To give you an idea of what an Antalya trip can look like, here’s a basic itinerary blending city sights and nearby excursions. This example assumes you’re starting from Istanbul, as many travelers do:
Day 1 – Istanbul to Antalya: After exploring Istanbul, take a quick flight down to Antalya (direct flights from Istanbul take only about 1 hour 20 minutes). Upon arrival, check into your hotel and spend the afternoon getting acquainted with Antalya’s old city. Wander through Kaleici’s winding streets, pass through Hadrian’s Gate into the ancient town, and enjoy the view at the harbor. In the evening, you can relax at a rooftop restaurant in the old town or take a stroll along the marina. (Travel tip: Istanbul and Antalya package tours usually include this domestic flight and airport transfers for you.)
Day 2 – Antalya City Tour: Devote a full day to an Antalya city tour covering the major sights. Start with a trip to the Duden Waterfalls feel the cool mist as you watch the falls plunge into the sea. Continue to explore the city’s historical core: visit landmarks like the Clock Tower and Yivli Minaret in the old city, and perhaps stop by the Antalya Museum if you’re a history buff. Around midday, enjoy a leisurely lunch in Kaleici (the old town has plenty of cute cafes and traditional Turkish restaurants). After lunch, you might take a cable car ride up to Tünek Tepe or Mt. Olympos (Tahtalı) for a panoramic view of the coastline. Many Antalya tours also offer a short boat tour from the harbor, so you could end your afternoon cruising along the coast. In the evening, consider watching the sunset on the beach or exploring Antalya’s lively bazaars for some souvenirs.
Day 3 – Pamukkale Day Trip: One of the most popular Antalya day trips is an excursion to Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its white travertine terraces and thermal springs. It’s an early start you’ll typically depart Antalya by bus or van around 5:30–6:00 AM for the 3-4 hour drive to Pamukkale. Upon arriving, you can walk barefoot on the otherworldly white calcium terraces (the name Pamukkale means “Cotton Castle”) and soak your feet in the warm mineral pools. At the top of the ridge lies the ancient city of Hierapolis, where you can explore Roman ruins like the theater and necropolis. Most tours give you a few hours to enjoy the area; you’ll have time for a quick dip in the Antique Pool (Cleopatra’s Pool) swimming among submerged columns is a unique experience! After lunch, you’ll head back to Antalya, arriving by late evening. It’s a long day but completely worth it to witness Pamukkale’s surreal landscape firsthand. (If you prefer not to rush, you could stay overnight near Pamukkale, but standard Pamukkale from Antalya tours are designed as full day trips.)
Day 4 – Farewell or Continue to Cappadocia: Depending on your schedule, you can spend another morning in Antalya relaxing on the beach or doing some last minute sightseeing/shopping. Many people then fly out from Antalya either back to Istanbul or onward to their next destination. If you have extra time and adventure in mind, you can continue from Antalya to Cappadocia to experience Turkey’s famous fairy tale landscapes. A short domestic flight (about 1 hour 20 minutes from Antalya to Kayseri) connects the two regions. This means by the afternoon you could be exploring Cappadocia’s cave dwellings and preparing for an early morning hot air balloon ride. Combining Cappadocia to Antalya (or vice versa) in one trip gives you a fantastic contrast from the Mediterranean coast to otherworldly valleys truly a taste of Turkey’s diversity.
Caption: The surreal white travertine terraces of Pamukkale make for an unforgettable day trip from Antalya. Visitors can walk along these mineral rich pools and even bathe in the thermal waters at the top. (Image: A traveler enjoying Pamukkale’s terraces, Turkey)
From ancient city walls to natural wonders, 
To give you an idea of what an Antalya trip can look like, here’s a basic itinerary blending city sights and nearby excursions. This example assumes you’re starting from Istanbul, as many travelers do:
hanks to its convenient location, Antalya is often included in multi city Turkey itineraries. In fact, choosing an 
No discussion of Antalya tours would be complete without highlighting Pamukkale in a bit more detail. Visiting 
