Thanks to my boyfriend’s 7-year-old son I’ve recently become somewhat of an expert on how to entertain kids here.
I thought this information might be helpful to anyone traveling to Antalya with kids, so I put together a top five list of things to do in Antalya with kids.
5 Things To Do in Antalya with Kids
1. Aktur Park
Every kid loves an amusement park, and it can be fun for adults too. We went at night, when the colored lights make the most festive atmosphere. There are the usual roller-coaster, ferris wheel and bumper car rides you’d expect. There’s no admission, but you buy tokens to pay for rides. Token prices change often with the lira, so check them at the park.
2. Sandcity
The International Sand Sculpture Festival at Lara, now called Sandland, gets a new theme every year, and international sculptors rebuild the whole park around it.
Sandland is open year-round. From June through October it usually stays open until 11 pm, and the rest of the year it closes earlier in the evening. Check current hours and ticket prices before you go.
3. Dinopark
This is one I let the boys go to without me, mostly because they went on a very hot day, but I got the scoop: There are large plastic dinosaurs wandering around, the kids can dig for dinosaur bones, and there’s a waterpark to cool off in. This is no natural history museum with actual dinosaur bones, so don’t expect a learning experience.
Admission is on the steep side, so check current prices and age rules before you go. Dinopark is located on the coastal road between Konyaalti and Kemer and is reachable by bus.
4. Aquapark
I have mixed feelings about this waterpark in Konyaalti. The first things I noticed when we were arrived were 1) The landscaping is gorgeous, and 2) It stinks in here. After a visit to the restrooms I discovered the likely cause of the stink. Suffice it to say, go before you go. You should also eat before you go; the food is atrocious and expensive.
On the plus side, the slides and tubes into the water were fun, and kids love them. There was also a 6 minute experience called “5D” : 3D films with moving seats. We chose the one recommended by the guy working there, and I have to say it really felt like I was on an intense rollercoaster ride.
Between admission, a basic lunch and the 5D ride, the costs added up quickly, so check current prices before you go. Aquapark is located between Ataturk Culture Park and Beachpark. There’s also a similar waterpark in Lara.
5. Minicity
If you’d like a bit of culture with your fun, take your kids to minicity. This outdoor museum is a landscaped garden with miniature replicas of Turkey’s most famous architecture and geological formations. There’s something from every part of the country, and the brief descriptions are in English.
Minicity is good value for a couple of hours out. There’s no shade though (the buildings are too small!), so make sure everyone has a hat and is wearing sunscreen. It’s right across from the beach, so you can cool off with a dip in the Mediterranean after your sunny walk across all of Turkey.
Activities in Antalya for older kids and teenagers
For more ideas around the country, see our Turkey travel guide. A few more things to do in Antalya with older kids or teenagers include:
