Day Trips from Antalya
Antalya sits in the middle of ancient Pamphylia, ringed by well-preserved Greco-Roman cities. Here's what we'd pick, roughly in order.
Aspendos
About 47 km east, near the village of Belkıs. The Roman theatre here, built in the 2nd century AD, is the reason to come. The stage building still stands to its full height, and the seating is almost complete. Climb to the top rows and you'll see why it's still used: every September the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival stages full productions here. Behind it, a path climbs to the acropolis and a long Roman aqueduct. Allow two hours.
Perge
Only 18 km from the city, near Aksu, and easy to pair with Aspendos on the same day. It's big: a Hellenistic gate with two round towers, a long colonnaded street with a water channel running down its middle, baths, an agora and one of the best-preserved stadiums in Turkey. There's little shade, so go early. With the Antalya Museum closed for rebuilding, the site is the only way to see Perge right now. Our itinerary pairs it with Aspendos.
Side
About 75 km east. The ancient city and a modern resort town share the same small peninsula. You walk through a Roman gate, past a large theatre, down a street of shops and restaurants, and end at the Temple of Apollo, a few white columns on the edge of the sea. Bring a swimsuit.
Termessos
Around 35 km north-west, high in the Güllük Dağı national park. The city was built on a mountain ledge more than a thousand metres up, and Alexander the Great looked at it and moved on. The theatre, perched on the edge of a drop with the Taurus peaks behind, is one of the most dramatic in Turkey. Getting to it involves a steep, rocky climb from the car park. You need a car or a tour, proper shoes and water.
The Düden waterfalls
Two falls on the same river. The Upper Düden is in a shady park on the north side of the city, where a path runs behind the curtain of water. The Lower Düden, near Lara, drops off a cliff straight into the sea. You see it best from a boat out of the Kaleiçi harbour.
Kurşunlu waterfall
East of the city near Aksu, in a small nature park with walking paths through the woods and a green pool at the bottom. An easy add-on to Perge.
Olympos and Phaselis
South-west along the coast, past Kemer. Phaselis has ancient streets that lead straight down to three small bays where you can swim. Further on, Olympos is a ruined city scattered along a stream in the forest, next to the beach at Çıralı. The Olympos cable car to the top of Tahtalı mountain leaves from nearby Tekirova.
A car gives you the most freedom, and tours are the easy alternative. Entry to each site is priced in euros and changes every year, so check the official museum site. If you plan several sites, compare the Museum Pass The Mediterranean, valid for seven days from first use, against single tickets.