Is Antalya worth visiting? If you’re planning a visit to this picturesque holiday destination on the Mediterranean Coast then keep reading.
Here you can find my 5-day itinerary for visiting Antalya, plus day trips to the surrounding areas. It includes all the best activities, sights, and cultures in the beautiful Turkish Riviera. I will also share where I stayed and which restaurants I dined in. If you are staying in Antalya for longer, maybe a week or two week holiday, then you can still use this itinerary but plan for some more beach days and chill time.
My trip* was organised in February for some winter sunshine so I’ll include my thoughts on visiting during different seasons so you can decide when is best for you.
*Please note this was on a Press Trip organised by Jet2 Holidays. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Visiting Antalya in Turkey
Before I jump into my itinerary, I’ll share where I stayed and how I travelled to Antalya from my home in Nottingham.
How to get to Antalya?
I travelled to Antalya on a flight with Jet2 from Manchester Airport. Jet2 fly from various airports in the UK, including Birmingham, London Stansted, East Midlands and Newcastle (check their website for more). I opted to drive to Manchester and use their long-stay car parking at Terminal 2.
Jet2 pride itself on its flight times and generous baggage allowance. It was a morning flight but not too early, the check-in time was at 7.10 am for the outbound flight, which was at 9.10 am and arrived in Antalya at 4.45 pm (with the time difference you arrive later). However, in February I arrived in daylight hours as sunset wasn’t until 6.45 pm.
On leaving Antalya, it was a late afternoon flight, which meant you had most of the day to squeeze in some more beach time or maybe another activity. The flight left at 5.45 pm and arrived back at Manchester Airport at 7.45 pm so it was a drive home and straight to bed for me!
Answers to some common questions:
How long is the flight to Antalya? – My Jet2 flight took 4.5 hours on the way there, and 5 hours on the way back.
What is the time difference in Turkey? – The time difference is 3 hours ahead of GMT, so it’s not too bad when adjusting your body clock.
How far is the airport from Antalya city? – It is approximately 12 km to the city centre of Antalya, so depending on where you are staying it’s roughly a 30-minute drive to Antalya. The hotel I stayed in was a little further away (see details below) so it took about an hour from the airport to the hotel.
What is the luggage allowance with Jet2? – For your main luggage, you’re allocated a whooping 22 kg and in addition, you also get 10 kg for your hand luggage (measurements 56 x 45 x 25 cm). Read about what I packed further down.
My accommodation in Antalya
For my trip, I stayed at one of Jet2holidays hotels – the Titanic Deluxe Golf Belek. This is an incredible all-inclusive hotel, and if you are looking for luxury on your holiday then look no further!
The hotel has so much to offer I’m going to struggle to fit it all in! Here are some of the hotel’s facilities:
- Swimming pools – this hotel boasts 10 pools, mostly outdoor but they have an indoor one too. And there’s even a water park (open in the Summer season)
- Spa and gym – the spa includes a sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room as well as an ice plunge pool (nope I didn’t go in!) You can book massage treatments or even a Turkish Bath at the spa too.
- Restaurants and bars – I lost count of how many the hotel had but each had its style and type of food. In addition, as this is an all-inclusive hotel they had the biggest buffet selection I have ever seen. (Check out my @beckythetraveller Instagram highlights on Antalya to see photos and videos)
- Golf course – if golf is your thing then I’m informed that this is an excellent golf course.
- Children’s facilities – I did try out the children’s games room and arcade (bowling alley, basketball games etc) and it was great! But if you’re visiting as a family there’s a kid’s club as well as all the pools for them to play in.
- Private beach – my favourite feature was the private beach, either a 2 km walk or a boat ride away (you choose). Here there are sun loungers, even towels, outdoor showers and a beach restaurant.
The hotel is set out so it feels like you’re in your little town, with shops and streets within the hotel complex, you could even be confused and think that you’ve left the hotel! There are also lots of quiet corners and cosy chairs where you can curl up with a book or simply relax.
My room at the Titanic Deluxe Belek in Antalya
Wow, what an amazing room! I stayed in one of the corner rooms at the hotel, which meant I had stunning views in both directions as well as a huge bed, sofa, coffee table, TV and chairs. The room was so big that I even had room for my travel yoga mat!
On arrival, I had a large fruit bowl, wine and some delicious Turkish sweets and chocolates, and in the fridge, there were cold beers, soft drinks and water. What a welcome.
The bathroom had a huge walk-in shower, with toiletries available, in case you’ve forgotten anything. My only niggle, is that these weren’t eco-friendly as they were mostly wrapped in plastic.
The room had an air con, and next to this was the button to opt whether you wanted your room cleaned each day (it took me a day to find this!) There was a hairdryer, but it wasn’t great, I’d recommend bringing your own.
Find more package holidays to Antalya here.
My 5-day itinerary in Antalya
Here you can find my 5-day itinerary for Antalya which also includes a couple of day trips. For my organised trip, we had a private minibus but I’d recommend booking a hire car for your holiday so you can easily travel around and visit all these wonderful places.
Day 1 – Arrival day in Antalya
This was my arrival day, I checked into the hotel at around 6 pm so most of the activities related to food and drink. And as it’s an all-inclusive holiday, there’s plenty to try.
- Check out my room, unpack, shower and change for dinner.
- Dinner in the huge buffet restaurant at the Titanic Deluxe Belek.
- Checking out facilities at the hotel – including the kid’s/adult play area.
- Drinks in the Irish bar at the hotel.
Day 2 – Chilling at hotel + Visit to Kaleici Old Town
- Run to the private beach (optional) or you could walk alongside the river or hop on the shuttle boat.
- Chill time in the Spa, enjoying the pool, steam room and sauna.
- Lunch at 7 Mehmet Restaurant (see photos below)
- Walk through Antalya Old Town (Kaleici) and watch the sunset.
- Traditional Turkish dinner at Seraser Restaurant (located in the hidden streets of Kaleici).
More about Antalya Old Town
I recommend that you allow at least 3-4 hours for a visit to Antalya Old Town, known as Kaleci. You could easily spend a whole day here, exploring the little streets, popping in the shops and stopping off at a cafe for a drink (we sat outside at Beerzone). I visited late in the afternoon so I enjoyed walking around the narrow streets, saying hi to the friendly cats and also watching the sunset.
View my Instagram post on Kaleici here and save it for your trip.
A few things not to miss are:
Hadrian’s Gate – we stopped by here both as we arrived and as we left. It’s lovely to see this beautiful arch all lit up at night so it’s worth paying two visits. Pay careful attention to the intricate stonework on the ceilings of the arches, they are beautiful.
Hidirlik Tower – overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and Mountains beyond, this ancient tower is a must-see on your visit.
Karaalioglu Park – a beautiful park in this urban environment, which spills out onto views of the Mediterranean Sea. If you love cats you can meet many of the stray cats here. (The cats have a shelter with food. Many of them have been neutered and you can see how well they are cared for).
Old City Harbour – you can view the harbour area from above in a small park complete with a glass observation platform (Kecili Park) or take a walk around the waterfront area. There are shops, bars and restaurants here too.
Antalya Saat Kulesi – Visit this impressive landmark, a historic stone clock tower close to the main entrance of Kaleici Old Town.
Watch the sunset – there’s a beautiful place to watch the sunset near the Karaalioglu Park and the Hidirlik Tower, you can pick any spot along here and watch the sunset behind the Beydaglar Mountains.
Dinner at Seraser Restaurant – this is a lovely restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor dining, they served a wonderful 4-course meal, finishing with a traditional Turkish dessert.
Day 3 – Visit to Perge Ancient City + Land of Legends
The initial plan was to visit the ancient ruins at Termessos; however, a thunderstorm meant we changed our plans and visited Perge, which wasn’t in the mountains.
- Visit to Perge Ancient City
- Buffet lunch at the hotel
- Gym then a spa session at the hotel
- Visit The Land of Legends
- Dinner at Nero Restaurant (The Land of Legends)
More about Perge Ancient City
- Google location: Perge Ancient City
- Entrance ticket: 250 Turkish Lira* (approximately £6)
- Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm*
- Perge is pronounced ‘Purrgay’ – my little tip for you when visiting 🙂
Perge Ancient City is approximately 22 km from Antalya, roughly 30 minutes to drive. I’d recommend a hire car to visit but you could opt for a taxi. The site is open plan so you can admire the ancient structures, including the theatre and impressive stadium.
The Theatre is located across the road, you’ll need to keep hold of your entrance ticket to visit here. On the day I visited, t there was a huge thunderstorm, which shortened my visit, however, you should allow up to 2 hours to visit here.
What to wear? – Select comfortable walking shoes, the ground is uneven in places so this ensures no twisted ankles whilst you’re exploring.
What to pack? – Take a small backpack for your personal belongings, sun cream and sunglasses, depending on the weather but also a wind/waterproof jacket to put on since you’ll be outside. Also, take a water bottle and snacks for the day.
*Prices + times correct at time of writing.
What is ‘The Land of Legends’?
This was a contrast from exploring an ancient city to stepping into a modern-style theme park, it feels more like you’re in Dubai than Antalya! It has a grand castle, gondolas, a large shopping avenue, and plenty of restaurants, including the Nemo Restaurant, where I had dinner. It’s roughly 35 km from Antalya, approximately 40 minutes.
Nemo Restaurant has a huge aquarium built into the restaurant area, with nurse sharks, reef sharks and a huge variety of fish swimming about whilst you dine. I’d recommend booking during peak season (opening hours are 2 pm – 11.30 pm).
Land of Legends is the kind of place you’ll love, or hate! I loved it, an evening walking (and dancing) around the streets and then dining in an aquarium it was a great experience. I can imagine in the summer months it’s busy but it would be perfect for children and it’s nice to visit a different place on your trip.
Day 4 – Aspendos and Side Ancient City
- Start with a stop-off at Aspendos Aqueduct
- Visit Aspendos Ancient Theatre
- Stop off at Side Ancient City – explore the ancient ruins, enjoy the beach and views
- Dinner at Azumare Lounge Restaurant (Side)
Visiting Aspendos
Aspendos is about 50 km from Antalya, approximately 45 minutes drive. From here, Side Ancient City is an additional 35 km, approximately 30 minutes, so it’s worth combining these two places on the same day.
Aspendos Aqueduct – The first stop on our day trip was an impressive aqueduct. There is a small parking lay-by where you can stop and view this ancient structure. There are also a few stalls with souvenirs and fresh orange juice, since this is a free stop so it’s great if you can support these small local businesses.
Aspendos Ancient Theatre – Only 2 km from the aqueduct this is the next stop. The opening hours are 8.30 am to 5 pm and tickets are 340 Turkish Lira (approximately £8).* This ancient theatre is the most impressive I’ve seen and has a real wow factor, especially when you climb to the top of the theatre (optional).
This is described as the best preserved Roman Theatre in Turkey and because of this, it’s still used to host concerts and performances which would be an awesome experience. Book a Night Show here with GetYourGuide.
*Prices and times are correct at the time of writing.
Visiting Side Ancient City
The great thing about visiting Side is that this ancient city is integrated with the modern city, although it still feels like an old town. There are ancient ruins scattered throughout the city so you can explore at your leisure and stop for a drink in a cafe when you need a rest.
We spent the afternoon and evening here for dinner, but I could have easily stayed all day visiting local shops, stopping at the viewpoints and including a stop at the beach for a swim in the sea!
The most impressive structure has to the the huge columns of the Temple of Apollo which is located next to the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. The best place to eat is one of the many restaurants and cafes near the harbour (we stopped here for sunset which was a great view).
And make sure you grab a photo by the ‘I Love Side’ sign, great for Instagram! View my Instagram Reel of my day in Side here or give me a follow @beckythetraveller for more inspiration.
Day 5 – Final day + Waterfall visit
- Final day run from the hotel to the beach
- Pack up and check out (by noon)
- Lunch at the hotel buffet
- Visit to Lower Duden Waterfall
- Drop off at Antalya Airport
Lower Duden Waterfall
A trip to Antalya wouldn’t be complete without the Duden Waterfall. It’s only 13 km (20 minutes) from Antalya Airport so we finished our trip stopping off here in our minibus en route to the airport.
There are two sets of waterfalls on the Duden River, this one is Lower Duden Waterfall and the second one is named Upper Duden Waterfall since it’s further up the river. The waterfall is free to visit by foot, if you travel by car then you need to pay for parking. Or if you prefer a different view you can book a boat trip to visit the waterfall. Check out this boat tour on GetYourGuide.
Check out more holidays to Turkey with Jet2holidays here.
Hiking in Antalya
For this trip, I didn’t hike any trails, but I did chat to my Turkish Guide about what hiking trails he would recommend in Antalya, and one came up above all the others. The Lycian Way!
The Lycian Way is a long-distance trail; however, you can hike smaller sections if you don’t want to spend your entire holiday walking or maybe you do! It is 760 km and starts in Ovacik, in Oludeniz near Fethiye and finishes in Geyikbayiri, near Antalya, taking you along some of the most beautiful coastal trails in southern Turkey.
Our guide was one of the teams that helped signpost the trail (with painted red and white marks) which I’m sure you’ve seen if you’ve hiked a trail in Europe before. He informed us that there’s good accommodation on the route, as well as wild camping options and there is also public transport on the route if needed.
It certainly sounds like a great trail to hike, the weather during February (when I visited) would have been perfect for hiking. I can imagine that in the peak season of summer, it would be way too hot to hike. I learnt this the hard way after booking a European hiking trip in July, I nearly melted haha!
What to pack for a holiday to Antalya in Turkey?
Here’s my guide on what to pack for a holiday in Antalya. Since I travelled to Antalya in February the temperature was cooler so this reflects what I packed. The weather during the day was between 15-20 degrees, but the evenings dropped to 12 degrees so that’s why warmer clothes are needed.
Firstly, if you’re travelling with Jet2, you don’t need to worry too much as they have a 22 kg allowance for your main luggage and another 10 kg for cabin luggage.
Packing for a winter holiday to Antalya
For a winter trip to Antalya, I’d recommend packing for all weathers, yes, I know, that’s not overly helpful but I had days when I was happy during the daytime in shorts and a T-shirt or a dress. Then in the evening, the temperature had dropped and I needed my warm jacket and jeans.
Spa and gym – If you’re planning to enjoy the hotel facilities or swim in the sea then be sure to pack your swimwear and gym kit
Visiting the ancient cities – For many of these the terrain can be uneven so it’s best to either wear hiking footwear or something that has some grip. You’ll also need a warm jacket as the temperatures can be cooler during the day.
Winter weather – Pack a waterproof and warm jacket, although most days it was warm, we did have one day where it was heavy rain for a few hours, then the next day it was bright sunshine.
For more ideas for a winter holiday, you could also check out my trip to Madeira in December. This was a great destination for some winter sun and hiking. Read my detailed guide here.
More FAQs about a holiday to Antalya
What is the weather like in Antalya?
I’ll answer this question about my visit. Over the 5 days, I wore an outfit for every season. The mornings started cool but were soon warmer when the sun came out. The highest temperatures were 18-20 degrees. However, if you were in the shade then it did feel cooler so a light jacket or cardigan was needed.
In the evenings, the temperature drops once the sun has set, so it could be closer to 10-12 degrees. Out of the five days, we had one day it rained, but this cleared up by the afternoon. It is worth packing light waterproof so you can still get outside (if you want to).
When is the best time to visit Antalya?
This would depend on what activities you’re looking to do. In February the weather was cooler and some places weren’t open, for example, the water park at the hotel, which said they would open in the Summer season (roughly April to September).
For hiking, I’d recommend visiting out of the peak summer months so either February to May or September to October.
For time on the beach and swimming in the sea, I can imagine that any time from April onwards when the temperatures are starting to increase would be lovely. And, yes, I did swim in the sea in February, it was cold but not freezing cold!
Was the all-inclusive hotel worth it?
The quality of food at the Titanic Deluxe Belek was amazing, breakfast, lunch and dinner had so many options you were spoilt for choice. There were also numerous bars for beers and cocktails, as well as cafes for afternoon coffee and cake stops.
What’s the best way to travel around?
If you’ve booked a hotel close to the city then you could maybe take advantage of exploring on foot and booking a tour (with transfer) to some of the sights around the city.
Here are a few tours that include the activities I did on my trip so you can check them out before you go – Perge, Aspendos, Side and waterfall tour and Old City, Duden Waterfalls and cable car tour
However, I would say the best way of travelling around would be to book a hire car and travel independently so you can spend your time in the places you want to visit.
Is Antalya worth visiting?
This is the one question several people have asked me since I returned to the UK. For me, it ticks several boxes on the holiday checklist:
- Warm weather – even though it was cooler in the evening, overall, compared to the UK temperatures in February it was nice to have some winter sun.
- Gorgeous beaches and turquoise sea – if you love time on the beach then Antalya is a great destination, I saw plenty of lovely beaches on my trip, including the lovely ones at Side Ancient City, which looked very inviting.
- Historic Antalya – if you love to mix some culture and history into your holiday then there are so many places to visit. On my trip, I saw a few places, but there were many more you could add to your list if you were staying longer.
Overall, Antalya makes a great holiday destination for both families and friends and I’d love to return to hike some of the beautiful trails I heard about. Is Antlaya somewhere you are thinking about visiting? Pop any questions in the comments below and I’ll happily share my thoughts and top tips.