Things to do
Things to do in Antalya
The Mediterranean's favourite Turkish city: a walled old town over a Roman harbour, waterfalls inside the city limits, and the ancient theatres of the coast a short drive away.
Photos for Antalya are still on their way. Every listing below is real.
Top things to do in Antalya
The Turkish Riviera's capital: old town, waterfalls, Roman theatres.
- Kaleiçi (old town) — The walled quarter: Hadrian's Gate (130 AD), the Yivli Minare minaret, Ottoman houses, the harbour below.
- Düden Waterfalls — The Düden drops twice — Upper Düden in the park, Lower Düden plunging off the cliffs into the sea.
- Konyaaltı & Lara beaches — The two city beaches: Konyaaltı's pebbles and mountain backdrop, Lara's sand and resort strip.
- Antalya Museum — One of Turkey's best archaeological museums: the Perge statues, the sarcophagi hall.
- Aspendos Theatre — ~45 km: the best-preserved Roman theatre anywhere — still used for performances.
- Perge & Side (day trips) — Perge's colonnaded streets; Side's temple of Apollo by the sea.
- Tünektepe cable car — The cable car over the city to the Tünektepe viewpoint: the bay panorama.
Free things to do in Antalya
Antalya is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing or close to it:
- Kaleiçi wandering — The old town lanes: free.
- Hadrian's Gate (exterior) — The Roman gate: free, in the walls.
- Düden Park (upper) — The park around the upper falls.
- Konyaaltı promenade — The beach promenade: free.
- Karaalioğlu Park — The cliff park with Hıdırlık Tower views.
Festivals & the religious calendar
The town's own festivals:
- Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (October) — Altın Portakal: Turkey's oldest film festival — the national cinema showcase.
- Aspendos Opera & Ballet Festival (June–July) — Performances in the 2,000-year-old theatre: the most atmospheric stage on earth.
- Ramazan/Kurban Bayramı (lunar) — The two great holidays; the coast fills with domestic tourists.
And the national calendar:
- Ramazan Bayramı (Şeker Bayramı) (lunar) — The three-day sugar feast ending Ramadan: visiting, sweets, children collecting candy.
- Kurban Bayramı (lunar) — The four-day feast of sacrifice: the year's biggest family holiday; travel peaks.
- Republic Day (29 October) — Cumhuriyet Bayramı: 1923 proclamation of the republic; ceremonies, fireworks, flags.
- Victory Day (30 August) — Zafer Bayramı: military parades marking the 1922 victory.
Exact dates are confirmed yearly — check local listings before booking around a festival.
Sports: Football
Antalyaspor (the Scorpions) play at the Corendon Airlines Park (32,000): Süper Lig football with the Taurus mountains behind the stands. The Akdeniz derby days are the loud ones.
Water sports are the daily game: diving, sailing and paragliding (Kaş/Fethiye nearby). Golf at Belek's championship courses is the winter sport.
Tickets: official site
What's new in Antalya
The Golden Orange festival's October dates are confirmed yearly. The airport's expansion keeps adding capacity — summer peaks still mean queues. Aspendos festival programmes publish in spring.
Submit your event
Running something in town? Dayfari lists community events free — gigs, markets, fundraisers, club nights, temple and church programmes. Submit your event and it can appear in the town feed within a day. No account needed to suggest; the Dayfari team reviews every submission.
Common questions
How many days do I need in Antalya?
Two full days covers the highlights above. Add a third for the day trips — see our day-trips guide.
What can I do in Antalya for free?
Plenty — see the free list above. The town's festivals and markets are the other great free shows.
When is the best time to visit Antalya?
Time it for a festival if you can — the calendar above is the cheat sheet. Otherwise, the shoulder seasons dodge the crowds.
More to explore in Antalya
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