Get ready to be surprised by Turkey with this 6-day Turkish Riviera itinerary. A Turkish region, particularly popular in summer, where you can find everything from places full of history to some of the best coastal towns in Turkey.

Turkey is an extraordinary destination! It’s an excellent choice for nature lovers, history lovers, people who love cosmopolitan cities or even those who prefer heavenly beaches. You can find a bit of everything in this country!

Throughout this post, I’m going to tell you about the best things to visit on Turquoise Coast (another name that is usually given to the Turkish Riviera) – a very popular area in the south of Turkey for beach-goers. However, this is far from being a beach destination only.

On the Turkish Riviera, as well as beautiful beaches, you’ll find cute and quirky cities, places packed with history and even unbelievable hiking trails. So, get ready to be surprised with this Turkish Riviera itinerary 🥰.

In this article, you’ll find the following information:

• Where is Turkish Riviera?
• Turkish Riviera Itinerary
• Best time of year to visit the Turkish Riviera
• How many days do you need to visit the Turkish Riviera?

Also commonly known as the Turquoise Coast, the Turkish Riviera is located in the southwest of Turkey and includes some well-known places such as Fethiye, Antalya, Ephesus and Bodrum, among others.

It is a particularly popular region in the summer months, as it has a very interesting climate with high temperatures and the seawater is quite pleasant as well. In addition to the beach-friendly weather, this is a part of Turkey with other points of interest (many of them archaeological) that attract many tourists every year. Examples of this are two of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World: the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum.

The Turkish Riviera stretches along more than 1000 kilometres of the Turkish coastline and is bathed by both the Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas. You can already imagine the beautiful beaches and natural landscapes that can be found along this coast.

The Turkish Riviera has a Mediterranean climate: summers are hot and winters are relatively pleasant. However, the Turkish Riviera does have a lot to offer and it’s quite big. So, the best time of the year to visit the Turquoise Coast depends on the places you’re going to visit in the region. For example, summers can be excessively hot, but this is also the best season for going to the beach.

So I recommend visiting the Turkish Riviera from May to October. In my case, I was in this part of Turkey at the beginning of October and the temperatures were still high (without being too high!) and I even got to go to the beach several times!

If you remember that the Turkish Riviera stretches for more than 1000 km along the southern coast of Turkey, you quickly realise that this is not a destination to see in just a few days.

Of course, it is possible to see the highlights in a few days, especially if you consider there are some airports serving this part of Turkey that make it easier to get from one place to another. But one of the best things about visiting Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is that you can also take it easy and stop off at some of the fantastic beaches along the coast 😄.

What’s more, many of the main coastal areas are far apart and, given the geography of the region, sometimes going to some places will necessarily involve a detour, as is the case with Marmaris or Bodrum.

That’s why I suggest visiting the Turkish Riviera in 7 days. This trip length will allow you to travel peacefully, allowing for a good compromise between a more historical visit, some relaxing time at the incredible beaches or walks in nature.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have more days available and would like to discover more of this incredible country, I suggest you read my post on a 12-day itinerary in Turkey or even this one on the 30 things you should know before travelling to Turkey.

Given the size of the Turkish Riviera, the answer to this question depends on the places you want to visit in this Turkish region. For example, there are several airports spread across the Turkish Riviera, such as:

• Dalaman Airport
• Antalya Airport
• Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport
• Milas-Bodrum Aiport

All these airports on the Turkish Riviera have connections not only with other cities in Turkey, but also with other destinations outside the country.

To have greater freedom to explore the incredible Turkish Riviera region, I recommend renting a car. This is undoubtedly the most comfortable option. What’s more, petrol in Turkey isn’t very expensive and neither is renting a car. However, since the covered distances might be great sometimes, depending on your itinerary around the Turkish Riviera, the best option is to drop off the car at a different place from the pick-up point.

In my case, except for Istanbul, I always had a car while visiting Turkey. I rented the car in Izmir and dropped it off in Kayseri (Cappadocia). The option of leaving the car at a different destination was a bit more expensive, but it allowed me to save a lot of time.

The Turkish currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). As of April 2024, the exchange rate against the Euro is 1€ = 34.60 TRY. Please note that this currency has been suffering from historic levels of inflation, so any price mentioned throughout this post in lira may no longer be valid. In fact, this is the most likely thing to happen. When preparing for this trip, I came across recent prices online that no longer match the current prices.

As for how to pay, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of places that accept card payments (even in remote locations and for insignificant amounts). Even so, you should always carry some cash, as there may be some places that don’t accept cards.

For card payments, I always used my Revolut card, which has several advantages. One of the biggest advantages of using a Revolut card when travelling is that it doesn’t charge fees for transactions in different currencies.

If you still haven’t learnt about all the advantages of having a Revolut card, you can find out more here.

As soon as I arrived in Turkey, I opted to buy a SIM card at the airport. There were three different options, but I was recommended Turk Telecom and the service worked quite well.

• Vodafone 20 GB – 999 TRY
• Türk Telecom 30 GB – 999 TRY
• Turkcell 20 GB – 1199 TRY

Alternatively, you can choose to buy an e-SIM just before your trip, thus saving some time when you arrive. For example, this e-SIM option has several plans for different journey durations.

Given the size of the region, it makes sense to change accommodation along this Turkish Riviera itinerary. For example, in my case, I stayed 2 nights in Izmir, 2 nights in Ölüdeniz, 1 night in Kaş and 2 nights in Antalya. These were the accommodations I stayed in:

• Izmir: Piano Hotel Izmir – very simple hotel and rather small room, but centrally located and with parking available.
• Ölüdeniz: Olympos Hotel – a bit old-fashioned and breakfast had little variety, but it has a good location and low price.
• Kaş: Kaş Evderhan – Excellent value for money. The room was small but very modern. Also, good breakfast with superb views and a very central location.
• Antalya: Kalispera Hotel – Good facilities, despite the small room size. There was no breakfast option, but it was close to some cafés/restaurants.

To help you plan your trip, I’m sharing below a Turkish Riviera map with my suggested 6 day itinerary.

The Turquoise Coast itinerary I’m going to show you below is exactly the one I did. Although the itinerary covers the main points of interest in the region, I realise that some interesting places have been left out. For this reason, at the end of this post, you can find additional suggestions with some more of the best things to do on the Turquoise Coast.

To make the logistics of travelling easier and reduce the time spent travelling, I suggest starting the itinerary in one part of the Turkish Riviera and ending it in a different one. For example, the itinerary presented in this post starts in Izmir and ends in Antalya. Note: this itinerary does not include arrival in Izmir and departure from Antalya.

From the city of Izmir, it takes about an hour by car (82 kilometres) to reach Ephesus. Ephesus is undoubtedly one of the top 10 places to visit in Turkey. When you arrive in Ephesus, there is a large car park (it costs 70 TRY, 2€).

💡 EXTRA TIP: Traffic in Turkey can be quite heavy at times (especially in big cities). So, make sure to plan your journey with possible delays in mind.

Ephesus is an ancient Greek city, founded in the 10th century and later part of the Roman Empire. In fact, it became one of the largest cities in the empire.

The complex where the ruins of Ephesus are located is quite big, so I recommend saving 2 to 3 hours for this visit. Of special interest are the Celsus Library, the Ancient Roman Theatre and the Terrace Houses.

This is a place that receives many tours, so the earlier you arrive, the better. The Library of Celsus is one of the most visited places, so I suggest this is the first thing you visit once you arrive.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Ephesus’ opening hours are from 8 am to 6.30 pm daily. Entrance costs 700 TRY (~20.3€). Entry to the Terrace Houses costs an additional 320 TRY (~10.2€). Both entrances are covered by the Museum Pass. You can find the most up-to-date information here.

Leaving Ephesus, I suggest stopping for lunch in a small town called Şirince. There’s little to see here, but it’s so lovely that it’s worth the short diversion.

The centre is almost entirely a pedestrian area, so you have the perfect excuse to get lost in its narrow streets. One of the most interesting places in Şirince is its Bazaar, which sells a bit of everything, but also the small houses with very particular architecture (which reminded me so much of Berat in Albania). The secret is to walk around without a destination in mind 🥰.

For a privileged view of the houses, I suggest lunch at Şirince Artemis Restaurant. The outside space is very pleasant and the food is very tasty.

I also visited St John the Baptist Church, but honestly, I was a bit disappointed. But it’s right in the centre, so you can go and see for yourself.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Since traffic is limited in the centre of Şirince, I suggest parking your car here. You must pay for the car park, but it’s quite cheap (I paid 50 TRY, 1.45€ for two hours).

After a short stroll in Şirince, I suggest returning to Izmir, where I recommend staying overnight. Although Izmir is Turkey’s third largest city in terms of population, it was my least favourite place to visit in the country.

Even so, there are some fun parts of the city where you can take the opportunity to wander around at the end of the day. However, I wouldn’t spend too much time in this city.

I’d especially like to highlight Konak Square, where you’ll find a small mosque and a beautiful clock tower. If you cross the street in the direction of the sea, you can also take a pleasant walk along Izmir’s seafront promenade. This is a particularly beautiful place at sunset 😍.

Other points of interest in Izmir include:

• Smyrna Agora – The ticket is included in the Museum Pass, but you can see parts of the complex from outside. I ended up only seeing it from the outside because I arrived and it had already closed, but it didn’t seem that interesting.
• Asansör – a lift from where you can enjoy views over Izmir
• Kadifekale Castle – has views over the city, but it’s rather abandoned. I don’t think it’s worth going there
• Bazaars: Keremalti and Kızlarağası Inn – the second is more interesting than the first, in my opinion

The accommodation I stayed in for two nights in Izmir (Piano Hotel Izmir) was rather small, but it served its purpose perfectly. There were parking spots available (very important in a busy city like Izmir) and breakfast was included. There wasn’t much variety at breakfast, but it was sufficient to get by.

Even so, I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you other suggestions for accommodation in Izmir:

One of the best meals I had in Turkey was in Izmir, on my first night in the country. The restaurant was called Tavacı Recep Usta Alsancak and I had tavuk tava, which was divine. The meal was a bit expensive, especially for Turkish prices, but it was well worth it.

For the second day on this Turkish Riviera itinerary, I suggest two alternative options. Regardless of which you choose, this day will include several hours on the road.

The first option involves a significant detour from the Turkish coast to visit Pamukkale and Hierapolis. This was the option I chose and I think it was well worth it 🥰. The car journey from Izmir to Pamukkale/Hierapolis takes 3 hours. In total, this day’s journey would take 6h10.

Another option is to continue along Turkey’s southern coast to Ölüdeniz. In this case, I suggest making a stop in Marmaris, which is another of Turkey’s coastal cities. In this case, the total journey for the day would take 5h30.

Pamukkale

The literal translation of Pamukkale is ‘cotton castle’, and you only have to see a photo of this place to realise why it has this name. Although Pamukkale is located a bit away from most tourist sites in the country, this place is quite popular and has become one of the must-see places in Turkey.

Pamukkale is home to several thermal pools of limestone origin. The properties of the soil lead to the spilling of calcium carbonate, which eventually solidifies as travertine marble.

This set of white pools looks very pretty and creates a nice effect. However, to manage expectations, I warn you that some of the pools are quite dry. Even so, I thought it was an amazing place! I am just telling you this just so you know what to expect when visiting Pamukkale.

As Pamukkale has become quite famous in recent years, you probably won’t find this place empty. In fact, if you want to avoid the crowds, I suggest visiting very close to opening time. I ended up visiting after lunch and, even though it was full of tourists, I enjoyed the experience anyway.

There are three entrances to these pools: the north entrance, the south entrance and the city entrance. I ended up entering via the south entrance, allowing me to see Hierapolis first (more on that later) and the pools at the end. The car park at the south entrance was large and cost 20 TRY (~0.58€).

Finally, some general tips for visiting Pamukkale:

• It is not possible to wear shoes to the pools. You can leave them at the entrance (this is what most pools do) or take them with you.
• The ground is very slippery and uneven. Some parts are not pleasant to walk on at all
• You can’t really swim in the pools as the water is very low
• There is no protection along the path, so you have to be very careful when visiting the pools

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The joint ticket to visit Pamukkale (also includes entry to Hierapolis) costs 850 TRY (~ 24.6€). More information here (I must warn you, however, that the information online does not correspond to what is indicated on site).

Hierapolis

Hierapolis is an ancient Greek city in the Lycian River valley. It dates back to the 2nd century BC and was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt again years later, having also belonged to the Roman Empire.

The complex is still quite large, but the theatre stands out in particular for its beautiful details. Not to be missed 🥰. By the way, Hierapolis, together with Pamukkale, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another curious site in Hierapolis that deserves some attention is the Gate to Hell, where animals mysteriously died. Years later, the explanation for this phenomenon was found: it was the excess CO2 that accumulated at night and caused the animals to suffocate.

Cleopatra’s pools are another must-see in Hierapolis. These thermal pools cost an extra 200 TRY (~ 5.8€), but if you have the Museum Pass you get a 60% discount. I think it’s interesting in winter, but on very hot days, these pools are not that inviting.

Like many of the towns on Turkey’s coast, Marmaris is an excellent beach destination (some of the main beaches include Uzun Yalı, İncekum or Marmaris Halk). However, this town has more to offer.

These are some of the main points of interest in Marmaris:

• Marmaris Castle
• Grand Bazaar
• Visit the nearby town of İçmeler
• Take a stroll in Marmaris marina
• Explore Marmaris National Park

The third day in this Turkish Riviera will be much more relaxed, with time to enjoy the best that the Turkish Riviera has to offer. This area of Turkey (Fethiye region) is perfect for beach-goers and is very popular with British and Russian holidaymakers due to its beautiful beaches.

If you’re not planning to visit Turkey at a time when it’s hot, going to the beach might not be an option, but there are still some interesting activities to do in the Fethiye region that don’t involve the beach. In any case, this itinerary assumes that you’ll spend some time at the beach.

The first place to visit on this day is Kayaköy. This is an old city that is currently abandoned. After it was evacuated in 1923, the town’s houses and other buildings were left abandoned, and so only ruins remain.

This city was home to mostly Greek Orthodox Christians, who coexisted with the rest of the country’s Muslim population. However, after the Greek-Turkish war in the early 1920s and following a treaty, there was an exchange of population between Greece and Turkey.

Access to the village is quite simple and is next to this restaurant. I confess that I had some difficulty finding the entrance at first, which is why I decided to share this tip here.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: There is a ticket office next to the entrance to the city and the ticket costs 60 TRY (~1.7€). As for parking, you can leave your car on the side of the road.

Surprisingly, this was one of the places that most attracted me to Turkey. Perhaps it was because it was an abandoned place that left me wondering what life was like there in the old days. I’m not sure, but I do know that it’s worth considering on your itinerary in Turkey 😉.

It’s time to get in the car again and drive to Fethiye. This is a small seaside town, but quite cute.

The historic centre is relatively small, but it’s definitely worth a visit. There is a bazaar where you can find a bit of everything.

Also, slightly further away from the historic centre of Fethiye, you can visit the tombs of Amyntas. These tombs are carved into the rock and date back to ancient Lycian times. The visit is relatively quick, as the tombs can only be seen from the outside and there aren’t many of them. The view over Fethiye from the place where the tombs are located is also very beautiful.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit the tombs costs 60 TRY (~1.7€), but is included in the Museum Pass. Honestly, since the tombs are visible from the street, I only think it’s worth visiting if you have the Museum Pass.

If you visit Fethiye late in the morning, for example, I recommend staying there for lunch. I tried the Fethiye Paşa Kebap restaurant in Fethiye and really enjoyed it. The prices were affordable, the service was fast and the food was great (I ordered pide and lahmacun).

To make sure the days aren’t all too tiring, my suggestion for the afternoon is to enjoy a bit of beach time on one of Ölüdeniz’s most famous beaches – Blue Lagoon.

Although this is one of the best-known beaches in Turkey, it is quite long and so I didn’t think it was too crowded (note: I visited at the beginning of October). There is crystal clear water, making this the perfect place to relax for a while.

Another curiosity about this beach is that you’ll constantly see paragliders flying over it. This is a very popular area for paragliding. In fact, this is an excellent activity to add to your itinerary (if you’re not afraid like me 😅).

💡 EXTRA TIP: For the best views of the Blue Lagoon, I suggest a visit to the viewpoint Montana Seyir Tepesi. Contrary to what Google Maps indicates, I don’t think it’s possible to drive to the viewpoint. Due to lack of time, I didn’t make the final walk to the viewpoint, but it looks incredible.

Although I’m considering Ölüdeniz separately, Ölüdeniz doesn’t have a proper historical centre. Many of the things you can do there I’ve already mentioned before.

However, Ölüdeniz is strategically located on the Turkish Riviera for many of the popular activities there and has a great offer when it comes to accommodation and restaurants. In fact, that’s why I’m mentioning Ölüdeniz in the itinerary.

💡 EXTRA TIP: You can find more ideas about what to visit in Fethiye’s region here.

The accommodation I stayed in for two nights in Ölüdeniz was acceptable for the price (20€/person per night). Olympos Hotel had a relatively spacious room, although the decor was rather old-fashioned.

There was an outdoor swimming pool and car park in front of the hotel, and breakfast was also included in the price. However, the variety and quality of this meal left a lot to be desired. But for the price, it was perfectly just fine.

In any case, I’ll share other suggestions for accommodation in Ölüdeniz:

I had the opportunity to try two restaurants in Ölüdeniz, but I’m only going to recommend one – Angora Restaurant. It looks like a restaurant that would easily be full during peak season. However, when I visited it was very quiet and the food was good, even though I only ordered a simple chicken kebab.

The list of things to see in Turkey’s Turquoise Coast should also include Saklikent National Park. It was one of the most memorable experiences on this trip 🥰!

In this park, you can walk along the Saklikent Gorge and the experience is incredible. The gorge is over 18 km long and 300 metres deep. However, you can’t walk the entire route.

💡 EXTRA TIP: At certain times of the year (usually from November to March), it may be impossible to visit this gorge due to the high water level.

Although it would have been possible to walk a longer route, I chose to walk only about 2 kilometres (round trip). And even walking just a few kilometres in the gorge was an unforgettable experience.

The water is quite cold (so cold that your bones ache!!), but the initial part where the water flow is stronger is the worst. From that point onwards, the volume of water decreases and it’s much easier to walk through the gorge. There is also a lot of mud along the way, which can lead to a few funny moments.

Some useful information for visiting Saklikent Gorge:

• The car park costs 50 TRY (~ 1.5€)
• Entry to the gorge costs 24 TRY (~ 0.70€)
• If you don’t have your water shoes, you can hire them. I rented mine in the car park and it cost 60 TRY (1.7€). The quality was poor, but without them, you won’t be able to walk through the gorge.
• There are helmets at the gorge’s entrance, but most people don’t use it. I confess I only saw them when I had finished the route.
• There are some cafés with drinks and light meals near the gorge’s entrance

Relatively close to the Saklikent Gorge, there is also an easily accessible waterfall. Although it’s not as impressive as walking along the gorge, the waterfall is majestic nonetheless.

To get there, you have to walk for about 1 km from the entrance, the last 300 metres of which are over water. As such, you also need waterproof shoes to make it all the way. Again, I ended up renting some more waterproof shoes for 40 TRY (~1.2€). There is also a staircase along the route, which is the hardest part on the way back (but perfectly doable 😉).

The entrance to the area where the waterfall is located has a car park which costs 50 TRY (~ 1.5€). There is a whole supporting infrastructure where you’ll find souvenir shops and restaurants.

It’s time to discover another beach! Kaputaş beach is usually considered one of the best beaches in Turkish Riviera. The beach is indeed beautiful. However, it’s very popular, so it was crowded.

Firstly, parking is mostly done on the side of the road. If you don’t arrive early, you risk having to walk a long way to get to the beach.

Secondly, the beach isn’t very long, so there weren’t many spaces left on the sand. And this was in October! I don’t want to imagine it in the peak of summer 😱. Even so, I think it’s worth stopping by, if only to have a look at the beach.

After the beach, drive to Kaş. The route is almost always by the sea. If you do it at the end of the day when the sun is setting, it’s even more magical.

Kaş is a small coastal town and was my favourite in the whole of the Turkish Riviera. It’s very lively (especially at night) and has a few souvenir shops where you can easily get lost.

If you have some time, I recommend a short stroll around the city on the same day. If you don’t, reserve the stroll around Kaş for the following day. The centre isn’t very big and you’ll quickly discover the main points of interest. In fact, one of the best ways to explore this city is to get lost in its historic centre.

Other spots that you can also include in your itinerary are the market that takes place every Friday, Kaş Square and the Antiphellus Amphitheater.

Finally, don’t miss out on one of the best views of the city at the viewpoint Kaş Panorama. Since this spot is a bit far from the centre, it makes sense to leave it until the next day.

I couldn’t recommend more the accommodation I stayed in Kaş – Kaş Evderhan. It was very modern, had excellent facilities and was very centrally located. With the historic centre of Kaş being quite chaotic, having the possibility of leaving the car parked in front of the hotel was excellent.

What’s more, breakfast had some variety and was served on the hotel terrace with spectacular views. A great way to start the day!

Other accommodation options in Kaş include:

On the 5th day on the Turkish Riviera, I suggest driving towards Antalya. However, in order not to miss out on the beach mood, I suggest stopping for a couple of hours at Çıralı Beach.

Çıralı beach is about a 2h10 drive from Kaş. The route has many bends, but the scenery is quite beautiful.

Çıralı Beach is an excellent option for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the Turkish Riviera’s most famous beaches, such as Blue Lagoon or Kaputaş Beach.

Access is fairly simple, the beach is long, there are far fewer people on the beach and, what’s more, the surrounding landscape with the mountains is stunning.

In addition, there is some infrastructure to support the beach, including a series of restaurants just a few metres from the beach, with relatively inexpensive options.

After driving another 1.5 hours, it’s time to arrive in Antalya. This is another of Turkey’s largest cities and a popular destination for beach holidaymakers (and more).

Although the metropolitan area of Antalya is huge, the historic centre is rather small and half a day is enough to visit its main points of interest.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Depending on the day you choose to visit Kaş, it may be hard to explore Antalya on this 5th day. For example, I only visited Kaş on the morning of day 5, so I had to visit Antalya on the morning of day 6. However, if you have the time, you could already take the opportunity to see a bit of Antalya on this day.

One of the main places to visit in Antalya is its Old Town, commonly known as Kaleiçi. Some of the streets are picturesque and clearly worth a few photos 🥰. Also not to be missed is Hadrian’s Gate, built in honour of the Roman emperor after whom it is named. It’s the only remaining gate in the walls of Antalya.

A walk around Antalya’s old harbour is also very interesting. There are several boats in the marina, but what made me appreciate this place the most was the view of the mountains in the background. Relatively close by, I also recommend visiting the Hidirlik Roman Tower.

For views over part of the historic centre, it’s best to head to Republic Square. It’s a square devoid of large elements, but it does have a huge Turkish flag flying in the centre and amusing views.

Finally, I’d also like to highlight the Yivliminare and Sehzade Korkut mosques, both located in the Old Town.

Given the popularity of Antalya, especially during the beach season, there are plenty of accommodations in the city. As I didn’t want to visit that many beaches in Antalya, I opted for more centrally located accommodation – Kalispera Hotel.

The room was quite small, but the conditions were good. It also had parking available and is about a 15/20 minute walk from the centre. Believe me, with all the traffic in Antalya, you’ll appreciate a centrally located hotel.

Anyway, here are some other suggestions for accommodation in Antalya that I found interesting:

As I spent two nights in Antalya, I was able to try out a few restaurants in the city. Here are my suggestions:

• Çıtır Balık Antalya: I saw a huge queue at this place and decided to give it a try the next day. The main speciality is balık ekmek and it was very good and cheap.
• Fatma Sultan: very pleasant and well-kept outdoor space. The food was very tasty.
• Luna Garden: the cutest café in town where they serve cotton candy with some drinks.

I suggest you use your last day on the Turkish Riviera to visit some attractions in Antalya (outside the historic centre) or others relatively close by.

Another popular attraction in Antalya is the Duden waterfalls. They’re not located in the city centre, but they’re not too far away either. However, I must warn you that there are two different locations.

The first part of the waterfalls is located here, with its own car park (7.5 TRY, 0.22€) and the entrance to the garden where you can see the waterfall is also paid for (50 TRY, 1.5€). The walk in the park and the visit are pleasant, but the other part of the waterfall is much more interesting.

The other (and best-known) location of the Duden waterfall is by the sea, because it actually flows into the sea. And the best part is that the visit is free (including the car park). In my opinion, it’s much more worthwhile than the first waterfall and really something not to be missed in Antalya. The exact location of the waterfall is here.

Relatively close to Antalya, we can also visit another ancient Greco-Roman city. Although there are some ruins of this ancient city, the best preserved is the Theatre of Aspendos. And, quite honestly, it’s one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

In addition to its magnificence, the surrounding landscape is verdant and is particularly special when the sun is setting.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit Aspendos costs 340 TRY (~9.9€), but is included in the Museum Pass. It is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm. More information here.

This point on the itinerary is purely for those who are curious about it. I confess that it wasn’t even on my itinerary at first and I ended up going there just because I realised it wasn’t that far and I had some curiosity to check it out and time available.

The Land of Legends is a huge complex with an amusement park, shopping centre, hotel, etc. Walking around there is a whole social experience, I have to admit. I can’t say that I enjoyed it, but I decided to include it in my itinerary because some people might also be curious to visit and it’s a well-known place in Antalya.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have no intention of visiting the Land of Legends, I suggest changing the order of places to visit on this day and trying to visit one of the beaches near Antalya instead.

As I’ve already mentioned, there are many more places to visit in this region of Turkey. If you have more time to visit the Turkish Riviera, I suggest extending your itinerary to include some of these other sites:

• Bodrum – a very popular beach town in Turkey. It also has very interesting monuments, such as the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus (one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World).
• Alaçatı – small town near Izmir that looks super cute
• Kalkan – old fishing town, known for its white houses
• Dalyan – especially known for its archaeological sites, tombs and mud baths
• Side – small coastal town, where the main points of interest include the Temple of Apollo
• Troy – the perfect city for history and archaeology lovers
• Analya – one of the most popular towns on the Turkish Riviera which, in addition to its beautiful beaches, has one of the most popular caves in the region

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