Two Days in Antalya: Old Town, Beaches and Waterfalls

Most visitors to this coast pass through Antalya on the way to a resort further along the coast, which means the city itself often gets a rushed half-day instead of the two it deserves. That’s a shame, because Antalya on its own has a walkable old town, a genuine waterfall (or two, depending on how far you’re willing to go), and two beaches that could not feel more different from each other. This itinerary keeps you inside the city and its immediate surroundings for two full days, using public transport throughout, with no rental car required.

The split is simple. Day one is Kaleiçi and the water — the old town’s lanes and harbour in the morning, the Düden Waterfalls area in the afternoon. Day two is sand and sea — Lara Beach and Konyaaltı Beach, with the Kursunlu Waterfall offered as an optional extension only if you have real time to spare, not as a quick add-on. For general orientation before you land, our first-time Antalya planning guide and getting around the Antalya coast cover the basics this itinerary assumes.

Day 1: Kaleiçi old town and the Düden Falls

Morning: Kaleiçi and the old harbour

Start in Kaleiçi, Antalya’s old walled town, best explored on foot before the midday heat sets in. The narrow cobbled streets are lined with restored Ottoman-era houses, small boutique hotels, and the landmark grooved minaret (Yivli Minare) that has become something of a symbol of the city. Wander down toward the old harbour, a small horseshoe-shaped marina below the city walls that is now lined with cafés and boat-trip kiosks rather than working fishing boats.

This harbour is also where many boat excursions along the coast depart from, including trips that combine a look at the old town with a cruise out to see the Düden Falls from the water — worth considering if you’d rather see both in one organized outing. The boat tour pairing Kaleiçi with the Düden Waterfalls is built around exactly this combination, and works well as a half-day option if you’d rather not self-navigate the transfer to the falls.

Spend the rest of the morning browsing Kaleiçi’s shops and courtyards, and stop by the small clifftop park at the harbour’s edge (Karaalioğlu Park) for a first view over the sea and, on a clear day, the mountains behind the city. Our Kaleiçi old town guide goes deeper on individual streets and sights if you want to plan the walk in more detail, and the Antalya food and markets guide is useful for choosing where to eat lunch without wandering aimlessly.

Afternoon: the Lower Düden Falls

In the early afternoon, head to the Lower Düden Falls, where the Düden River drops directly into the Mediterranean at a cliffside park a short tram-and-taxi or bus ride from the old town. This is the more accessible of the two Düden sites and the one to prioritize on a city-only two-day trip — it’s viewable from cliffside walkways above and, for a different angle, from the water on a boat trip that cruises along the base of the falls.

Note that the Upper Düden Falls, inland in a separate park setting, is a genuinely different site from the lower falls, not a continuation of the same walk — if you want to see both, budget extra transit time rather than assuming one stop covers both. For a city day focused on the old town, the lower falls alone is the right call. See the Düden Waterfalls guide for a fuller breakdown of how the two sites differ and how to reach each one.

A few boat operators run this stretch specifically, including pirate-ship-style trips and lunch cruises that combine sightseeing with a meal on board:

• a pirate-boat-style trip along the coast to the Düden Waterfall, a livelier option with music and swim stops
• a Düden Waterfalls boat trip that includes lunch on board, better suited to a more relaxed afternoon

Round out the day back in Kaleiçi or along the harbor for dinner — reservations aren’t usually necessary outside peak summer weekends.

Day 2: Lara Beach and Konyaaltı Beach

Two very different beaches, one city

The second day is built around Antalya’s two city beaches, and the single most useful thing to know going in is that they are not interchangeable. Lara Beach, east of the centre, has genuine fine sand and a long, gently developed shoreline lined with resorts and beach clubs. Konyaaltı Beach, west of the centre and closer to Kaleiçi, is a long pebble-and-shingle beach backed by the Beydağları mountains, with a more urban, promenade-style feel and public access points along its whole length.

If you only have time for one, sand-loving swimmers and families with small children generally do better at Lara; travellers who want mountain views right behind the water, and don’t mind pebbles underfoot (water shoes help), tend to prefer Konyaaltı. Both are free to access at their public stretches, with paid beach clubs and sunbed rental available at both. For a side-by-side comparison beyond this itinerary’s scope, see Konyaaltı vs Lara Beach; families travelling with young children may also want the dedicated Antalya with kids guide.

Beach	Surface	Best for	Getting there
Lara Beach	Fine sand	Families, resort-style beach clubs	Bus from city centre, ~25-30 min
Konyaaltı Beach	Pebble/shingle	Mountain views, promenade walks, water shoes recommended	Tram + short walk or bus, ~20 min

Morning at Konyaaltı, afternoon at Lara (or vice versa)

Because both beaches are reachable by public transport from the centre, a logical plan is to spend the morning at one and the afternoon at the other, or simply commit to whichever suits your travel style for a full relaxed day. Konyaaltı is the easier of the two to combine with a return into Kaleiçi for lunch, since it sits closer to the old town; Lara requires a longer bus ride out and back, so it suits travellers happy to spend most of the day there.

Antalya’s public transport covers both routes without a car. The AntRay tram line and city buses connect the centre to Konyaaltı’s access points, while buses run out to Lara along the eastern coastal road — all paid for with a single AntalyaKart contactless card, which is worth buying and topping up at a kiosk on day one rather than trying to pay cash on board. The separate scenic Nostalgic Tramway runs along the seafront through the older parts of town and is a pleasant, if slower, way to move between Kaleiçi and the areas nearer Konyaaltı. The AntalyaKart and tram guide walks through where to buy the card and how fares work in more detail than fits here.

Optional extension: Kursunlu Waterfall

If you’re not tired of waterfalls after day one, and you genuinely have spare hours rather than just a gap between beach and dinner, the Kursunlu Waterfall is worth naming as an option — but be clear-eyed about it. Kursunlu sits noticeably further from the centre than either Düden site, in a forested nature park setting, and getting there and back by public transport eats a meaningful chunk of a day.

Treat it as its own half-day outing, ideally slotted in instead of a beach afternoon rather than squeezed on top of one. It is not a quick stop you can tack onto the Lara-Konyaaltı day without cutting something else. The Kursunlu Waterfall guide has more on getting there if you decide it’s worth the extra time.

If two days leaves you wanting more of the city rather than less, the three-day Antalya old town and waterfalls itinerary extends this same car-free approach with room for both Düden sites and Kursunlu without the same trade-offs.

Travellers who’d rather see the old town, both Düden falls, and get expert commentary in one organized day (skipping the logistics of self-navigating transit between sites) can look at the full-day Antalya old city tour combining Kaleiçi with a waterfalls boat trip, which folds much of day one into a single guided outing.

Practical notes for a car-free Antalya city stay

• Buy an AntalyaKart on arrival. Trams, the Nostalgic Tramway, and city buses all run on this contactless card, sold and topped up at kiosks and machines — not with cash on board.
• Don’t conflate the two Düden Falls. The Lower Falls, at the coast, are the practical choice for a two-day city trip; the Upper Falls are a separate inland site.
• Pack water shoes for Konyaaltı. The beach is pebble and shingle, not sand, and bare feet can be uncomfortable on the shoreline.
• Kursunlu needs its own half-day, not a quick detour — plan it as a swap, not an add-on, if you choose to include it.
• Summer heat is real. Antalya’s summer days commonly reach the low-to-high 30s°C, so an early Kaleiçi walk and a shaded midday break serve you better than sightseeing through the hottest hours.
• Check current lira prices before budgeting. Turkey’s ongoing high inflation means any fixed price figure ages quickly — treat costs mentioned anywhere as a dated snapshot, and check a live rate before finalizing a budget.

Antalya city two-day trip FAQ

Do I need a rental car for two days in Antalya city?

No. The AntRay tram, the seafront Nostalgic Tramway, and city buses cover Kaleiçi, the Lower Düden Falls, Lara Beach and Konyaaltı Beach, all paid for with a single AntalyaKart card. A car becomes more useful if you plan to explore further along the coast or inland beyond the city.

What is the difference between Lara Beach and Konyaaltı Beach?

Lara Beach, east of the centre, has fine sand and a resort-style shoreline. Konyaaltı Beach, west of the centre, is pebble and shingle with mountain views behind it and a more urban promenade feel. They suit different preferences, so it’s worth knowing the difference before choosing where to spend your day.

Are the Upper and Lower Düden Waterfalls the same site?

No, they are two separate waterfalls in different parts of the city. The Lower Düden Falls, where the river meets the sea, is the more central and accessible option for a city-focused itinerary; the Upper Falls are further inland in a separate park.

Can I visit Kursunlu Waterfall as a quick stop on this itinerary?

Not realistically. Kursunlu sits further from central Antalya than either Düden site and involves a longer public-transport trip in a forested nature park setting. It’s better planned as its own half-day outing than squeezed into a beach day.

Is two days enough to see Antalya city properly?

Two days covers the core: Kaleiçi old town, the Lower Düden Falls, and both city beaches. It won’t stretch to Kursunlu, the Upper Düden Falls, or day trips to sites like Perge or Termessos — those need additional days or a different itinerary, such as the one-day Perge and Aspendos ancient sites itinerary.

What should I wear at Konyaaltı Beach given it’s pebbly?

Water shoes or sandals with a secure strap make a real difference at Konyaaltı, since the shoreline is pebble and shingle rather than sand. Lara Beach, by contrast, is fine sand and doesn’t require the same footwear.

Is tap water safe to drink in Antalya city?

Tap water in the Antalya region is generally not recommended for drinking. Stick to bottled or filtered water throughout your stay, including at the beaches and old town.

How do I pay for trams and buses in Antalya?

Buy an AntalyaKart, a contactless travel card, at a kiosk or machine and top it up as needed. It covers the AntRay tram, the Nostalgic Tramway, and city buses — cash isn’t accepted on board.