ValidaTrip / Things to do in Antalya
Things to do in Antalya in December 2026
By ValidaTrip Research · Updated May 20, 2026
Quick answer: Antalya in December 2026 usually runs near 17C by day, 7C at night, with about 12 rainy days.
Dated picks to verify first include Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan.
Check the dated events and venue hours below before assigning fixed dates.
Events, festivals, and public holidays for Antalya, Turkey, in December 2026.
The point is making sure the places you already want to see are actually open on the days you'll be there.
Planning a Antalya trip in December?
Paste the recommendations you've collected — from friends, a ChatGPT itinerary, or blog listicles. ValidaTrip checks every place against your December dates: opening hours, closures, what needs booking ahead, and which Antalya events overlap your trip.
No account needed to try it.
Month context
Antalya in December: weather, seasonal timing, and what changes.
Antalya weather in December
High
16.7°C
Low
7°C
Rain
12d
270mm
9.5h daylight
What to prioritize in December
Prioritize Yivli Minare Mosque (Fluted Minaret Mosque), Aspendos Theatre, Antalya Museum, Duden Lower Waterfalls, Perge.
Dates to check
Events, festivals, and closures in Antalya.
Events & festivals in Antalya, December 2026
Dates and ticketing change constantly — treat this as a starting point and confirm anything you'd build a day around.
- Dec 12 – Dec 31
Public holidays & closures in December 2026
No national public holidays fall in Turkey during December 2026. Individual venues still keep their own closed days — ValidaTrip checks each place on your list against the exact dates you're there.
City context
What Antalya is known for before you choose what to prioritize.
Known for
City context
Antalya is the Turkish Riviera city where Kaleici's Roman harbour faces the Mediterranean and the Taurus Mountains close the inland horizon. Hadrian's Gate, Konyaalti Beach, Lara's resort strip, and the Aksu road to Perge make the city work as both a beach base and an archaeological hub.
Food & drink
Local flavor
Antalya eating is built around piyaz with tahini, sis kofte, gozleme, seafood by the old harbour, and citrus from the coastal plain; Piyazci Sami and the Kaleici meyhanes are useful anchors. Prices sit below Istanbul resort-district levels outside Lara hotels, while Lara Caddesi and Kaleici charge more for sea views. The regional fact to know is that Antalya piyaz uses tahini and beans, unlike the lighter onion-parsley piyaz served in much of Turkey.
Things to do
Attractions and sights to consider in Antalya.
Things to do in Antalya
Map of top sights in Antalya
- 1Yivli Minare Mosque (Fluted Minaret Mosque)
- 2Aspendos Theatre
- 3Antalya Museum
- 4Duden Lower Waterfalls
- 5Perge
- 6Hidirlik Tower
- 1
Yivli Minare Mosque (Fluted Minaret Mosque)
4.8★ · 3,254indoorSeljuk mosque on Cumhuriyet Caddesi with a 38m fluted brick minaret; the mosque was built under Seljuk rule in 1230 and rebuilt by the Hamidids in 1373.
- 2
Aspendos Theatre
4.8★ · 21,137indoorOpen dailyRoman theatre near Serik with one of the best-preserved stage buildings in Asia Minor. It sits about 45km east of Antalya and pairs naturally with Perge on a full-day antiquities loop.
Wikipedia - 3
Antalya Museum
4.7★ · 14,130indoorLarge archaeological museum on Konyaalti Caddesi 88, reached by tram to Muze. The collection covers Pamphylia and Mediterranean Turkey, including thousands of finds from Perge and nearby ancient cities.
Wikipedia
Show 7 more sights
- 4Duden Lower Waterfalls
- 5Perge
- 6Hidirlik Tower
- 7Roman Harbour Piers
- 8Duden Upper Waterfalls
- 9Tünektepe Cable Car
- 10Hadrian's Gate
Areas and routes
Neighborhoods, day trips, and getting around Antalya.
Antalya neighborhoods
Each district has its own character — knowing which one you're in changes what's realistic to fit in a day.
Kaleici (Old Town)
Narrow Ottoman lanes inside the old walls, with Hadrian's Gate, Hidirlik Tower, Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque, and the Roman harbour all within a 15-minute walk. Guesthouses and meyhanes cluster around Hesapci Sokak and Karanlik Sokak.
Konyaalti
West of the centre, Konyaalti runs along a 10km pebble beach below the cliffs. Antalya Museum, the Aquarium on Dumlupinar Bulvari, and the Tünektepe road make it the practical beach-and-museum base.
Lara and Kundu
The east-side resort belt starts around Lara Caddesi and stretches toward Kundu and Aksu. Lower Duden Falls, Sandland, TerraCity, and the long sandy hotel strip sit along the same airport-side axis.
Muratpasa city centre
The working centre around Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Ismetpasa tram stop, the clock tower, and Yivli Minare. It has markets, municipal offices, buses, and more year-round city life than the beach strips.
Kepez
Northern inland Antalya around Varsak, the zoo park, and Line T3. Kepez is less beach-facing and more residential, useful for seeing the expanding city behind the coastal postcard.
Aksu and Expo corridor
The eastern tram-and-road corridor toward Antalya Airport, Expo, Perge, and the resort highway. It matters because the airport, ancient ruins, and Lara hotels all sit on this side of the city.
Day trips from Antalya
Doable as a long day or comfortable as an overnight — each one is a destination on its own.
17km / 30min by AntRay T1 to Aksu plus a short taxi
Perge
Colonnaded Roman city with stadium, theatre, baths, and agora east of Antalya. It is a half-day trip and the easiest ancient site to pair with the Antalya Museum collection.
45km / 45min by car from Kaleici
Aspendos
Roman theatre and aqueduct near Serik. Combine it with Perge by car or tour because public transport involves extra transfers.
35km / 45min by car into the Taurus Mountains
Termessos
Mountain-top ancient city above forested slopes, with a theatre facing the peaks. Treat it as a full half-day because the ruins require uphill walking.
Getting around
AntRay Line T1 links Antalya Airport Terminal 1, Ismetpasa for Kaleici, Otogar, Aksu, and Expo; Line T2 is the heritage tram along the coast, and Line T3 reaches Kepez and the museum. Use Antalyakart or contactless bank cards for tram and bus rides, and use bus KL08 for the west beach to Duden Falls route.
How to plan Antalya in December
- 1
Anchor the month
Check the 1 dated Antalya event for anything that overlaps your exact December dates before assigning fixed sightseeing days.
- 2
Protect closure days
Confirm weekly closed days for museums, markets, and major sights even though Turkey has no national public holidays in December.
- 3
Group and validate
Group each Antalya day by nearby neighborhoods, then validate the saved places against your trip dates before exporting the checked route to Google Maps.
Best rainy-day things to do in Antalya in December
December averages 12 rainy days in Antalya, so keep these indoor stops as realistic backups.
Yivli Minare Mosque (Fluted Minaret Mosque)
Seljuk mosque on Cumhuriyet Caddesi with a 38m fluted brick minaret; the mosque was built under Seljuk rule in 1230 and rebuilt by the Hamidids in 1373.
Aspendos Theatre
Roman theatre near Serik with one of the best-preserved stage buildings in Asia Minor. It sits about 45km east of Antalya and pairs naturally with Perge on a full-day antiquities loop.
Antalya Museum
Large archaeological museum on Konyaalti Caddesi 88, reached by tram to Muze. The collection covers Pamphylia and Mediterranean Turkey, including thousands of finds from Perge and nearby ancient cities.
What to pack for Antalya in December
Pack from the monthly climate profile, not a generic Antalya checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 17C.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 7C.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 12 rainy days.
How many days do you need in Antalya
4 days covers the main Antalya highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Is Antalya worth visiting in December
Yes. Antalya in December: 16.7°C high, 7°C low, 270mm rain over 12 days, 9.5h daylight. Mild but rainy — flexible plans pay off.
Validate your list
Turn this into a Antalya plan that actually works
All your recs in one place
Paste what friends, ChatGPT, and blogs gave you for Antalya. ValidaTrip pulls out each place and sorts it — no spreadsheet by hand.
Open on your dates
Every place checked against the days you're actually in Antalya, with timed tickets and reservation-only spots flagged while you can still get a slot.
Export to Google Maps
Send the cleaned, checked, and neighborhood-grouped plan to Google Maps so your Antalya days are ready to navigate.
Questions
- What's on in Antalya in December 2026?
- Around 1 notable event and festival fall in December 2026, including Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan. Dates and times change — confirm each before you build your day around it.
- Are there public holidays in Antalya during December 2026?
- No national public holidays fall in Antalya during December 2026, but individual venues still have their own closed days.
- Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Antalya in December?
- Not always. Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season, and holiday. Paste your Antalya list into ValidaTrip and it checks every place against the exact dates you're there, flagging closures before the trip instead of at a locked door.
- How do I plan Antalya days without crossing the city twice?
- ValidaTrip groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging. It also flags what needs booking ahead, so timed tickets and reservations don't fall through.