cover the harbor, the mosques and the back lanes.
Which to pick. Walk it alone for the atmosphere, and choose a guide only if you want the history of the gate and the houses explained. Early morning or evening is cooler.
On the day is fineVisitor guideTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Perge and Aspendos
Two Roman sites in one day. Perge has a stadium and a colonnaded street, and Aspendos has one of the best-preserved Roman theaters anywhere. Most tours add a stop at a waterfall or a lunch stop.
Which to pick. A small-group day tour fits both sites with transport and a guide, which beats public buses. Go in spring or autumn if you can, since summer midday is very hot.
A week ahead in high seasonOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorTermessos
A mountain city of the Pisidians, high in the Taurus, with a theater and tombs among pine trees. It is a steep walk on uneven paths, and sold as a half-day or full-day tour.
Which to pick. Choose it if you like walking and ruins without crowds. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Book a transfer or a small-group trip, because buses do not reach the site.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorDüden Waterfalls
The lower falls drop into the sea from a cliff in the city, and the upper falls sit in a park. Entry is simple and many city tours include a viewpoint stop.
Which to pick. Go by bus or taxi on your own, since a tour adds little. A boat that passes below the lower falls is sold in some trips from the harbor.
Not needed, buy at the gateTours and tickets on Viator
On the water
Old harbor boat trip
Boats from the old harbor sail along the cliffs, with swim stops in coves and lunch on board. Some trips last two hours and others run most of the day, with music or a barbecue.
Which to pick. Choose a morning boat with a swim stop for the cliffs. Ask about the length and the stops before you pay, since itineraries differ a lot.
A day or two ahead in summerTours and tickets on ViatorTünektepe cable car
A cable car rises from the coast to a hilltop above the bay, with a cafe at the top and a wide view of the mountains and the sea. It runs most days.
Which to pick. Take it near sunset for the light on the Taurus. Buy at the base station, because you can't reserve a time.
Not needed, buy at the stationTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
Turkish bath
A traditional hamam with a scrub and a foam massage, run in a few old-town buildings and many resort hotels. Sessions last about an hour, with a changing room and a towel.
Which to pick. Pick a hamam with fixed pricing posted at the desk and a clean reputation, and go in the late afternoon. Skip pushy touts near the harbor.
A day ahead in summerTours and tickets on ViatorKonyaaltı Beach
A long pebble beach west of the center, with the Taurus behind it, reached by tram. Sunbed rental and some boat trips start nearby.
Which to pick. You can simply turn up. Take the tram, rent a sunbed on the day, and keep the afternoon for the old town instead.
Not neededTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Antalya
- Museum Pass TürkiyeA national pass that covers many state museums and archaeological sites, including those on the Perge and Aspendos route in the Antalya region. It pays off if you visit several sites in a few days, and it can skip the box office queue. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Antalya
Do I need to book Aspendos and Perge ahead?
Not for entry, which you buy at each site. Book the transport. Tours and drivers fill in summer, so reserve a week ahead if you want a small group.
Is a hotel pickup included in tours?
Most day trips from Antalya collect you from your hotel or a nearby point. Check the pickup time and the return time before you pay, since both vary by season.
Is the museum pass worth buying?
Yes if you plan three or more sites, such as the museum, Perge and Aspendos. For one visit it is simpler to pay at the gate.
When is the best time of day for a boat trip?
The morning, before the afternoon wind and the heat. Boats usually leave between nine and eleven and return in the late afternoon, with a swim stop and lunch.
Can I cancel a tour if the weather turns bad?
It depends on the seller. Sea trips can be canceled by the operator in rough weather, with a refund or a new date. Read the terms before paying.
What can I leave until I arrive?
The old town walk, the museum, Konyaaltı and the cable car can all be done on the day. Book the Roman cities and any full-day boat first.