Antalya is one of the liveliest cities in Turkey and preferred by almost every other tourist visiting the country. It is considered the gateway to the Mediterranean region of Turkey and is in close proximity to some of the best coastal towns in the country. Due to its geographical location, Antalya day trips are very popular. It is in fact pretty easy to have day trips to the nearby towns from Antalya including the cotton castle of Turkey, Pamakalle and the coastal towns of Oludeniz and Fethiye. The article highlights 3 days itinerary from Antalya and mentions some of the best Antalya day trips to opt for.

Before getting on a long trip, it is always advisable to buy safety insurance. Check out Safety Wing, providing 10 days safety insurance for as little as 13.2 USD only!!

I recommend renting a car as that is the best and easiest way to explore Turkey. Check out this post and read everything you need to know about driving in Turkey and to rent a car in Turkey, check out Rentalcars.com.

To book a hotel in Antalya while you roam around, check out hotels.com.

1st of Antalya day trips

Since Antalya is a coastal city, it has a lot to explore without crossing the city’s boundary. It makes perfect sense to spend a lazy day in the city exploring the beautiful beaches and waterfalls. Two of the must-see locations on your Antalya day trip would be Duden waterfall and Kursunlu Waterfall. 

Duden Waterfalls

Duden Waterfalls are located right in the heart of the city. These are a group of waterfalls located 12km northeast of Antalya. Duden waterfalls are a treat to watch as they are gigantic and dispense tonnes of water into the Mediterranean Sea, over a rocky cliff. These waterfalls are generally classified as Upper and Lower Duden Waterfalls. 

Moreover, these waterfalls are very easy to access from the city. The waterfall park has plenty of parking space and is home to adventure sports like zip-lining. There are many restaurants and cafes in the waterfall park to add to your day trip excitement. 

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One can spend a considerable amount of time at the waterfalls, strolling through the park, having food and engaging in kayaking and zip-lining. There are many companies running boat tours at the foot of the waterfalls. 

Some spots at the waterfalls are very photogenic and can easily be accessible. However, these spots are very crowded with visitors. 

Duden Waterfalls are a gorgeous location to spend a good, sunny afternoon in Antalya, relaxing and having some excellent views in the backdrop.

Kursunlu Waterfalls

After enjoying the Duden Waterfalls, it is always a good idea to head towards the Kursunlu Waterfalls. Kursunlu Waterfalls are located in Kursunlu National Park. There is ample parking space for the vehicle and the park is opened from 8:30 AM- 6 PM every day.

These waterfalls aren’t as huge as Duden but they are very captivating against the lush green scenery of the park. The park is huge and has plenty of green areas and trails that run through the park. These waterfalls are mesmerizing to witness and present some beautiful photography locations. 

There are a number of man-made photography locations too within the park that offer special effects for pretty photos. These spots are however priced, like many other photography spots in Turkey.

Kursunlu National Park is a visual treat and offers a tranquil atmosphere to relax and enjoy. Definitely, not a place to miss while you explore Antalya.

2nd of Antalya day trips

Another must-visit destination for a day trip from Antalya is the cotton-castle of Turkey, Pamukkale, hot springs. These are captivating terraces of carbonate minerals left by flowing thermal spring water. These springs are a major tourist attraction, especially during the hot, summer months.

Pamukkale is located in the Denizli province of Turkey and the hot springs are located at a distance of 235km from Antalya’s downtown. This distance can be easily covered in 3 hours, considering the driving in Turkey and therefore it is a perfect day trip option.

Pamukkale terraces can be seen fairly from a distance as a huge area, white in colour. During the hot summer months, large groups of people can be seen bathing in the terrace pools to escape the summer heat. One can easily swim in these pools if they fancy. These terraces present some wonderful photographic locations against the white mineral-rich pools. 

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Pamukkale terraces are not the only attraction in this area. They combine together with the Hierapolis, were declared as the UNESCO World’s Heritage site. Hierapolis are ruins of what was once a fortified military site and then turned into an ancient Roman spa. Once regarded as the “Holy City”, Hierapolis now sits at the top of Pamukkale terraces and is visited by all the visitors flocking in to enjoy the hot water springs of Pamukkale. The building features the original Roman baths.

In order to preserve the beautiful terraces of Pamukkale, it is recommended to walk across the area without any footwear so the terraces aren’t damaged. 

Pamukkale terraces and the Hierapolis are opened 24/7, 7 days of the week but some of the facilities like Hierapolis archeological museum and Cleopatra’s pool are opened for a limited time. Hieropolis archeological museum opens from 9 am- 12.30 pm and then from 1.30 pm-7 pm, all days of the week except Mondays and Cleopatra’s pool is opened from 9 am-7 pm. 

The general entry ticket for Pamukalle pools and Hierapolis is 50TL  (9 USD) for adults and children. In order to access the special facilities of the Hierapolis archeological museum and Cleopatra’s pool, one needs to pay more.

Pamukkale can be extremely hot during the summer and may experience snowfall during the winter months. Therefore, the best time to visit this UNESCO World’s heritage site is during the months of March-June. 

Due to its close proximity to Antalya, Pamukalle can easily be added to the list of Antalya day trips. There isn’t anything much in Pamukalle other than this site and therefore it doesn’t make sense to spend a night here. It is an easy day trip from Antalya that gives you the ease of having a nice dinner in one of the Anatolian restaurants after spending a day swimming in the Pamukkale pools. 

3rd of Antalya day trips

A visit to Turkey wouldn’t be completed without discovering the beautiful coast this country has to offer. On your 3rd day in Antalya, take a trip to the coastal towns of Oludeniz and Fethiye. These two are neighbouring coastal towns, home to the world’s famous Blue Lagoon, a gorgeous beach guarded by the mountains. Blue Lagoon gets its name from its turquoise-coloured, purely aqua-looking water and is one of the most-visited tourist attractions in Turkey. 

Blue Lagoon is located at a distance of 200km from Antalya and can be easily accessed in 3 hours.

Blue Lagoon hosts one of the very frequently picked paragliding spots in Turkey. Flocks of people can be seen flying over the turquoise water and embracing the mesmerizing views of the ocean. The flight starts from the Babadag mountain and takes you all over the surrounding area at a height of 1900 metres. There are many options of renting a motorboat and going around exploring the lagoon. 

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Blue Lagoon is a perfect swimming spot and during the hot, summer months, tonnes of people can be seen swimming. The lagoon has perfectly developed as a tourist spot with all the required facilities. There are beach umbrellas and benches available for rent and a variety of restaurants can be found at the lagoon. Blue lagoon is a perfect coastal destination to spend a beautiful, sunny afternoon. However, it is important to remember that it is a very tourist-prone place and be extremely crowded during the summer months. 

Another interesting thing to explore in case you want to ditch the crowd at Blue Lagoon is to catch a shuttle boat to the unexplored, hidden Butterfly Valley, home to several different species of butterflies. It is a beautiful location, wrapped between the mountains and not many tourists can be found there. If you fancy a serene, quiet location to spend your afternoon, Butterfly Valley would be your best bet.

Antalya is a perfect gateway to explore the southern part of Turkey and to experience the coastal life around the Meditteranean Sea. So why not take some day trips from Antalya and make the most of your Turkish trip. 

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