Choose from 67 Fun Things to Do in Turkish Riviera
Limnionas Beach
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Myra Ruins
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Manavgat Waterfalls
- There is an entrance fee to visit the Manavgat Waterfalls.
- Facilities at the falls include a shaded picnic area, viewing platforms, restaurants, gift shops, and restrooms, as well as plenty of free parking.
- It’s possible to swim at the beaches along the river, but not beneath the falls or from the boats.
- The viewing areas at the falls are wheelchair accessible, but public transport to the falls is not, so it’s best to organize your own transport.
Patara Beach
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Saklikent Gorge
From the entrance, a boardwalk built into the cliff face leads to a spit of land that juts out into the water at the point where the Gökçesu and Ulupınar springs emerge vigorously from the canyon. Built out over the water on wooden platforms are a handful of eateries – a relaxing place to grab a simple bite or drink as you sit back and listen to the sound of rushing water below.
From here, you can make your way into the narrows by wading through the ice-cold water, which – depending on the season – may come as high as the waist. Adventurous travelers wanting to traverse the entire length of Saklıkent Gorge may wish to join a guided canyoning tour, as the sheer rock faces can be slippery and difficult to navigate. Other activities offered included river rafting, and there are even rustic treehouses where visitors can stay overnight.
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It’s open daily, May to October 8am - 7pm, November to March 8am - 4pm and admission is 6 TL.
Iztuzu Beach (Turtle Beach)
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Taurus Mountains
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Adaköy
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St Nicholas Church
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Kaunos Ruins
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Sardis
For a time Sardis was renowned throughout classical antiquity as the richest city on the planet, known for its legendary supply of gold washed down from the Tumulus Mountains. The term ‘rich as Croesus’ refers to that gold and the last Lydian ruler, King Croesus, who is thought to have invented gold coins.
In fact, settlement here dates back to Paleolithic times, but most of that history lies underground, destroyed by millennia of earthquake activity. Nowadays, the site is famous for its impressive Roman ruins, built hundreds of years after the city’s initial burst of fame, in around the 2nd century AD.
On a visit to the site you’ll see a grand double-story framework of columns and architraves outlining the extent of the Roman-era gymnasium. The baths here date from the 3rd century AD, and shops once lined the nearby street of marble stone. Fine capitals carved with acanthus leaves and classical curlicues have survived, along with mosaic tiled floors and statues.
You’ll also see the Synagogue with its marble court and mosaics, the acropolis and the celebrated Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Don’t miss the example of the Romans’ communal toilets, with a shared row of seating suspended over a latrine. The town’s arena was destroyed by an earthquake nearly 2,000 years ago, and there are more recent ruins dating from the Byzantine period.
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Water Planet Aqua Park
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Tlos
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Temple of Apollo
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Miletus
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Yaliciftlik
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Koprulu Canyon
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Kalekoy Harbour
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Sapadere Canyon
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Mt Olympos
The ancient city of Olympos lies in ruins in a picturesque valley southwest of Antalya.
Founded in Hellenistic times and becoming part of the Roman empire in 78 BC, the city is believed to have taken its name from nearby Mount Olympos, one of many mountains across Turkey and Greece named after the heavenly abode of the Gods.
The city ruins lie scattered near the village of Olimpos, in an area known for its rich plant life – wild grapevines, oleander, bay trees, wild figs and pines – and are a short walk from pretty Olimpos beach.
Visitors making the trip to the ruins of Olympos also include a visit to the nearby Chimaera (Yanartas). Sitting on a rocky mountainside above the village of Cirali, these seemingly eternal flames (fuelled by natural methane leaking from the earth) have been burning non-stop for thousands of years.
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Olympos is 90km (56mi) southwest of Antalya near the town of Kumluca.