(That isn’t Antalya Beach)

I know most trips to Antalya are for sun and sand, but sometimes you want to get out and do something as well. And believe it or not, there are some stunning Antalya attractions. Here are the top 5 things to see and do in Antalya, Turkey.

1. Antalya Waterfalls

Take a trip to see the nearby waterfalls of Antalya. Well, they’re not that close to the city but worth the trip. There are a number of organized tours to the Antalya waterfalls and some include a tour of the city or a full day of waterfalls and the cable car. But you can easily catch a taxi to and from the waterfalls. Choose from the Kursunla Waterfall Nature Park or the Duden Waterfalls which are more popular.

Antalya Attractions – Duden Falls, Kursunla Falls, Ucansu Falls, Manavgat Falls, Sapadere Falls, Degirmendere Falls, Goynuk Falls

Duden Falls is only 25 minutes from Antalya, and you can see Lower Duden Falls from Antalya if you look east along the coast. Lower Duden Falls drops 40m into the sea. It is in Duden Park and the entrance is free. The Upper Duden Falls is about 30 minutes from the lower falls and there is a small entrance fee. You could also visit the Side or Manavgat Falls, the Kursunlu Falls, the Sapadere Falls, the Ucansu Falls, the Degirmendere Falls(1.5 hours from Antalya), or the Goynuk Canyon Falls. There are several activities at these sites including rafting.

2. Pamukkale From Antalya

This place was on my travel bucket list! Pamukkale is a stunning location known for its mineral-rich thermal waters and white travertine terraces that cascade down the hillside. At the site is an ancient Roman spa city, Hierapolis, and the ruins of a 190BC amphitheater. There is also the Antique Pool or Cleopatra’s Pool where you can swim among fallen Roman columns.

It must be noted that Pamukkale is 3 hours from Antalya.

So if you take a full-day tour from Antalya to Pamukkale it will be 3 hours there, 3 hours at the site, and 3 hours back. Most tours include lunch along the way. With 3 hours at Pamukkale, you can enjoy the terraces and Cleopatra’s Pool. If you want to stay at Pamukkale longer, you will need to travel there independently and not with a tour. But I highly recommend taking a tour and not trying to arrange transportation by yourself. Let someone else bother about the logistics.

3. Antalya Attractions – Antalya Aquarium

The Antalya aquarium is big enough to spend a couple of hours exploring. Apart from the aquarium, the site has several other attractions like a reptile park, a kid’s play area, a wax museum, a 4D ride, and Ice World! And you can see sharks feeding or feed the stingrays yourself!

4. Antalya Old Town & Harbor

These Antalya attractions is obvious. In fact, you’ll probably spend a lot of time wandering around the Old Town. While you’re there you can do some shopping (don’t forget to bargain), eat at one of the eateries, visit the historic buildings, and go down to the picturesque harbor. For the perfect photo of Antalya harbor go to the lookout point just before you enter the Old Town from the coastal road. There are a few restaurants here and a lift that will take you down to the water.

5. Antalya Cable Cars

There are two!

Tünektepe Cable Car:

Just a 10-minute drive from Antalya, is another one of the Antalya attractions. you can visit this cable car without an organized tour or just grab a taxi in Antalya and you’re on your way.

Open: Tues-Sun 10:00-18:00

Cost: $10 per person for the cable car ride

Olympos Teleferik:

The most famous cable car in Antalya is further away. Olympos is easy to visit with an organized tour and it is one of the top Antalya attractions. You can join a tour from your hotel but it is cheaper to book a tour online. The aerial tramway is in the Beydaglari Coastal National Park, at the summit of Tahtali Mountain, 2,365m high. Once at the top you can follow several hike trails or relax and enjoy the view. You can even go paragliding

Open: Daily 09:30-16:30

Cost: Round-trip ride on the cable car is $30 for adults and $15 for kids. If you take an organized tour from Antalya (booked online with this link – Olympos from Antalya) the price of the cable car, and transfer from Antalya is included.

You can take a tour from Antalya into the Taurus Mountains and enjoy activities like Quad biking, jeep safaris, rafting, and ziplines! There is a range of different tours of this kind to choose from. Make sure you choose an Antalya tour that includes hotel pick-up. And be sure to read the reviews! Why not try an Antalya tour that includes all of the activities in one day?