Planning Your Time

If you just have a weekend or so to spend on the Turquoise Coast and want to see historic sites, base yourself in Antalya's Kaleiçi section and drive out to nearby Termessos, Olympos, or Aspendos; they're some of the best preserved classical ruins in the country.

The Lycian coast is beautiful and filled with the remains of ancient cities like Xanthos, Patara, and Olympos. Motorists should count on about 10 hours of driving in total, starting in either Antalya or Dalaman. There are many unspoiled towns and lovely hotels en route. You could spend as few as three days here, but five to seven would be more relaxing and allow for some beach time. On a sample six-day tour you could spend the morning in Kaleiçi, then drive up to Termessos and cross the mountains to Fethiye, overnighting around Ölüdeniz. On Day 2, visit the gorgeous lagoon at Ölüdeniz, the ghost town of Kaya, or the pine-fringed beach at Kabak, returning to the same hotel as the previous night. On Day 3, visit the Lycian city of Tlos, then explore the Saklıkent canyon, Xanthos, and Letoon; cap the day with a swim in Patara before checking into a hotel in Patara, Kalkan, or Kaş. On Day 4, take an excursion boat from Kaş to Kekova, and return to Kaş for the night. On Day 5, visit St. Nicholas Basilica in Demre, have lunch in Finike, and visit Arycanda in the afternoon, overnighting in Çıralı so that you can see the burning Chimera. On Day 6, visit Olympos in the morning and and Phaselis on the drive back to Antalya.