Things to do in Antalya

Nat Geo Day Tour: Women of Antalya, Past to Present

Nearly two millennia ago, Plancia Magna blazed a trail by making an impressive impact on the city of Perge despite the usual passive role of women at that time. She was born into a wealthy, powerful family, but instead of leading the easy life of the elite, she used her privilege to benefit her city. Her courage, independence and strength of character was celebrated long after her time, and inspired women through the ages to seek influential roles in society. Your National Geographic-trained guide will reveal the ancient city of Perge with a focus on the life and legacy of Plancia Magna, an inspirational figure even today. Perhaps Plancia was a source of inspiration for Hatice Adıgüzel, whose workshop you will visit next. Discover the skills and artistry involved in creating lamps and garden ornaments from gourds, and learn from Hatice herself what sets her business apart - her leadership in a male-dominated workforce and her commitment to empowering local women. During a hands-on workshop, you will have the opportunity to create your own small decorative gourd and learn more about both the craft and Hatice's contributions to the local women's community. She pays her success forward by employing local women to decorate the gourds from their own homes and provides them with seeds to help grow the gourds for the business. This helps women who are unable to work in regular employment due to childcare commitments or similar restrictions by giving them a convenient way to earn.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Exploring Antalya's Nomadic Culture

The foothills of the Taurus mountains have been a region of travel and trade for millennia. On this tour, get a flavour of the ancient traditions still alive in the region, and visit a Yörük family to experience their nomadic lifestyle in close-up. First, see the unusual Seljuk bridge at Aspendos, whose fascinating story is represented by its zigzag formation. A bridge has spanned this section of the Köprüçay river since around the 4th century, and your guide will explain its significance. Another sign that this region has a long history of comings and goings is the 13th century Kargıhan caravanserai, with most of its original layout still in good condition. Strolling through the ancient inn's bedrooms, guardian's quarters, bathhouse and prayer hall with your guide you'll get a sense of times gone by and all the thousands of people who passed through here for a rest and refuel on their travels. Yörük people have been following the rhythms of their nomadic lifestyle for centuries. Each spring, they move their camps and flocks from the mild coastal plains to the summer pastures in the mountains. Meet a Yörük family to understand more about their low-impact lifestyle and their humble tented homes knitted with wool from their own animals. You'll also have time to explore the pretty Ottoman village of Ormana, known for its ingenious 'button houses' - built only with stone and timber. On the return journey, you will hopefully catch a glimpse of the famous wild horses of the area.

Antalya Family Adventure Experience in Aladdin's Canyon

An experience in the Anatolian wilds awaits with a day of canyoning, swimming, diving, jumping and enjoying the best of nature in the Taurus Mountains. You'll head deep into the countryside to Ahmetler Canyon for an action-packed adventure.

Side Ancient City Highlights Tour with Temple of Apollo

Ancient Side has hardly changed since its days as a getaway for legendary lovers Antony and Cleopatra. Uncover one of southern Turkey's best-kept secrets with this tour. You'll get to snap photos by the Temple of Apollo, discover the huge Roman theatre and explore modern Side, too. As Muzaffer, one of our guides, says, ‘You'll walk all over history. On the way to the Temple of Apollo, there are glass walkways over ancient Roman streets.'Side's location on a compact little headland is as romantic as it gets. Our expert local guide will give you the lowdown on the long history of this once-busy Roman port. You'll see the marketplace where slaves were traded, the Byzantine hospital and the Vespasian Gate. The ancient theatre, which is still used today, is a sight to behold – it seated up to 20,000 spectators. While the former bathhouse is now a museum with a small but impressive collection of artefacts dug up here.But one of the most-photographed spots is the Temple of Apollo. Legend says that this second-century seafront shrine was a gift from Antony to Cleopatra. And just beside it is the Temple of Athena – zoom in on the frieze of Medusa heads. Once you've explored the ruins, there'll be free time in modern Side to buy a sizzling kebab at one of the street stalls, or haggle for bargains in the backstreet bazaars. What's more, for your convenience, this is a small group tour to help you follow the guide better and avoid agglomerations.

Green Canyon Boat Cruise with Lunch and Orange Grove Visit

The star attractions of this full day excursion are orange orchards, shopping and a beautiful, wild canyon. You'll taste fresh orange juice, enjoy a canyon boat trip and stop for a swim at Oymapinar Dam Lake. Narin, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Oymapinar Dam Lake is one of the largest reservoirs in Turkey, covering an area of approximately 19 square kilometres. The lake is fed by the Manavgat River, which flows south from the Taurus Mountains and eventually empties into the Mediterranean Sea at Side.' Your morning starts with a quick visit to a fruit garden for some freshly squeezed orange juice. We'll then call in for a spot of shopping at Dickman Textile Centre. If fashion is your thing, then you're in luck as you can enjoy a stress-free browse for clothing and accessories without the hassle of pushy salespeople. Next, we'll head for a riverside restaurant to enjoy a freshly prepared lunch made with locally sourced ingredients. After lunch it's all aboard, ready for a cruise down the canyon waterway. Spectacularly rugged rock formations tower around you and the river, in shades of turquoise and green, snakes away into the distance. It's a tranquil slice of Turkish natural beauty and the colour of the water is spellbinding. You'll cruise the canyon, admiring the views, before the boat slows - you'll be able to swim in these wild surroundings once the boat reaches the Oymapinar Lake.

Kekova, Myra and St Nicholas Tour with Lunch and Boat Trip

Authentic cuisine, a lost city and Santa – this trip offers an eclectic mix of attractions. You'll savour local dishes in Beymelek, glide along the coast to Kekova island and its sunken town, and visit the church of St Nicholas – better known today as Santa Claus – in Myra.

Winter Tour to Pamukkale and Hierapolis

This winter tour takes you to Pamukkale, which means 'cotton castle' in Turkish – and you'll soon see why as you set eyes upon this magical landscape. You'll also visit the adjacent ancient city of Hierapolis. Both are UNESCO-listed, so it's a two-in-one deal on Turkey's standout historical gems.

Summer Tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis with Lake Salda

This summer tour takes you to Pamukkale, which means ‘cotton castle' in Turkish – and you'll see why as soon as you set eyes upon its magical landscape. Heading deep into the Anatolian countryside, you'll also visit Hierapolis, Lake Salda and Cleopatra's Pool.

Phaselis & Tahtali Mountain Day Tour

If you'd like an insight into Antalya's past and present, then this day tour will tick all the boxes. You've got history at the ancient ruins of Phaselis and panoramic views with a ride on the Olympos Aerial Tram. What's more, there's time to visit one of Antalya's best beaches and enjoy lunch at the top of Mt Tahtali.

Private Sagalassos Ancient City Tour

Situated in a remote region of southwest Turkey, the isolated location of Sagalassos has helped keep it a hidden gem. An important city to both Alexander the Great and ancient Rome, discover this incredibly well-preserved archaeological site with the added bonus of a Lake Karacaören photo stop and a visit to Burdur museum.You'll travel north through the Turkish countryside on this private tour, kicking off in what is one of the world's largest archaeological sites. But first, there's a stop to admire the almost made-for-Instagram Lake Karacaören – a top Turkish beauty spot.On arrival at Sagalassos, a tour of the impressive mountaintop ruins awaits. Surrounded by crumbling columns, villas, temples and major must-sees like the city centre and the Hellenistic theatre, it's like stepping through the pages of a history book. After lunch, a walking tour of nearby Burdur and a visit to the city museum reveals even more about the region's past.

Pamukkale and Lake Salda Private Tour

This private tour takes you to Pamukkale, which means ‘cotton castle' in Turkish – and you'll see why as soon as you set eyes upon its magical landscape. Heading deep into the Anatolian countryside, you'll also visit Hierapolis, Lake Salda and Cleopatra's Pool. As with all our tours, we use expert local guides who know the area inside out. Muzaffer, one of the guides, says, ‘I've got a lot of interesting things to tell on this tour that you won't hear anywhere else.'Leaving Antalya early in the morning, you'll arrive at Lake Salda Lake after a few hours' scenic drive. It's been compared to the Maldives for its long white beaches and multi-toned blue waters. You'll have free time to take some photos of this otherworldly spot. And this is just a taster for what's to come in the afternoon.We'll head to Pamukkale for lunch. Afterwards, catch a peek of the bright white calcite terraces – they look like icy stalactites dripping from pools of sky-blue water. At the top of these travertines is Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the Byzantine Gate and marvel at the ruins as you stroll towards the vast bowl-shaped theatre. It's epic. Then relax with a dip in the warm water Cleopatra's Ancient Pool, where you swim among ancient columns. Dinner in a forest restaurant on the way back is included. What's more, for every sale of this experience, there's a donation to CYDD, a charity that helps in the education of underprivileged children in Turkey.

Private Kekova, Myra & St Nicholas Tour

Christmas comes early on this private tour – it's the best gift you can give your holiday. You'll visit the stone houses of Beymelek, cruise to Kekova Island, see the ‘lost city' of Simena and visit the Church of St Nicholas and ancient ruins of Myra.The fun kicks off with an organic brunch at Beymelek stone houses. You'll then visit a nearby greenhouse to learn about local horticulture. Next, hop on to a boat to Kekova Island. You'll discover the sunken city of Simena and, in summer, enjoy a swim stop.Then, after lunch, visit the Church of St Nicholas – alias Santa – and the ruins of ancient Myra. The church, which dates from the year 520, boasts recently restored 12th century frescoes while the archaeological site is pretty impressive. Star turns include the Roman theatre and the Lycian rock-cut tombs.