1. Aspendos Theatre – 15 km from Belek

Aspendos is the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world, and it sits just 15 kilometres east of Belek along the D400. The drive takes around 20 minutes and the theatre itself is genuinely breathtaking — a two-storey stone structure seating 15,000 people, built in the second century AD and still used for opera and ballet performances today.

Allow two to three hours for a visit. Combine it with a stop at the nearby Aspendos Bridge, one of the oldest Seljuk bridges in Turkey, and the ruins of the ancient city of Aspendos spread across the surrounding hillside. Entry costs around 300 Turkish lira per person.

Driving tip: Take the D400 east from Belek toward Serik, then follow the signs to Aspendos. Parking is free and plentiful at the site.

2. Antalya Old Town (Kaleiçi) – 35 km from Belek

Antalya’s old town, known as Kaleiçi, is a beautifully preserved Ottoman and Roman quarter built around a working harbour. The narrow cobbled streets are lined with boutique hotels, restaurants and artisan shops, all contained within ancient Roman walls.

Highlights include Hadrian’s Gate — a triumphal arch built in 130 AD to honour the Roman Emperor’s visit — the Yivli Minaret, the old harbour itself, and the Antalya Archaeological Museum, which houses one of Turkey’s finest collections of antiquities. The drive from Belek takes around 35 to 40 minutes via the D400 westbound.

Plan to spend at least half a day here. Parking inside the old town is difficult; use the paid car parks just outside the city walls on Kenan Evren Bulvarı and walk in.

Driving tip: Avoid driving into the old town itself. Park outside the walls and explore on foot — the streets inside are not suitable for cars.

3. Side – 35 km from Belek

Side is a small peninsula town on the Mediterranean coast with a remarkable concentration of ancient ruins right in the middle of a modern beach resort. The Temple of Apollo — two standing columns against a backdrop of the sea — is one of the most photographed sights in Turkey.

Alongside the temple, Side’s old town contains a well-preserved Roman theatre, the remains of a colonnaded street, a city gate and a small but excellent museum. The beaches on either side of the peninsula are excellent and the town has a lively restaurant scene.

The drive from Belek takes around 40 minutes east along the D400. Side is best visited in the morning before tour groups arrive.

Driving tip: Park in the main car park at the entrance to the old town peninsula. It is a short walk from there to the temple and the beach.

4. Köprülü Canyon National Park – 60 km from Belek

For a day away from the coast, Köprülü Canyon is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Turkey. The Köprü River cuts a deep gorge through the Taurus Mountains, and the national park surrounding it offers white-water rafting, hiking, zip-lining and swimming in clear mountain pools.

Two ancient Roman bridges — the Oluk Bridge and the Bugrum Bridge — span the canyon and are still in use today, which gives the place an extraordinary, timeless quality. The rafting companies along the canyon are well established and cater to families as well as more experienced rafters.

The drive from Belek takes around 60 to 75 minutes heading north via Serik and Taşağıl. The road climbs steeply into the Taurus Mountains — a hire car is by far the easiest way to get there as public transport to the canyon is very limited.

Driving tip: The road into the canyon is narrow in places. Drive carefully, especially on the descent back toward the coast in the evening.

5. Perge Ancient City – 20 km from Belek

Perge is one of the most complete ancient cities in the region and far less visited than Aspendos or Side, which means you can often explore its vast colonnaded streets, baths, agora and stadium almost in peace. The site dates from the Bronze Age and reached its peak in the Roman period.

The scale of Perge is impressive — allow at least two to three hours to walk the main streets and see the major monuments. The stadium alone, which could hold 12,000 spectators, is one of the largest surviving examples in the ancient world.

Perge is located just outside the town of Aksu, around 20 kilometres west of Belek. The drive takes about 25 minutes via the D400.

Driving tip: Perge and Aspendos can easily be combined into a single day trip, as both lie along the D400 corridor east and west of Antalya.

6. Kurşunlu Waterfall – 30 km from Belek

The Kurşunlu Waterfall Nature Park is a peaceful and beautiful spot set among pine forests a short drive north of Antalya. The main waterfall drops into a turquoise pool surrounded by walkways and picnic areas, and the park is cool and shaded even in the heat of summer.

It is a lighter, more relaxed day trip than the ancient sites — ideal with young children or as a half-day excursion paired with Antalya Old Town. Entry is inexpensive and the park is well maintained. The drive from Belek takes around 35 to 40 minutes.

How to Get the Most From Your Day Trips

The key to a successful day trip from Belek is having a hire car that is ready when you are. Most of these destinations are poorly served by public transport, and taxis to and from the canyon or ancient sites can be very expensive.

Belcarhi delivers your hire car directly to your hotel in Belek — no deposit, no credit card required, and no queuing at an airport desk. Choose from economy cars, SUVs, 7-seaters and convertibles, all with full CASCO insurance and zero franchise.

To book or check availability, contact Kadir Can directly by WhatsApp or phone: +90 507 650 67 69

Day Trip Distance Summary