Antalya Duden Waterfalls & City Tour

Kaleiçi, Antalya old town

Kaleiçi, meaning inside the castle, is the walled historic heart of Antalya, wrapped around a natural harbour used since antiquity. You enter through Üçkapılar, the white marble triple-arched gate built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, and follow lanes lined with restored Ottoman wooden houses, small courtyards and bougainvillea. The fluted Yivli Minaret, raised in the 13th century, is the city's emblem, and the round Hıdırlık Tower watches over the sea.

Is Kaleiçi worth visiting? It is the one part of Antalya every visitor should see, and a guide brings its layers of Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman history to life. Plan around one and a half to two hours to stroll, take photos at the clock tower and look down on the harbour from the cliffs. Our guide leads the group and leaves time for photos and short breaks.

Upper Düden Waterfalls

The Upper Düden Waterfalls sit in a shaded park on the north-eastern edge of the city, where the Düden River tumbles over a rocky step into a pool surrounded by trees. The highlight is the narrow path and grotto that lead behind the curtain of water, so you can watch the falls from inside the rock. Even in high summer the spray keeps the air fresh, which makes it a favourite stop for families.

The entry fee is included in this tour, and about an hour is enough to walk the paths, cross the little bridges and take photos from the viewing points. The Düden Waterfalls opening hours are long, from morning until evening, but mornings are calmer before the coaches arrive. The park also has tea gardens and benches if you prefer to sit and listen to the water.

The old harbour and the Kaleiçi boat trip

The Roman harbour at the foot of Kaleiçi is still a working marina, filled with wooden gulets and fishing boats under steep cliffs. From here boats sail east along the coast to the Lower Düden Waterfalls, where the river drops straight off the cliffs into the Mediterranean, a sight best enjoyed from the water.

With the default option the boat trip is not included, but the guide can help you buy a ticket during the tour if you want to join. The cruise usually takes about an hour and passes caves and cliffs along the shore. If you know you want it, choose the option with the boat trip included when booking. Either way you will see the harbour from the panoramic terraces above it.

Tahtalı Olympos cable car

The Olympos cable car climbs from the coast near Kemer to the summit of Mount Tahtalı at 2,365 metres, one of the most impressive viewpoints on the Turkish Riviera. From the top you look down on the coastline, the pine-covered mountains of the national park and, on clear days, far along the Antalya bay.

The cable car ticket is not included with this option but can be bought during the day, and one of our other options includes it with an earlier start. Weather on the summit can be cool and windy even when the beach is hot, so bring a light layer. If seeing the city is your priority, the default option leaves more time for Kaleiçi and the waterfalls.

Lunch and the rhythm of the day

A local-style lunch is included, giving you a break between the old town and the afternoon stops. It is a good moment to taste simple Turkish dishes, and our guide can suggest a few things to try at your own expense, such as fresh juice or Turkish tea. Drinks with lunch and personal expenses are not included.

The day lasts about nine hours from pickup, at an easy pace with a small group. This is a good Antalya day trip for your first days on the coast, as it helps you find your way around the city. Wear comfortable shoes, since Kaleiçi has cobbled lanes and slopes, and bring sun protection for the open spaces around the harbour.