Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Antalya?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Antalya?

Many travelers spend two to five days in Antalya during their visit. After all, the luxurious vacation spot has plenty to explore such as the beaches, the many shops, and the famous sights and museums.

Antalya is a resort city in Turkey that attracts European and international tourists. The beaches are lined with hotels and the water is a beautiful blue color. Also nearby are many historical and archeological sights.

Do you have one or two days to visit Antalya? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Antalya?

Antalya is home to a multitude of sights and attractions, making it an extremely popular destination for tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to relax at the beach, browse the shops, wander through the museums, and go hiking. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the luxurious vacation spot has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to five days to enjoy the beach and other sights. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're here.

How to spend a day in Antalya

The beautiful beaches await you in Antalya, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. Beaches in Antalya are among the best in Turkey. They are sandy with warm water and a number of resorts nearby.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Antalya City Tour with Boat Trip and Duden Waterfall from Belek ($60)
  • Antalya City Tour with Boat Trip and Duden Waterfall ($42)
  • Antalya City Tour: Waterfalls, Old Town, opt. Boat Trip & More ($27)

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this vacation spot, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. Food is excellent throughout Turkey and this city is no exception. The local cuisine offers a combination of fresh caught seafood as well as various grilled meats. Local specialties include meatball skewers, kulakli soup, and even lentil ice cream. The traditional Turkish breakfast is also popular, which usually includes hard boiled eggs, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and Turkish breads or pastries. It's almost always served with Turkish tea.

Public transit in Antalya is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the vacation spot quite easily. Buses and minibuses will help you get around town.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Antalya?

A weekend is generally not enough time to experience the beach and other activities of Antalya. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the most popular activities such as the beaches, the many shops, the famous sights and museums, and the hiking. To genuinely appreciate the luxurious vacation spot, a longer visit is recommended so that you can have more time to relax at the beach. Many tourists opt for two to five days here, after all. After all, Antalya is a small vacation spot that is extremely popular with tourists due to the many sights and attractions. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

Antalya, Turkey Antalya, Turkey

How to spend 2 days in Antalya

With a weekend (two to three days) in Antalya, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the vacation spot has to offer.

Shopping in Antalya is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Antalya combines modern high end malls with more traditional bazaars. From luxury fashion brands to souvenirs and local trinkets, the area has everything.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • 4-Hour Antalya Short Shopping Tour ($21)

This vacation spot is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The city has an insane nightlife scene with huge glamorous dance clubs that fill to the brink as well as low key bars and pubs that everyone can enjoy.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Antalya, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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