Guide

Antalya boat tours: Kaleiçi, Düden, Kemer and Suluada compared

Four very different days at sea from the same city: from a short harbour cruise to a full-day island trip, which one suits you?

By the IONETO Antalya team · Published 8 November 2026

A family in life jackets on deck during an Antalya boat tour, Taurus Mountains behind the cliffs — Four routes from one coast: a short harbour cruise to a full island day.

In short: choose your Antalya boat tour by how much time you have. With a few hours, a cruise from Kaleiçi's old harbour that shows Lower Düden Waterfall from the sea is enough. For a half or full day of swimming, pick Kemer's bays; for the clearest water, take the Suluada trip from Adrasan.

The four routes at a glance

Route	Departure · duration · best for
Kaleiçi harbour cruise	Old harbour · 1–3 hours · first day, short on time, families
Düden Waterfall route	Old harbour · half day · photos, seeing the falls from the sea
Kemer bays	Kemer harbour · full day · swim stops, guests staying in Kemer
Suluada	Adrasan · full day · clear water and quiet coves

Durations are approximate and every provider's programme differs, so name the route you want when you send a request.

Is a boat tour in Antalya worth it?

Yes. The Antalya coast looks completely different from the water: the cliffs below the city walls, caves cut into the rock and coves you can't reach by road. Some tours are short sightseeing cruises; others become a full day with several swim stops.

1. Kaleiçi harbour cruise: short and easy

Visitors stepping onto a wooden sightseeing boat in Kaleiçi's old harbour for a short coastal cruise — Kaleiçi harbour is the easiest departure point for a few hours at sea.

Kaleiçi's old harbour is the easiest place in Antalya to step onto a boat. Boats leave at different times through the day and run along the cliffs below the walls. The city seen from the sea, the caves and the sheer cliffs are the real view here.

It is a good first-day choice: no long transfer, little preparation and dinner in Kaleiçi afterwards. It is easy with small children too. Short cruises often have no swim stop, so ask in advance if you want to get in the water.

2. The Düden Waterfall route

Passengers photographing Lower Düden Waterfall as it pours off the cliffs straight into the sea — The best view of the falls is from the water; confirm the route first.

At Lara, the Düden river drops about 40 metres off the cliff straight into the sea. You can see it from the clifftop park, but the most striking view is from the water, facing the falls. Some cruises from Kaleiçi head east towards Lara and wait in front of the waterfall for a while.

Note that not every harbour cruise goes as far as Düden; short ones show part of the cliffs and turn back. If you want the waterfall, write "we want to see Düden" in your request and confirm the route. Late-morning light shows the falls most clearly, and in windy weather the stop in front of the falls can be shorter.

3. Kemer's bays: a full day of swimming

Travellers relaxing on deck while the boat is anchored in a pine-fringed bay near Kemer — On the Kemer side the mountains meet the sea and swim stops are longer.

Kemer lies west of Antalya, where the Taurus Mountains come down to the sea. Full-day tours from Kemer harbour stop several times to swim in bays framed by pine forest, and lunch is usually served on board. Common stops include the bays around the ancient city of Phaselis and Moonlight Bay (Ay Işığı Koyu); the mountains so close to the shore make the scenery feel very different from central Antalya. Stops vary by provider and weather, so ask for the programme.

If you are staying in central Antalya you will drive to Kemer, so packages with hotel pick-up start early. Boat size and crowds vary; for a calmer day, ask about a small group or a private boat.

4. Suluada: the clearest water

Swimmers in clear turquoise water below Suluada's pale cliffs during a full-day trip from Adrasan — There are no facilities on the island: bring water, a hat and sunscreen.

Suluada is a rocky, sparsely vegetated island off Adrasan in Kumluca district. Its pale rocks and shallow water make the sea look an intense, light turquoise, which is why it appears in so many photos. Boats usually leave Adrasan beach in the morning, stop to swim in coves along the way and return in the late afternoon.

The price of Suluada is time: you drive from Antalya to Adrasan first, so part of your day is on the road. There are no facilities on the island; bring water, a hat and sunscreen. It is popular in summer, so send your date early.

Which one should you choose?

Only a few hours: the Kaleiçi harbour cruise.
Düden is a must: a harbour cruise that confirms the Düden route.
Staying around Kemer: the Kemer bays tour.
Clearest water and happy to travel: Suluada.
Avoiding crowds: a private boat or small group on any route.

Children in life jackets leaning on the rail with their parents to look down into the clear sea — Short, calm routes are the easiest choice with small children.

What to bring

Sunscreen, a hat, a towel, swimwear, a change of clothes, water and a light layer. The sun is stronger at sea than you expect and shade on deck can be limited around midday. If you get seasick, skip a heavy breakfast and sit in the middle of the boat. A waterproof phone pouch helps. Ask whether children's life jackets are available.

Local tip

In high season, send your request a day or two ahead rather than leaving it to the last minute: you are more likely to get the route you want and a calmer boat.

Sunset cruise

A couple on deck watching the sun set behind the Beydağları mountains from a late-afternoon cruise — Sunset cruises are short; ask about departure times for your date.

Some boats from Kaleiçi harbour also run short late-afternoon sunset cruises. Watching the cliffs from the sea as the sun drops behind the Beydağları mountains is the calmest way to end a day. Ask about the departure time for your date in your request.

What to include in your request

Your date, group size, where you are staying, the route you want ("we want to see Düden" or "Suluada"), whether you need hotel pick-up and your lunch preference. Send it from the Antalya tours page and a local provider will reply directly with the current programme and price. IONETO's motto applies here too: mutlu insan dünyayı aydınlatır, a happy person lights up the world, and a well-chosen day at sea is one of the easiest ways there.

For more ideas see Antalya activities and things to do in Antalya. Bu yazının Türkçesi: Antalya tekne turları.

Quick answers

What is the shortest boat tour in Antalya?

Harbour cruises from Kaleiçi's old harbour last a few hours and need no preparation.

Which tour shows Düden Waterfall from the sea?

Choose a route from Kaleiçi harbour that heads east towards Lara and confirm Düden in your request.

Does the Suluada tour leave from Antalya?

Suluada boats leave from Adrasan. You drive there from Antalya; hotel pick-up packages start early.

Is lunch included on Antalya boat tours?

Usually on full-day tours, rarely on short harbour cruises. Ask the provider.

Kemer or Suluada?

Kemer offers bays and swimming closer to Antalya; Suluada offers the clearest water and island scenery after a longer drive.

Which tour is best for children?

A short Kaleiçi cruise or a tour with calm swim stops is easiest with small children.

Sources

Illustrative images. Mutlu insan dünyayı aydınlatır: a happy person lights up the world.