Day Trips from Antalya: Ancient Sites, Canyons and Coastal Ruins

Antalya’s position on the Mediterranean coast, flanked by the Taurus Mountains to the north and surrounded by ancient Pamphylian and Lycian cities, makes it one of the best-placed cities in Turkey for day trips. The ancient sites within two hours’ reach include the world’s best-preserved Roman theatre, a mountain city Alexander the Great declined to besiege, and a coastal Lycian city where you can swim in Roman harbour bays.

Most day trips from Antalya are straightforward by bus or dolmuş. A few — notably Termessos — require a car.

Aspendos

50 km east of Antalya, 1 hour by dolmuş via Serik (TRY 30–50 one way as of 2026).

Aspendos contains the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world — a 2nd-century structure with a capacity of 15,000, built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius and still structurally complete to its full height, including the original stage building (scaena). The acoustics remain functional; the theatre continues to host the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival (typically late June to early July, tickets approximately TRY 500–1,200 as of 2026).

Entry to the site: approximately TRY 400–600 as of 2026. The site also includes a Seljuk-era caravanserai within the complex and the remains of an aqueduct visible on the approach road. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

Nearby, the Eurymedon (Köprüçay) Roman Bridge crosses the river a few kilometres from the theatre — it has carried traffic for nearly 2,000 years and remains in use as a footbridge. The town of Belkıs beside the river has small cafes for a post-visit meal.

Dolmuş departs from Antalya’s main otogar. From Serik, a local minibus or taxi covers the final 7 km to the site (approximately TRY 80–150 for a taxi as of 2026). Many visitors combine Aspendos with a stop at Side on the same day.

Side

75 km east of Antalya, 1.5 hours by dolmuş (TRY 40–70 as of 2026).

Side is one of Turkey’s more unusual ancient sites — a complete Roman city with colonnaded streets, two theatres, temples and a museum that sits inside an active beach resort. The experience is part archaeology, part seaside town: tourists photograph the Temple of Apollo (two columns standing directly above the sea, sunset views) while others walk five minutes to the beach.

Temple of Apollo entry: approximately TRY 200–300 as of 2026. The Side Museum, housed in the restored Roman bathhouse, contains excellent Hellenistic and Roman sculpture — entry approximately TRY 100–150 as of 2026. The main theatre (second largest in Asia Minor with a capacity of 17,000) can be viewed from outside without a ticket.

Side gets extremely crowded from late June to August. The town’s old quarter is car-free; the beaches adjacent to the ruins are public and free. Restaurants near the harbour charge TRY 300–600 for a main course as of 2026 — one street back from the tourist strip, prices halve.

Perge

17 km east of Antalya, 30 minutes by local bus (TRY 10–20 as of 2026).

Perge is the most accessible of Antalya’s ancient sites and, with 700,000 visitors a year, still underrated relative to its scale. The ruins cover a large Roman city with a colonnaded main street (1.5 km), a stadium (capacity 12,000, one of the largest in the ancient world), a Roman theatre, bath complexes and a well-preserved Hellenistic gate.

Entry: approximately TRY 200–280 as of 2026. Allow 2–2.5 hours for the main areas. The Antalya Archaeological Museum (in the city centre) holds the finest statuary from Perge — visiting the museum alongside or before the site adds significant context. Museum entry approximately TRY 200–280 as of 2026.

Bus to Perge departs from the AntRay tram terminus at Müze station. A taxi from central Antalya costs approximately TRY 200–350 as of 2026.

Termessos

35 km northwest of Antalya, 50 minutes by car (no public transport).

Termessos is the most dramatic ancient site in the Antalya region and among the most impressive anywhere in Turkey. The Pisidian city sits at 1,650m above sea level on the slopes of Güllük Dağı (ancient Mount Solymos), surrounded by Mediterranean pine forest, with views across to the coast. Alexander the Great assessed the walls in 334 BCE and decided not to attempt a siege — the defences and the terrain were too formidable.

The ruins are largely unrestored and spread across a steep hillside: a well-preserved theatre (capacity approximately 4,200), an agora, several temples, a hero’s tomb, necropolis and city walls. The combination of ancient stonework, forest setting and altitude makes this unlike any other ruin in Turkey.

National park entry plus ruins: approximately TRY 200–300 as of 2026. The carpark is 8 km into the national park; from there, the main path climbs steeply for 30–40 minutes to the theatre and agora. Wear proper footwear. Take water — there are no facilities inside the site.

No public transport runs to Termessos. Options: hire a car (approximately TRY 600–900/day for a small car as of 2026), take a half-day taxi (approximately TRY 600–900 return as of 2026), or join a guided day tour from Antalya combining Termessos with Perge (approximately TRY 800–1,500 per person as of 2026).

Phaselis

60 km southwest of Antalya, 1 hour by bus toward Kemer (TRY 30–50, then a 2 km walk or taxi from the highway as of 2026).

Phaselis is a Lycian city in a uniquely beautiful setting — Roman ruins, a harbour aqueduct, city walls and theatre arranged around three natural bays in a pine forest. You can swim directly from the ancient harbour beaches. Entry to the national park including ruins: approximately TRY 200–280 as of 2026.

The site is less impressive archaeologically than Aspendos or Perge, but the combination of swimming, ruins and pine forest is hard to beat on a hot day. Bring food and water; the single café near the entrance is expensive.

Köprülü Canyon

100 km northeast of Antalya, 2 hours by car (limited public transport).

The Köprüçay river cuts through Köprülü Canyon National Park, offering Grade 2–4 white-water rafting on a 14 km stretch that passes a 2nd-century Roman bridge still standing above the rapids. Full-day tours from Antalya — including transport, equipment, guide, a riverside lunch and the rafting itself — run approximately TRY 800–1,500 per person as of 2026. Half-day rafting-only tours (self-drive to the canyon) cost less, approximately TRY 400–700 as of 2026.

The canyon road from Köprülü also passes Selge — a Pisidian city at 900m altitude with a theatre, agora and walls in reasonable condition, rarely visited. Entry approximately TRY 100–150 as of 2026. Adding Selge to a canyon day requires a car and the better part of a full day.

Düden Waterfalls

10–15 km from central Antalya (accessible by bus).

A short excursion rather than a full day trip: the Upper Düden Falls (Kepez district, bus TRY 5–10 as of 2026) and Lower Düden Falls (Lara coast, where the river drops directly into the sea, accessible by boat tour from the harbour, approximately TRY 200–400 as of 2026). Good for a half-morning or afternoon; not worth prioritising over the major ancient sites but convenient if you have a spare few hours.

Practical Notes

• For Antalya things to do within the city itself — Kaleiçi, the old harbour, and the city’s archaeological museum — see our separate guide.
• Accommodation options at different price points are covered in where to stay in Antalya and best hotels in Antalya.
• You can browse and book guided day tours from Antalya — including combined ancient sites tours with free cancellation.
• Public transport dolmuş depart from the main otogar (Antalya Terminal) and from various points in the city centre; timetables are available at the terminal.