Antalya Boat Trips: Harbours, Routes and Which Suits Your Hotel

The Antalya coast is long, so the best boat trip is usually the one that starts nearest to where you sleep. A short drive to the harbour leaves more of the day for swimming stops and less for the road. A quick match between hotel areas and harbours:

• Lara, Kundu, Konyaaltı, Kaleiçi: Kaleiçi old harbour – cliffs and the Lower Düden waterfall.
• Kemer, Beldibi, Göynük, Kiriş, Çamyuva, Tekirova: Kemer marina – pine-backed bays along the coast.
• Alanya, Mahmutlar, Konaklı, Avsallar: Alanya harbour – around the castle peninsula and its sea caves.
• Side, Manavgat, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Sorgun, Titreyengöl: river boats on the Manavgat river down to the sea.
• Belek, Kadriye, Boğazkent: both Kaleiçi and the Manavgat river are within easy reach for a half or full day.
• Kaş, Kalkan, Fethiye: Kekova and Simena on the Kaş side; bays and Butterfly Valley on the Fethiye and Ölüdeniz side.

Boat trips are run by local operators, not by us. We handle the land part: a private car with driver from your hotel to the harbour and back, at a fixed price per vehicle.

The old harbour sits at the foot of Kaleiçi, Antalya's historic centre, and is the classic starting point in the city. Boats head out along the high limestone cliffs that line the shore, and many routes go east towards the Lower Düden waterfall, where the river drops straight off the cliff into the sea near Lara. Seeing the falls from the water is a very different experience from looking down at them from the park above.

Trips from here range from short sightseeing loops to longer outings with swimming stops. It is a good choice if you stay in Lara, Kundu or Konyaaltı, or if you are on a city break and want a few hours on the water without a long drive. Afterwards, a walk through the old town lanes fits in easily. More about the falls in our Düden waterfalls guide.

Kemer lies ≈ 58 km south-west of Antalya Airport, squeezed between the Taurus mountains and the sea. From the marina, boats follow the coast to quiet bays with clear water and pine forest running down to the shore – places that are often hard to reach by road. A typical day mixes slow cruising with several swimming stops.

If your hotel is in Kemer itself, the marina may be within walking distance. From Beldibi, Göynük, Kiriş, Çamyuva or Tekirova it is a short drive along the coast road. From Lara or the city it also works as a day out; just allow for the coast road, which gets busy in high season. Our Kemer region travel guide covers the area in more detail.

Alanya's harbour lies right below the castle peninsula, the rocky headland that defines the town. Boat routes usually circle the peninsula, passing beneath the steep castle walls and the old shipyard and stopping at the sea caves cut into the rock. Most trips include time for a swim in a sheltered spot.

This trip suits hotels in Alanya, Mahmutlar, Konaklı and Avsallar best. From Side or Manavgat it is a longer drive but still a realistic day out. If you fly into Gazipaşa, Alanya is only ≈ 40 km from the airport. See our Alanya travel guide for ideas to combine on the same day.

Around Side, the classic outing is a river trip. Boats glide along the Manavgat river between green banks down to the point where the river meets the sea, where calm river water and open sea lie side by side. It is a relaxed, unhurried day rather than an adventure.

Because the water is calm most of the way, this is a gentle choice for families with small children and for anyone who worries about seasickness. Hotels in Side, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Evrenseki, Sorgun and Titreyengöl are closest; from Belek or Boğazkent it is a short drive east.

The most famous boat trip on this coast is Kekova, near Kaş. Boats pass alongside the sunken city – ancient ruins partly under water along the island's shore – and stop at Simena, a small village below a castle. Kaş is ≈ 200 km from Antalya Airport, so from the Antalya resorts this is a long, early day. It is far easier if you stay in Kaş or Kalkan for a few nights; our Kaş and Kalkan guide helps with that.

Further west, the Fethiye and Ölüdeniz area has its own boat culture: day cruises through a string of bays and the trip to Butterfly Valley, a narrow valley that opens onto a beach and is easiest to reach from the sea. Fethiye is ≈ 230 km from Antalya Airport, so treat it as a stay of its own rather than a day trip.

A few simple habits make a boat day much more pleasant:

• Sun protection: the sun on the water is stronger than it feels. Bring a hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and a light long-sleeved top.
• Seasickness: sit in the middle of the boat, watch the horizon and eat a light breakfast. If you are prone to it, ask a pharmacist for advice before the day.
• Book directly: choose a licensed local operator, ask clearly what is included and where exactly the boat leaves from.
• Pack: swimwear, a towel, water and a small bag for your phone and valuables.

Getting there: when you book, tell us the harbour, the boarding time and the expected return time, and we plan the pick-up from your hotel and the ride back. The price is fixed per vehicle, agreed in advance and paid in the vehicle; there is no prepayment and cancellation is free. For a day with several stops, see day trips by private car or send your plan through the booking page.