Antalya: boat trip or ancient cities?
6 min read
Direct Answer
In high summer take to the water — the ruins are open, unshaded stone. In spring and autumn do the ancient cities: the same sites are comfortable to walk and far quieter.
Short answer
In high summer, take to the water. The coast is hot and the ancient cities are open, unshaded stone. In spring and autumn, do the ruins — the same sites are comfortable to walk and far quieter.
Antalya is unusual in that the season should decide your itinerary more than your interests do.
Why the season matters here
This is the Mediterranean coast, and midsummer heat is not a mild inconvenience. Ancient sites have no tree cover; the stone holds and reflects heat, and the walk between buildings is longer than it looks. The same site that is a pleasure in May is an endurance test in August.
Boats solve this. You are moving, there is shade on deck, and you can get into the water whenever the heat becomes too much.
In the cooler months the logic reverses. Swimming stops lose their appeal while the ruins become straightforward walking — and you have them largely to yourself.
The days on the water
- Kekova, Demre and Myra — the fullest of the boat days, and the one that is not only about swimming. You sail over a sunken city: an ancient settlement partly submerged by earthquakes, its stairways and walls visible through clear water from a glass-bottomed boat. On land nearby are Lycian rock tombs cut high into a cliff face, and the church associated with Saint Nicholas — the historical figure behind Father Christmas.
- Suluada — a small island with pale sand and unusually clear water, reached from Adrasan. This is a swimming and sunbathing day rather than a sightseeing one.
- A bay cruise — the shortest option, along the coastline with swimming stops. Suits a half-empty day rather than a planned excursion.
The days among the ruins
- Perge, Aspendos and Side — three sites in one day. Perge is a long colonnaded street and a stadium; Aspendos has a Roman theatre so well preserved that performances are still staged in it; Side is a seaside town built among its own ruins, with a temple standing at the water's edge. A waterfall is usually added on the way.
- Olympos and Yanartas — an evening trip. Natural gas seeping from the mountainside has burned continuously for thousands of years, and the flames are best seen after dark. The ancients knew this place as the home of the Chimaera. Below it lies a ruined city among trees, and a beach.
- Kaleici and the waterfalls — Antalya's own old town, inside the city rather than outside it: a Roman gate, Ottoman houses, a harbour below the cliffs. A half-day rather than a full one.
The third option: neither
Koprulu Canyon is the day for people who do not want to walk around ruins or sit on a boat. Rafting here runs through a pine gorge on cold mountain water, and the difficulty is moderate rather than extreme — most people without experience manage it comfortably.
It is the standard choice for families with older children and for groups who want to do something rather than look at something.
Choosing your day
| If… | Take |
|---|---|
| It is July or August | A boat day |
| It is spring or autumn | Perge, Aspendos and Side |
| You want history and sea in one day | Kekova, Demre and Myra |
| You only want to swim | Suluada |
| You are travelling with teenagers | Koprulu Canyon rafting |
| You have an evening free | Olympos and Yanartas |
| You have half a day | Kaleici and the waterfalls |
Practical notes
- On boat days the sun reflects off the water and burns faster than on land. Cover matters more than it feels like it does at the time.
- Ancient sites here involve uneven stone and, at some, a climb. Sandals are the wrong footwear for the ruins even though they are right for the boat.
- The evening flames are seen after a walk uphill in the dark. A torch, or a phone with charge left, is worth having.
- Antalya's coastline is long. Some trips start well outside the city, which is why departure times differ from one excursion to another.
Common questions
- Should you take a boat trip or visit ancient cities in Antalya?
- Let the season decide. In high summer take to the water: the ancient sites are open, unshaded stone that holds and reflects heat. In spring and autumn do the ruins — the same sites are comfortable to walk and far quieter.
- What is the best boat trip from Antalya?
- The Kekova, Demre and Myra day is the fullest, because it is not only about swimming: you sail over a partly submerged ancient city visible through clear water, then see Lycian rock tombs and the church associated with Saint Nicholas. Suluada is the choice for a pure swimming day.
- What ancient sites can you visit from Antalya?
- Perge with its colonnaded street and stadium, Aspendos with a Roman theatre so well preserved that performances are still staged there, and Side, a seaside town built among its own ruins. Olympos and the eternal flames of Yanartas are usually visited in the evening.
- Is rafting in Koprulu Canyon suitable for beginners?
- The difficulty is moderate rather than extreme, and most people without experience manage it comfortably. It is the usual choice for families with older children and for groups who want to do something rather than look at something.
- What should you take on an Antalya boat trip?
- Sun cover above all — the sun reflects off the water and burns faster than on land. Note also that sandals are right for the boat but wrong for the ruins, where the stone is uneven and some sites involve a climb.
The trips mentioned here
Kekova, Demre & Myra Day Trip from Antalya
The sunken city of Kekova with glass-bottom boat · Myra ancient rock tombs & Roman amphitheatre · Church of St Nicholas in Demre
Perge & Aspendos Day Trip from Antalya
Ancient City of Perge (Roman baths, agora & stadium) · Aspendos Ancient Roman Theatre · Aspendos Roman Aqueducts engineering marvel
Suluada Boat Trip from Antalya
Suluada Island turquoise waters ('Turkish Maldives') · White sand beach and natural sea caves · Multiple swimming & snorkeling stops
Köprülü Kanyon Adventure & Rafting Day Trip
White-water rafting on Köprüçay River · Köprülü Canyon National Park dramatic scenery · Swimming break in pristine mountain waters
Olympos & Yanartaş (Chimaera) Evening Tour
The eternal flames of Chimaera (Yanartaş) · Ancient ruins of Olympos nestled in nature · Atmospheric evening mountain walk
Antalya City Trip & Waterfalls
Kaleiçi Old Town narrow streets & Ottoman architecture · Hadrian's Gate & Hıdırlık Tower · Old Marina panoramic Mediterranean views