7 Days: Antalya and the Coast

Seven days from an Antalya base covers the full Turquoise Coast lineup: Perge, Aspendos, Side, Termessos, Olympos and the Chimaera, and Pamukkale as day trips, then Kas and the Kekova boat trip as a genuine overnight. Same spine as the 6-day plan , the Kekova boat day and the drive home added.

Book these before you go

Day Focus Distance / Drive Time
1 Perge and Aspendos 18km and 47km, 20-45 min each
2 Side 76km, 1-1.25 hr southeast
3 Termessos 37-39km, 40-45 min northwest
4 Olympos and the Chimaera 80-85km, about 1.5 hr south
5 Pamukkale and Hierapolis 250-300km, 3.5-4 hr north
6 Kas (overnight start) roughly 190km, 3-3.5 hr southwest
7 Kekova boat and return boat from Kas, then 190km/3-3.5 hr back

Day 1: Perge and Aspendos

Morning

Drive 18km/20-30 minutes east to Perge, the closest ruin on this coast.

Afternoon

Continue 30km/15 minutes to Aspendos, the single best-preserved Roman theatre standing anywhere. Entry runs roughly 700 TRY ($15/13 euros), free with the MuseumPass , and it still hosts the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival every September (2026 dates: Sept 10-29).

Evening

Back in Antalya for dinner.

Day 2: Side

Morning

Drive 76km/just over an hour southeast to Side, a working beach town built directly around a Roman theatre and harbor.

Afternoon

Walk the open town for free; the theatre is the ticketed piece, exact current fee unconfirmed across sources, verify on site.

Evening

Sunset through the Temple of Apollo’s columns, then the hour back to Antalya.

Day 3: Termessos

Morning

Drive 37-39km/40-45 minutes northwest into Guillik Dagi National Park, early, the gates reportedly close by mid-afternoon.

Afternoon

Entry runs roughly 100-120 TRY ($2-3/2 euros, verify on site). Steep, shadeless walk to the mountaintop ruins. Background on the site sits on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism site .

Evening

Back in Antalya by late afternoon.

Day 4: Olympos and the Chimaera

Morning

Drive 80-85km/about 1.5 hours south through Kemer to Olympos, ruins and a real beach on the same stretch of sand.

Afternoon

Split the time between the ruins in the pine trees and the beach. Entry fees and the access point vary by whether you start from Cirali or the Olympos end, verify on site.

Is the Chimaera Hike Worth Doing After Dark?

Yes, it’s the one stop on this route built specifically for evening. The Chimaera’s natural gas flames barely register in daylight; after dark they glow visibly against the bare rock above Cirali.

Evening

Hike the short trail to the Chimaera flames after dark, then drive back to Antalya, or stay overnight in Cirali.

Day 5: Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Morning

Pamukkale is 250-300km/3.5-4 hours north, the longest single-day drive on this route.

Afternoon

The white travertine terraces and the Hierapolis Roman ruins run roughly 30 euros combined entry, Cleopatra’s Antique Pool swim adds about 6 euros more. Hierapolis-Pamukkale’s inscription details are on the official UNESCO listing .

Is a Single-Day Pamukkale Trip Worth the 7-Hour Round Trip?

It’s a real grind but it works. A commercial day tour’s roughly 5am-to-8pm window leaves genuine hours on-site, just not a leisurely visit.

Evening

Long drive back to Antalya, budget for arriving late.

Day 6: Kas, the Overnight Begins

Morning

Drive roughly 190km/3-3.5 hours southwest to Kas, too far for a same-day round trip once you add real time on the water.

Afternoon

Explore Kas itself, a laid-back harbor town with waterfront cafes and boats loading for the next day’s Kekova run.

Evening

Overnight in Kas, book ahead, especially May through September when the small harbor town fills up well before the rest of the coast.

Day 7: Kekova Boat Day and the Drive Home

Morning

Board a Kekova boat day from Kas, roughly 10 hours round trip, covering the half-submerged ruins of Kekova’s sunken city, visible under clear water off the coast.

Afternoon

Most Kekova boat days add a stop at Demre and Myra’s rock-cut tombs. The full package runs about $65 or more per person, priced as a day trip from Kas, not from Antalya.

Can You Really Do Kas and Kekova in One Day From Antalya?

Not comfortably, which is exactly why this itinerary splits it across two days. The drive alone eats 6-7 hours round trip before any boat time, turning a boat tour into a car trip with a boat attached. Basing the boat day out of Kas overnight, as this plan does, is the version that actually works.

Evening

Drive roughly 190km/3-3.5 hours back to Antalya. It’s a long final leg, so budget for a late arrival and keep dinner simple.

Book the Kekova boat tour before you leave Antalya, not after you arrive in Kas, capacity fills fast in peak season and walk-up spots aren’t guaranteed. General trip planning help for the whole loop is on the official Turkey tourism site .