How To Make The Most Out Of One Day In Antalya

Antalya is famous for it’s beautiful beaches, old town and… well, Turkish Hairlines.

Not judging at all! My first trip to Antalya involved getting a mouthful of crowns, and now I like to go back to get checkups as I loved the dental clinic I used.

Coastal view in Antalya with a small boat on the blue Mediterranean Sea. Rocky cliffs. Seaside buildings. And a terrace shaded by colorful umbrellas frame the water.

But on my last trip, I decided it was finally time to actually see a bit more of the city, rather than just going from hotel to dentist and back to the airport.

The Old Town is gorgeous, the harbour is one of the prettiest spots in the city and you’ve got Roman ruins, sea views, waterfalls and beaches all within easy reach.

Elevated view across Antalya old town with red tiled roofs. Green trees. Historic stone buildings. And several minarets rising beneath a clear blue sky.

If you only have one day in Antalya, you’ll have a pretty good chance of seeing most of the city.

So, in this guide, I’ll show you what to see & do, where to wander and how to make the most of your short visit.

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Stone steps descend through an arched opening toward the marina and distant mountains in Antalya. Text reads "WWW.EUROPEANDAYTRIPS.COM" and "HOW TO SPEND one day in Antalya".

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Practical Information About Visiting Antalya

Language: Turkish

Currency: Turkish Lira

Getting around: City busses, tram, taxis and Uber

Where is Antalya?

Antalya is on the south coast of Turkey, along the Mediterranean Sea. It’s one of the main cities on the Turkish Riviera, which is why so many people use it as a base for beach holidays, boat trips and day trips to nearby ancient ruins.

Woven rattan lampshades hang beneath leafy trees along a narrow lane in Antalya. A white scooter and red electric scooter sit beside stone walls and a white building.

Colorful umbrellas and strings of lights form a canopy over a busy shopping street in Antalya. Clothing shops restaurants and pedestrians line the shaded pedestrian lane.

The Old Town, known as Kaleici, sits close to the harbour, which gives you a beautiful setting of cobbled streets and the sea within minutes of each other.

Most of the main city sights of Antalya are close together, so you’ll get to see quite a bit on foot, then use a taxi or public transport if you want to visit places slightly further out, like Konyaaltı Beach, Antalya Museum or Lower Düden Waterfall.

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How to Get from Antalya Airport to the City Centre

Antalya Airport is only around 10 to 13 km from the city centre, so getting into Antalya will be fairly quick.

If you’re staying in or near Kaleici, these are the main options:

By Tram

The tram is the easiest public transport option from Antalya Airport to the city centre, especially if you’re arriving during the day and don’t have too much luggage.

From the airport, take the AntRay T1A tram towards Fatih. For Kaleici and the Old Town, get off at İsmetpasa. From there, it’s just a short walk to Hadrian’s Gate and the edge of Kaleici.

There are airport tram stops at both the domestic and international terminals, so follow the signs for the tram once you come out of arrivals.

The tram will take you around 30 to 45 minutes to reach the city centre, depending on where you get off. You can pay either using an AntalyaKart, which you can buy and top up at the tram station, or by contactless card payment. Just note that paying by contactless card may cost more then using the AntalyaKart.

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By Bus

You can also take the airport bus, but unless you’re staying near the bus station, I’d say to look at the tram first.

The main airport bus is Bus 600, which runs between Antalya Airport, the city centre and Antalya Otogar, the main bus station.

This works if you’re connecting to another bus or staying closer to the bus station, but for Kaleici it’s not quite as convenient as the tram. You’ll usually need to get off around the city centre and then walk or take another tram/taxi depending on where you’ve booked to stay.

There’s also a Bus 800, which is more useful for parts of the Lara area, rather than Kaleici.

By Taxi

You’ll find taxis lined up outside the terminal, and the journey to Kaleici usually takes around 20 minutes.

Luxury transfer van interior in Antalya with white leather seats. A blue star effect ceiling. Purple curtains. And an illuminated control panel beside a sign reading "ITS TRANSFER" and "WI FI".

By Private Transfer

If you want an easy pickup and everything arranged before you land, here’s the private transfer I used. I’ve actually used Welcome Pickups in many European cities when I don’t have a lot of time to figure out public transport. The pic above is the inside of my transfer!

One Day In Antalya Itinerary

Start at Hadrian’s Gate

Hadrian’s Gate is one of the best places to start your one day in Antalya, as it sits right at the edge of Kaleici, the Old Town.

Me in a patterned maxi dress and sun hat stands before Hadrians Gate in Antalya. Three carved Roman arches and tall stone walls frame the busy pedestrian entrance.

It was built in honour of Roman Emperor Hadrian, who visited the city in the 2nd century, and it’s one of Antalya’s most recognisable landmarks.

Ornate columns and carved stone arches at Hadrians Gate in Antalya. A groom carries a bride in a white wedding dress beneath the ancient Roman structure.

The gate itself has three arches, marble columns and old stone towers on either side. I managed to catch this sweet picture of a bride and groom when I was there.

Wide view of Hadrians Gate in Antalya with three ornate Roman arches and tall marble columns between ancient stone walls. Visitors explore the worn passage while a couple in wedding attire poses beneath the central arch.

It does get busy with tour groups, so earlier in the day is better if you want photos without too many people in them. It’s also much nicer before the heat properly kicks in, especially if you’re visiting Antalya in summer. June is hot!

Wander Through Kaleici Old Town

Once you walk through Hadrian’s Gate, you’re straight into Kaleici, Antalya’s Old Town. This was my favourite part of Antalya.

If you’re not a fan of strolling around new cities by yourself, I can’t recommend Guru Walk – Free Walking Tours enough. I’ve taking a ton of these in various European cities and I just found that they also do some in Antalya. This is the highest rated free walking tour in Antalya if you have time.

Me wearing sunglasses stands beneath vivid pink bougainvillea beside an outdoor restaurant in Antalya. Red chairs and wooden tables sit under the flowers against a rustic stone wall.

Pedestrian street in Antalya lined with restaurants and traditional white buildings. Bright pink and red bougainvillea arches over the walkway and shaded outdoor tables.

Kaleici is full of narrow streets, old Ottoman-style houses, little shops, cafés, restaurants and boutique hotels. Some streets are busy and full of people, while others are much quieter.

The upside of visiting in June when it’s hot was that there weren’t a whole load of tourists. Some spots were completely isolated, which I loved!

Ancient stone arch and excavated ruins in Antalya framed by wooden walkways and railings. Traditional buildings and leafy trees rise behind the archaeological site under a clear blue sky.

The old town isn’t the flattest place to walk around. It reminded me a little of Lisbon. There are cobbles, steps and slopes, so I definitely recommend you wear some comfortable walking shoes.

Some of the main landmarks to look out for include the Yivli Minaret, the Yivli Minare Mosque and Madrasa, the Antalya Clock Tower and Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque.

Stone mosque and tall minaret photographed from below in Antalya. Strings of international flags cross the courtyard beneath the domed roof and clear blue sky.

Image: uploaded image 4.jpg

Alt text: Tall fluted brick minaret in Antalya viewed from its broad stone base. Decorative brickwork and a carved upper balcony stand out against the cloudless blue sky.

Slender stone mosque minaret rises above leafy trees and traditional buildings in Antalya. Visitors walk along the shaded street below on a bright sunny day.

The Yivli Minaret is one of Antalya’s most recognisable and famous landmarks. It dates back to the Seljuk period and is easy to spot thanks to its tall, grooved brick design.

Historic stone clock tower in Antalya topped with a dark dome and a Turkish flag. Trees and quiet streets surround the landmark beneath a clear blue sky.

Around the minaret, you’ll also find the Yivli Minare Mosque, old madrasa buildings and Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque.

The Clock Tower is also close by and marks one of the main entrances into the Old Town, so you’ll likely pass it while walking around Kaleici and Hadrian’s Gate.

Walk Down to the Old Harbour

From Kaleici, take a stroll down towards Antalya’s old harbour, a quaint little harbour tucked below the cliffs.

This is one of the prettiest spots in Antalya, with boats bobbing in the water, high end seafood restaurants around the edge and the Mediterranean looking ridiculously blue in the background.

Elevated view over Antalya old town marina with tour boats and yachts anchored in deep blue water. Red roofed buildings and green cliffs surround the harbor while the Mediterranean Sea stretches beyond the breakwater.

You can walk down from the Old Town. The steps down are just left of where the stalls selling fresh juice are. Don’t make the same mistake as I did. This was the most expensive juice I’ve ever paid for – my taxi back to the airport cost the same! And the juice wasn’t even that nice…

Anyway, the steps that slope down towards the water are a little steep and there’s not really anything to hold onto. I may have stopped to take photos, or rather pretended to while actually resting because my knees needed a second.

Wooden tour boat named "KAPTAN ACAR" docked in Antalya marina beneath a bright blue sky. A banner reads "YAPAY RESİF PROJESİ" and "Antalya'da Deniz Hep Temiz" while Turkish flags and life rings decorate the upper deck.

If you have more than just one day in Antalya, I’d definitely recommend heading out on one of the boats that leave the harbour for a better look at the cliffs from the sea.

The best part of walking down to the harbour is that you don’t necessarily have to walk all the way back up to get to the city.

Glass elevator entrance on a coastal viewing platform in Antalya beneath a clear blue sky. The sign reads "ANTALYA BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDİYESİ" and two visitors stand beside the railing overlooking the sea.

There’s a panoramic elevator next to the harbour that brings you back up to the higher part of the city. So, my suggestion is to walk down through Kaleici, enjoy the harbour, and then take the panoramic elevator back up.

I will say that when I took it, the windows were a little dirty so it was hard to really enjoy the view, but it was near my hotel and it was too hot to walk back up the steps so it was a win for me!

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Stop for Lunch at Luna Garden

For lunch, head to Luna Garden in Kaleici.

I came across this place while wandering around the Old Town and it drew me in with its beautiful garden setting with greenery and colourful flowers, hidden away from the busier streets.

Narrow pedestrian lane in Antalya beneath white arched trellises covered with green vines and pink and purple flowers. Ornate stone planters frame the walkway leading toward parked scooters and old stone walls.

The menu has a mix of Turkish dishes, seafood, salads and lighter bites, so there’s something for most tastes. It’s a great spot for lunch before continuing with the rest of your Antalya itinerary.

No need to book, but you might just need to wait a few minutes for a table to become available as it’s very popular.

Visit Lower Düden Waterfall

After lunch, I recommend heading out to Lower Düden Waterfall.

You might have seen this in photos already, where the water drops straight off the cliffs into the Mediterranean. There are two Düden waterfalls in Antalya, so just make sure you put in Lower Düden Waterfall or Düden Park.

Lower Düden is in the Lara area, so it’s not somewhere you can walk to from Kaleici. From the Old Town, the easiest way to get there is to take a taxi, which will take you around 20 minutes.

A wide waterfall in Antalya pours over a vine covered cliff into a turquoise pool. Fast moving water rushes around mossy rocks beneath tall leafy trees.

A calm river flows between dense green reeds toward the Mediterranean Sea in Antalya. Sunlight reflects across the clear water as the coastline opens beyond the vegetation.

When you get there, you’ll be in Düden Park, rather than just standing at one viewpoint. There are paths, grassy areas, benches, cafés and a few different places to see the waterfall and coastline.

The main viewpoint looks out over the waterfall as it falls into the sea, with the cliffs stretching along the coast on either side. It’s a great photo stop, but it’s also a nice place to wander for a bit.

I’d plan around 45 minutes to an hour to walk through the park, see the waterfall from a few angles and stop for a drink with a view.

Catch the Sunset at Karaalioglu Park

After Lower Düden Waterfall, head back towards Kaleiçi for sunset at Karaalioglu Park.

The park sits right above the cliffs, so you get gorgeous views over the Mediterranean. Always a bonus at the end of a sightseeing day.

Me in a patterned maxi dress and sun hat poses at a stone overlook in Antalya. The Mediterranean Sea cliffs and city skyline stretch across the background under a clear blue sky.

Hidirlik Tower in Antalya topped with a Turkish flag. Glass walkways and covered ruins fill the foreground with waterfront buildings and the sea behind it.

The park is also beside Hidirlik Tower, so you can see both at the same time. The tower dates back to the Roman period and is one of the main landmarks around this side of the Old Town.

I’d try to get there a little before sunset so you have time to wander around and find a good viewpoint. The area near Hidirlik Tower is one of the best spots, but there are plenty of places along the park where you can stop and look out over the water.

anoramic view across the blue Mediterranean coastline in Antalya with a speedboat leaving a white wake. A round stone tower and waterfront buildings sit above glass covered archaeological ruins.

Once the sun goes down, you can head back down to Kaleiçi, into the Old Town for dinner.

Got More Time to Spend in Antalya?

If you have more than one day in Antalya, here’s a few more things you can add to your itinerary:

Visit Antalya Museum: If you’re interested in history, Antalya Museum is a good one to add. It covers the history of the region and is especially useful if you’re planning to visit any of the ancient ruins nearby. I also think museums are a great option when the weather is roasting and your body is starting to reject the idea of more walking.
Spend time at Konyaaltı Beach: Konyaaltı Beach is one of the easiest beaches to visit from the city. It’s a good option if you want some proper beach time without heading off to a resort area.
Visit Perge Ancient City: Perge is one of the closest ancient cities to Antalya, so it works well as a half-day trip. You’ll find old Roman streets, baths, a theatre and a stadium, so there’s plenty to see without needing to travel too far.
Take a trip to Aspendos: Aspendos is best known for its Roman theatre, and it’s one of the big historical sites in the Antalya region. This is a good one to pair with Perge if you want a fuller day trip.
Visit Termessos: Termessos is up in the mountains, so it’s a bit more effort than some of the other day trips. But if you like ruins with a dramatic setting, this would be high on the list. Definitely one for proper shoes, not flimsy sandals that are only there for the outfit.
Go to Upper Düden Waterfall: Upper Düden Waterfall is separate from Lower Düden Waterfall, so make sure you search for the right one. This one has more of a park setting, with paths, greenery and waterfall views.

Where to Stay in Antalya

If you only have one day in Antalya, I’d stay in or close to Kaleiçi.

Sunlit cobblestone street in Antalya lined with restored Ottoman style houses. The buildings feature stone lower walls and colorful green red and pale pink upper floors beneath a clear blue sky.

It keeps you near Hadrian’s Gate, the Old Town, the harbour, restaurants and the main places you’ll want to see on a short trip. You can then use taxis or public transport for places a little further out, like Lower Düden Waterfall or Konyaaltı Beach.

Luxury / Character Stay: Bacchus Pension

For a more special stay, have a look at Bacchus Pension in Kaleiçi.

It’s set right in the Old Town, close to Antalya’s historic buildings and old city walls, so the location works really well for this itinerary. It also has a pool, incredible sea views and more of a traditional guesthouse feel than a big hotel.

I’d choose this if you want somewhere with character, great views and a handy location.

Mid-range: White Garden Hotel

For a middle-of-the-road option, White Garden Hotel is a great one to check out.

It’s adults-only (wohoo!), close to Mermerli Beach and right in the heart of Kaleiçi. The hotel has a garden, terrace and bar, so it still feels like a lovely place to stay without necessarily going full fancy-pants.

Budget: Ber Mai İnci Hotel Antalya

On my last trip to Antalya, I stayed at Ber Mai İnci Hotel Antalya, which worked really well for a short stay.

Bright reception area at an Antalya hotel with a white and wood front desk and a large potted rubber plant. Signs behind the desk read "BER MALİNCİ HOTEL" and "LONDRA" "ANTALYA" "NEWYORK" "TOKYO" while the desk displays "RECEPTION".

Decorative Antalya hotel lobby with gold furniture. Large green plants. Purple flowers. And a mirrored wall reflecting the sign "BER MALİNCİ HOTEL" with clocks labeled "LONDRA" "ANTALYA" "NEWYORK" and "TOKYO".

It’s not right inside Kaleiçi, but it’s close enough that you can walk to the Old Town, harbour, restaurants and main sights.

The rooms are simple, but comfortable, and my room was set in a gorgeous garden courtyard. The staff were also incredibly helpful and friendly, which always makes a difference.