Cruise ship in for a day? Short layover between flights? One overnight on the way to Cappadocia? Here is the 24-hour Antalya itinerary we have refined over 200+ runs with day-visitor guests.
08:00 — Arrive Antalya Cruise Port / AYT
Driver waits at port exit / arrivals hall with name sign. Quick transfer to first stop — Kaleiçi (12 min from port, 18 min from AYT). Driver stays available all day; you switch in and out of the Mercedes between stops.
08:30-11:00 — Kaleiçi old town walk
Hadrian's Gate, Hıdırlık Tower, the yacht harbour, Yıvlı Minaret, carpet quarter, Karaalioğlu Park cliff views. Coffee at Wood Coffee (Atatürk Cd.). Buy a leather bag or a kilim if you're shopping. (See: dedicated Kaleiçi walking guide.)
11:00-12:30 — Antalya Aquarium OR Antalya Museum
Pick one based on group. Aquarium: families, world's longest tunnel aquarium (2 hours plenty, €18). Museum: history lovers, world-class Lycian and Roman artefacts, including originals from Perge (1.5 hours, €5). Both 10 min from Kaleiçi by driver.
12:30-14:00 — Lunch at Konyaaltı or harbour
Two great options. Konyaaltı: beachfront restaurants serving fresh fish and meze, the locals' favourite is 7Mehmet (book ahead). Yacht harbour: Vanilla Restaurant on upper terrace, sit by the Mediterranean. Budget 90 min including 15-min drive.
14:00-16:00 — Düden Lower Falls + boat ride
Drive to Lara cliff (15 min). Park above and walk to the clifftop viewing platform for the famous waterfall-into-sea shot. Then continue along Lara to the boat departure pier (10 min). 45-minute cruise out to view the falls from the sea — €15, departs hourly.
16:00-18:00 — Antalya Museum (if not done at 11:00) OR Düden Upper Falls picnic
If you went to the Aquarium, now do the Museum. If you want to relax, drive to Düden Upper Park (20 min from Lara) and walk behind the waterfall. Either way: 2 hours.
18:00-20:00 — Konyaaltı sunset
Drive back to Konyaaltı (15 min). The pebble beach with the Taurus mountains behind delivers the year's most photographed sunsets. Coffee or a cold beer at one of the beachfront cafes. Driver waits in the car park.
20:00-22:00 — Rooftop dinner in Kaleiçi
Final stop: dinner with the old-town view. Restaurants to consider: Vanilla (upscale), Stella Bistro Antalya (modern Turkish), 7Mehmet Konyaaltı (if you skipped lunch here, do it now). Driver returns you to port / hotel by 22:30.