7-Day Antalya Riviera Road Trip: Antalya to Alanya by Car

This route strings together the western and eastern halves of the Turquoise Coast into a single linear drive, rather than looping back to one hotel each night. It works because the coastal road (the D400 and its newer bypass sections) runs more or less continuously from Antalya to Alanya, and because each of the towns along the way — Kemer, Side, Manavgat — has enough short-stay accommodation to make a one- or two-night stopover practical without a big detour.

A rental car is essential for this itinerary. Public buses (dolmuş) do connect these towns, but they add real time to each transfer and make it hard to stop at a ruin or a viewpoint on a whim. Book the car for pickup at Antalya Airport and drop-off in Alanya (or plan to return it in Antalya if a one-way rental isn’t available or carries a steep fee — check this before booking). Roughly six or seven driving days plus arrival and departure gives a pace that leaves afternoons free for a beach, a ruin, or a boat trip rather than treating the road as the whole day.

One honest caveat: every drive time below is a rough guide for outside peak season. In July and August, the coastal road between Antalya and Alanya carries heavy holiday traffic, and what takes an hour in May or October can take considerably longer at the height of summer. Build slack into the schedule if travelling June through August, and don’t assume the numbers below hold at 2pm in August the way they would at 9am in April.

Trip overview

Day	Base	Distance from previous base	Drive time (off-peak)
1-2	Antalya (Kaleiçi)	—	—
3	Kemer	~45 km	~45 minutes
4-5	Side	~110 km	~1.5-2 hours
6-7	Alanya	~65 km	~1-1.5 hours

Day 1: Arrive in Antalya, settle into Kaleiçi

Pick up the rental car at Antalya Airport, or arrange a transfer for day one and collect the car on day two if arriving late — either works, since the first day’s sights sit within walking distance of most Kaleiçi accommodation. Check a guide to getting from the airport into the city before landing so there’s no guesswork on arrival.

Spend the afternoon in Kaleiçi, the old walled town around Antalya’s Roman-era harbour: narrow lanes, restored Ottoman houses, the clock tower and Hadrian’s Gate, and a working marina where boat trips depart. It’s compact enough to explore on foot in a few hours, with dinner options ranging from simple lokanta to harbour-view restaurants. This is also the easiest evening of the whole trip to do without a car, so consider leaving the vehicle at the hotel and walking everywhere.

Day 2: Waterfalls, ruins and the city beaches

Antalya city has more sights than most itineraries give it credit for, and a second day lets you cover them without rushing. Start at the Düden Waterfalls — note that the Upper Düden Falls (inland, set in a park) and the Lower Düden Falls (where the river meets the sea, viewed from a cliffside park or by boat) are two separate sites a drive apart, not one waterfall with two viewpoints.

From there, choose between Perge, a paid Roman-era ruin with an impressive stadium and colonnaded street, and Termessos, a mountaintop ruin inside a national park that requires a proper walk uphill and takes noticeably longer to visit — pick one rather than both if time is tight. Round out the day at Lara Beach or Konyaaltı Beach, Antalya’s two main city beaches, each with a different character (Lara’s fine sand versus Konyaaltı’s pebbles and Beydağları mountain backdrop).

Day 3: Drive to Kemer, cable car and Phaselis

Check out of Antalya and drive to Kemer, roughly 45 minutes to an hour outside peak season. Kemer sits at the foot of the Taurus Mountains and makes a good two-night base for the coastal stretch south of Antalya.

Ride the Tahtalı cable car, which climbs to roughly 2,365m for a Mediterranean panorama on a clear day — it’s a steep, fast ascent, and can close in high wind, so check conditions before planning around it. In the afternoon, visit Phaselis, a ruined harbour city spread across three small bays, where Roman and Byzantine remains sit directly behind pine-shaded beaches — bring swimwear, since this is a ruin and a swimming spot in one. A boat trip from Kemer is a relaxed alternative way to see the same bay.

a boat trip from Kemer into Phaselis’s Paradise Bay covers the same coastline from the water, with swimming stops along the way.

Day 4: Kemer’s south coast, then on to Side

Before leaving the Kemer area, decide whether to detour south toward Olympos and the Chimaera — the naturally burning gas flames near Olympos are best seen after dark, which makes them awkward to fit into a driving day unless you’re staying an extra night nearby. Most travellers on this route see Phaselis on day three and save Olympos/Chimaera for a future trip, or add a fourth night in Kemer if it’s a priority.

From Kemer, drive to Side, around 110 km and roughly 1.5-2 hours outside peak season — longer in summer traffic. Side’s old town sits on a small peninsula built directly among Roman ruins, including a waterfront Temple of Apollo, with many remains freely visible while walking through the modern town. Settle into a hotel here for two nights.

a small-group cruise around Phaselis Bay with a BBQ lunch is a good way to close out the Kemer stretch before the drive to Side.

Day 5: Side old town and Manavgat’s waterfall and canyons

Spend the morning exploring Side properly — the Apollo temple at sunset is one of the coast’s more photographed spots, and the Side Museum covers finds from the surrounding ruins for those who want more context.

In the afternoon, head inland a short drive to Manavgat for the Manavgat Waterfall, a low, wide river waterfall better suited to a relaxed boat trip and riverside lunch than a hiking outing. Travellers with an extra afternoon can add the Green Canyon reservoir, a turquoise-green lake popular for boat trips, or Tazı Canyon for canyon views without a long detour.

a river boat tour to Manavgat Waterfall covers the waterfall and riverside scenery without needing to drive further inland.

Day 6: On to Alanya, castle and Cleopatra Beach

Drive from Side to Alanya, roughly 65 km and about an hour to an hour and a half outside peak season. Alanya makes a fitting final base: a dramatic hilltop fortress town with a very different skyline from the flatter resort stretches further west.

Spend the afternoon at Alanya Castle, a large hilltop fortress reachable by a walk or a short cable-car-style ride, with sweeping views back over the coast. Directly below sits Cleopatra Beach — local tradition credits its fine sand to Cleopatra herself, though this is a popular legend rather than a documented historical fact.

a Side boat tour before the drive to Alanya is a relaxed way to close out the Side stretch of the route.

Day 7: Dim River or Sapadere Canyon before departure

On the final day, choose between two inland detours near Alanya depending on how much time remains before returning the car. The Dim River area, with its cave and riverside restaurants, sits closest to town and suits a half-day visit. The Sapadere Canyon, a walkway threading through a narrow gorge with pools and waterfalls, sits further inland and needs a fuller morning.

From Alanya, it’s roughly 1.5-2 hours back to Antalya Airport outside peak season — plan the return drive with a comfortable buffer before a flight, especially in summer traffic, and confirm current drop-off arrangements with the rental company if returning the car in a different city from where it was collected.

a Side/Manavgat boat tour is worth adding as a flexible extra if the schedule leaves a spare half-day anywhere along the route.

Antalya Riviera road trip FAQ

Do I need a car for this route, or can I use buses and dolmuş instead?

A car is strongly recommended. Regional buses and dolmuş minibuses do connect Antalya, Kemer, Side and Alanya, but they add significant time to each leg and make spontaneous stops at ruins, viewpoints or beaches impractical — the whole appeal of this itinerary is the flexibility of driving yourself.

How much driving is really involved over the week?

The core coastal drives total roughly 220 km from Antalya to Alanya, spread across three main legs (Antalya to Kemer, Kemer to Side, Side to Alanya), each under two hours outside peak season. It’s a moderate amount of driving, not a marathon, with most days built around sightseeing rather than transit.

Will the drive times be the same in July and August?

No. The figures above assume typical off-peak conditions. In July and August the coastal road carries much heavier holiday traffic, particularly near Antalya and Side, and journey times can run noticeably longer than stated — build extra time into any summer version of this itinerary.

Can I drop the rental car off in Alanya instead of returning it to Antalya?

Many rental companies offer one-way drop-off between Antalya and Alanya, sometimes for an added fee. Confirm this directly with the rental company before booking, since availability and pricing vary by season and provider.

Is seven days enough, or should I add extra nights?

Seven days covers the route at a comfortable pace with two-night stays in Kemer, Side and Alanya. Travellers who want to add Olympos, the Chimaera flames after dark, or a full day at the Köprülü Canyon should budget an extra one or two nights rather than compressing the schedule further.

Which stops work best as day trips instead of overnight stays?

The Manavgat Waterfall, Green Canyon and Tazı Canyon are easily done as half-day trips from a Side base rather than requiring their own overnight stop. The same applies to the Dim River near Alanya, which suits a short visit on departure day.

Is this itinerary suitable for families?

Yes, with adjustments — the driving days are moderate, the beaches at Phaselis and Cleopatra Beach appeal to children, and boat trips break up the car time. Families should budget extra rest time between driving legs rather than following the pace exactly as outlined.