Belek sits right in the heart of ancient Pamphylia. Within half an hour of your hotel you can walk through some of the best-preserved Roman monuments anywhere. If you have any interest in history, set aside at least one day of your holiday for this route.
Perge, near Aksu, is one of Turkey's most impressive Roman cities with its stadium, agora and magnificent colonnaded street. It is also known as a city where St. Paul preached. Going early in the morning means cooler air and fewer crowds.
Only 15 minutes from Belek, the 15,000-seat theatre of Aspendos has stood almost intact for about 2,000 years. Its acoustics are so perfect that concerts are still held here today. Stand on the stage and test how a whisper carries to the top row.
In Side the ancient city and the modern resort town are intertwined. At sunset the white columns of the Temple of Apollo offer one of the most photogenic views on the Mediterranean. Leave time for a short stroll around the harbour on the way back.
If you are ready to go a little further, see the rock tombs of Myra in Demre and the Church of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus), then take a boat over the sunken city of Kekova. It is a full-day but unforgettable route.
One route that fits Antalya's ancient heritage into a single day: the ruins of Perge and Aspendos, then, in Side, the amphitheater, the Temple of Apollo and the open-air museum. Guided, lunch included, 9.5 hours.
A long day stretching along the Lycian coast: St. Nicholas Church in Demre, the tombs carved into Myra's cliffs and a boat route passing over the sunken city at Kekova. Lunch and entries covered, 13 hours.
Two waterfalls, an old town and a boat: after Kurşunlu and Düden you walk through Kaleiçi, then watch Lower Düden from the sea. Lunch and tickets included, 10 hours.
