Türkiye / Turquoise Coast / AntalyaAntalya
Kaleiçi Old Town, Waterfalls and the Riviera's Airport
The big city of the Turkish Riviera and its main airport (AYT), with flights from Istanbul all day and from across Europe and Russia. The old walled quarter of Kaleiçi has Ottoman houses, Hadrian's Gate and a Roman harbour; Konyaaltı and Lara beaches run either side, and the Düden waterfalls drop into the sea. Perge, Aspendos and Termessos are day trips. Several Indian restaurants in the centre and Lara.
Highlights
- Kaleiçi lanes and Hadrian's Gate
- Old harbour boat trip to the waterfalls
- Konyaaltı beach with the mountains behind
- Lower Düden waterfall
- Antalya Museum (closed for rebuilding; reopening planned for late 2026)
- Perge and Aspendos theatre
- Termessos in the mountains
- Olympos cable car (Tahtalı)
Things to do
- Kaleiçi old town & Hadrian's GateMorning · 2h 30m
- Boat trip from the old harbour to Düden fallsAfternoon · 2h
- Perge & Aspendos day tripMorning · 6h
- Konyaaltı beach afternoonAfternoon · 3h
- Termessos, the mountain city in the Güllük Dağı park (steep, uneven paths)Morning · 4h
- Upper Düden and Kurşunlu waterfall parksAfternoon · 3h
- Karaalioğlu Park and the Hıdırlık Tower at sunsetEvening · 1h 30m
- Lara beach afternoonAfternoon · 3h
- Turkish bath in a Kaleiçi hammamEvening · 1h 30m
- Olympos Teleferik to the Tahtalı summit (half day from Antalya)Morning · 5h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – June, September – November
Heads up
Wildfire Season in the Coastal Forests
Hot, windy summers bring wildfires to the pine forests round Marmaris, Bodrum, Antalya and Izmir (2021 and 2025 were bad years). Follow local news, obey road closures and never light a fire or drop a cigarette outdoors.
Worth knowing
August: Peak Crowds and Prices on the Coast
August is the coast's busiest month, with Turkish and European school holidays together: hotels cost the most, boat trips and beaches are packed, and the roads and airports are slow at weekends. June and September have warm sea, lower prices and far fewer people.
Worth knowing
Bayram Holiday: Buses and Flights Sell Out
Ramazan Bayramı (about 9-12 March 2027) and Kurban Bayramı (about 16-19 May 2027, often stretched to nine days off) send millions of Turks travelling. Intercity buses and domestic flights sell out and prices jump, coastal hotels fill, and some museums close on the first morning. Book transport and rooms early, and avoid travelling on the first and last days of the holiday.
- Ramadan (Ramazan) — The fasting month, expected from about 8 February to 9 March 2027. Life for visitors carries on: restaurants, cafes and sights stay open, and alcohol is still sold in tourist areas. In conservative cities (Konya, Mardin) eat discreetly in daylight. At sunset the iftar meal fills restaurants and Sultanahmet's square becomes a night market; drummers wake the neighbourhoods before dawn.
- Ramazan Bayramı (Eid al-Fitr) — The holiday ending Ramadan (expected about 9-12 March 2027). Millions of Turks travel home: intercity buses and domestic flights sell out and prices jump, so book a few weeks ahead. Some museums close on the first morning; Istanbul's bridges and public transport are often free.
- Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha) — The four-day feast of the sacrifice (expected about 16-19 May 2027), often stretched to nine days off. The biggest travel rush of the year: buses, flights and coastal hotels book out and fares double, and the Aegean and Mediterranean resorts fill with Turkish families. Avoid moving between cities on the first and last days.
- Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) · 29 Oct — The founding of the Republic in 1923: flags everywhere, parades in Ankara, fireworks over the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Government offices close; most sights and shops stay open.