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 pay for rides. A pack of 10 tokens is 30 lira ($20).
2. Sandcity
This is the 6th year of the International Sand Sculpture Festival at Lara’s Sandcity. Every year has a different theme. Last year’s theme was Mythology, and the theme for 2012 is Hollywood (yawn).
Sandcity is open from June through October, 10 am to 11 pm. Admission is 8tl for adults and 4 for children.
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 pretty steep at 25 Lira for everyone 7 year’s old and up. Kids 6 and under get in free. 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 (25 lira, free for kids 6 and under), 15 lira for grisle, fries and coke, and the 5D ride (10 lira) it ran us 50 lira a person. 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 an excellent value; admission is only 2 lira. 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
A few more things to do in Antalya with older kids or teenagers includes:
