A 5-day Antalya itinerary, day by day: Kaleiçi old town, beaches, the Düden waterfalls and trips to Aspendos, Side and Kemer, with RideFly booking tips.
🔍 Book your Antalya tripAntalya, on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, is a summer favourite for Iraqi families, combining sea, mountains and Roman ruins in one place. This is a suggested 5-day plan, ordered day by day by location to save time, with tips on getting around, where to stay and booking your trip via RideFly.
In 5 days in Antalya: spend day one in Kaleiçi old town and the old harbour, day two at the Antalya Museum and Konyaaltı Beach, day three at the Düden waterfalls and Lara Beach, day four on a trip east to Perge, Aspendos and Side, and day five in Kemer and Phaselis or on a boat trip before flying home. The best times to visit are May–June and September–October; book your flight and hotel via RideFly after checking current entry conditions.
Antalya Airport lies east of the city, and a taxi or pre-booked transfer is the easiest way to reach your hotel with luggage. In the afternoon, enter Kaleiçi old town by the Clock Tower and the Fluted Minaret (Yivli Minare), the city's symbol, then walk down to the old harbour to watch the boats. Continue through the lanes of Ottoman houses to Hadrian's Gate, the triple-arched Roman gate, and finish at Karaalioğlu Park and Hıdırlık Tower for sunset over the sea and the mountains. Tip: Kaleiçi's lanes are cobbled and sloping, so wear comfortable shoes, and some passages are hard going with a stroller.
Start the morning at the Antalya Museum, at the eastern end of Konyaaltı Beach west of the centre; it is one of Turkey's major archaeological museums, with statues and finds from ancient Perge and other sites, so check its opening days before you go. Then head down to Konyaaltı Beach, a long stretch of fine pebbles and clear water with mountains rising behind the bay. A promenade and parks run along the beach, ideal for an evening walk with the family. Tip: it is an easy taxi or public-transport ride from Kaleiçi, and water shoes help because the beach is pebbly, not sandy.
Head in the morning to Upper Düden Waterfall in the north of the city, a green park where a path lets you walk behind the falls. Then move south to Lower Düden Waterfall, which drops off the cliffs straight into the sea; the best view is from the clifftop park above it. Finish the day at nearby Lara Beach, a long sandy beach that suits small children better than pebbly ones. Tip: a taxi is the simplest way between the two falls, and if you want to see the lower falls from the water, take a boat trip from the old harbour on another day.
Give this day to the famous ancient sites east of Antalya, which lie roughly along the same road. Start at ancient Perge, close to the city, with its colonnaded street, then the Roman theatre of Aspendos, considered one of the best-preserved ancient theatres in the world. End in Side, a seaside town where ruins and beaches meet and the columns of the Temple of Apollo stand by the water; nearby Manavgat Waterfall can be added. Tip: start early, choose an organised tour or a car with a driver, and carry water and a hat because the sites are exposed to the sun in summer.
If your return flight is in the evening or the next day, drive southwest along the coast road to Kemer, roughly an hour away, where the mountains meet the sea. Nearby, visit Phaselis, an ancient city set among pine forest with small coves for swimming. If time is short, take a boat trip from Kaleiçi's old harbour along the rocky coast instead, then shop for souvenirs in the old town's lanes. Tip: leave plenty of time to reach the airport and check in, especially at the height of summer when the airport gets busy.
Travel in May–June or September–October: the sea is fine for swimming, the heat is milder and demand is lower than in the July–August peak. With children, plan outdoor activities for the morning and late afternoon, keep midday for the hotel or pool, and always carry sunscreen and water. Serviced apartments in Konyaaltı or Lara give families more space, while all-inclusive resorts in Belek or Kemer suit those who want to rest without much moving around. For day trips, compare an organised tour with a private car and driver depending on family size, book summer flights early and follow live prices on RideFly. Halal food is easy to find throughout the city.
Flights to Antalya are available from Baghdad, Erbil and Najaf; depending on the season and airline they may be direct or connect through another Turkish city such as Istanbul, and there are more flights in summer. Compare options and live prices on RideFly and book your hotel in the same place. Where to stay: Kaleiçi for historic atmosphere and walking to the harbour and restaurants, Konyaaltı for the beach and family promenade, Lara for sandy beaches and proximity to the airport, and Belek or Kemer for all-inclusive resorts. Before booking, check current entry and visa conditions on the Turkey visa page.
May–June and September–October, when the sea is fine for swimming and it is less hot and crowded than in July and August. Winter is mild but not beach season.
Yes, enough for the old town, the beaches, the waterfalls and two day trips. If you want beach days to relax or a long trip such as Pamukkale, add two or three days.
Kaleiçi for historic atmosphere, Konyaaltı for the beach and families, Lara for sandy beaches and proximity to the airport, and Belek or Kemer for all-inclusive resorts.
The airport is close to the city, and a taxi or pre-booked transfer is easiest with luggage. In the city there are buses, trams and taxis; for day trips, an organised tour or a car with a driver works best.
