Things to do in Antalya: a road trip through Kaleiçi, ancient cities and the coast

Updated 17 October 2026

Short answer: Exploring Antalya by car means day trips along the coast on either side of the city. To the east, Perge, Aspendos and Side are about an hour away; to the west, so are Kemer, Phaselis and Olympos. In the city, Kaleiçi, the Düden waterfalls and Konyaaltı are within 15 minutes of each other and fit into half a day.

Antalya is about 670 km from Istanbul by car, roughly 8.5 hours without traffic. For the route and stops, see driving from Istanbul to Side; the same road brings you down to Antalya.

Things to see in central Antalya

• Kaleiçi: Antalya's historic centre. Hadrian's Gate was built to mark the visit of the Roman emperor Hadrian; narrow streets lead from the Fluted Minaret down to the old harbour. The streets are too tight for driving, so park outside Kaleiçi and walk in.
• Düden waterfalls: Lower Düden drops from the cliffs straight into the sea on the Lara side. Upper Düden is in a shady park in the north of the city, about 20 minutes' drive from the lower falls.
• Konyaaltı: a long beach facing the Beydağları mountains, 10 minutes from the centre.

How far is it from Kaleiçi?

Times are without traffic. In summer, coastal roads and city approaches can take noticeably longer.

East of the city: Perge, Aspendos and Side

The classic one-day route. Perge is the ancient city closest to Antalya, known for its colonnaded street and stadium. Aspendos is famous for its remarkably well-preserved Roman theatre. End the day among the seaside ruins of Side; for Side and the Manavgat area, see our Side guide.

West of the city: Kemer, Phaselis, Olympos and the Chimaera

The Antalya–Kemer road runs between the mountains and the sea, winding and scenic. Phaselis is an ancient city with three harbours set in a pine forest, with coves you can swim in. Further south are ancient Olympos and Çıralı beach. In the evening, walk up to the Chimaera (Yanartaş) to see natural flames rising from the rocks; the path is short but stony, so bring a torch.

If you prefer mountain views, Termessos makes a half-day alternative: an ancient city built on a mountainside in the Güllük Dağı-Termessos National Park. There is an uphill walk from the car park, so wear good shoes.

A long day: the coast road to Kaputaş

Kaputaş Beach, between Kaş and Kalkan, is one of Antalya's most photographed beaches. It is about 3 hours from Kaleiçi along the coast road; if you go for the day, leave early, or stay a night in Kaş.

Driving around Antalya

• Parking: Kaleiçi, Konyaaltı and the entrances to the ancient sites are busy in summer. Parking is much easier early in the morning.
• Heat: in July and August, visit ancient sites in the morning or late afternoon, and keep water in the car.
• Which car: for the city and two people, a compact car makes parking easy; for families and long coastal drives, an SUV or saloon with a large boot is more comfortable. See the models on our rental cars page.

Driving to Antalya in a rental car from Istanbul

Otofilorent's pick-up points are in Istanbul: you collect the car at one of our 18 points and return it in Istanbul. On rentals of 3 days or more we deliver the car to your address in Istanbul free of charge. Mention your long-distance plan when booking; the terms of your rental are shown on the booking screen and in your contract. 24/7 roadside assistance is included, and 0850 305 00 45 is open around the clock.

Frequently asked questions