Hatay is Turkey's southernmost province, a slender finger of land bordering Syria and the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital, Antakya—the ancient Antioch on the Orontes—was one of the great cities of the Roman and early Christian world. Hatay's layered history, distinctive Arab-influenced cuisine, and multicultural society (Turkish, Arabic, Alevi, Armenian, and Greek Orthodox communities have coexisted here for centuries) make it unlike anywhere else in Turkey. Note: a magnitude-7.8 earthquake on 6 February 2023 severely damaged Antakya; many historic structures collapsed and rebuilding is ongoing. Travellers will find a city in resilient reconstruction rather than a fully restored old town.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Samandağ & Titus Tunnel (Seleucia Pieria)
This trip combines the ancient port city of Seleucia Pieria with Samandağ's black-sand coastline. The main draw is the Titus Tunnel, a Roman-era channel cut and blasted through solid rock to divert a flood-prone stream away from the harbor, and you can still walk through much of it. Afterward, Samandağ town and its beach at Çevlik give the day a swimming or seaside-lunch component that most other Hatay day trips lack.
Highlights: Titus Tunnel - a kilometer-plus rock-cut water channel you walk through, started under Vespasian and finished under Titus · Seleucia Pieria ancient port remains - scattered ruins of the harbor that once served Antioch, visible near the tunnel entrance · Çevlik Beach - the black-sand beach at Samandağ, a straightforward place to cool off after the tunnel walk · Samandağ town center - known locally for its Arab Alawite community and simple grilled-fish lunch spots near the coast
Harbiye Waterfalls (Ancient Daphne)
Harbiye is ancient Daphne, the laurel-grove retreat where wealthy Antiochenes once escaped the city heat, and it still functions the same way today. A stream drops over a series of small waterfalls shaded by plane and laurel trees, with terraced restaurants built right over the water. It's a half-day rather than full-day outing, easily combined with lunch, and needs no entry fee to wander the stream-side paths.
Highlights: The waterfall stream itself - a shaded, stepped cascade that is the reason Daphne became a retreat in antiquity · Laurel groves - the trees that gave Daphne its name and its reputation for fragrant, cool air · Stream-side restaurant terraces - platforms built directly over and beside the water where you eat with the falls as backdrop
İskenderun Seafront Day Trip
İskenderun is Hatay's port city, founded by Alexander the Great and still functioning as a working harbor town rather than a polished tourist stop. The appeal is a long seafront promenade for walking, sea views across the Gulf of İskenderun, and a food scene built around çıtır köfte, a local crumbed-and-fried köfte specialty distinct from Antakya's kebab tradition. It suits travelers who want a coastal change of pace with a genuine industrial-port backdrop rather than a beach resort.
Highlights: İskenderun seafront promenade - the corniche running along the Gulf of İskenderun, the spine of any visit here · Çıtır köfte - the town's signature fried köfte, distinct enough from Antakya's kebab culture to be worth trying on its own · Working harbor views - container ships and port activity that mark İskenderun out from Hatay's inland towns
Adana City Day Trip
Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city and the country's kebab capital, giving this trip a genuinely different urban texture from small-town Hatay. Beyond the food, the main sights are the Sabancı Merkez Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Turkey with its six minarets on the Seyhan riverbank, and the Roman-era stone bridge, Taşköprü, still crossing the same river it has spanned since antiquity. The two-hour trip each way makes this a genuine full-day commitment.
Highlights: Sabancı Merkez Mosque - a large multi-domed, six-minaret mosque on the Seyhan River, one of Turkey's biggest · Taşköprü (Stone Bridge) - a Roman-built bridge across the Seyhan that has carried traffic for close to two thousand years · Adana kebab - the city's namesake spiced minced-meat kebab, worth eating here rather than anywhere else on this itinerary · Seyhan riverside promenade - the walkway along the river connecting the bridge and mosque areas
Gaziantep Day Trip (Antep)
Gaziantep is Turkey's baklava capital and one of its most food-focused cities, plus it holds the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, one of the largest mosaic collections in the world, rescued from the ancient site of Zeugma before it was flooded by a dam. Given the three-hour drive each way, this is the most ambitious of Hatay's day trips and really only works if you commit to an early start and a late return.
Highlights: Zeugma Mosaic Museum - houses the Roman floor mosaics salvaged from the flooded ancient city of Zeugma, including the well-known 'Gypsy Girl' · Gaziantep Castle - a hilltop fortress overlooking the old city, with views across Gaziantep's rooftops · Baklava - Gaziantep's defining sweet, made with the region's pistachios and worth buying from a shop in the old city rather than a generic bakery · Bakırcılar Çarşısı (copper bazaar) - the old coppersmiths' market in the historic center
Arsuz Beach Day Trip
Arsuz sits on the Mediterranean coast south of İskenderun and is Hatay's main beach-resort town, built around the ancient port site of Rhosus. The appeal here is straightforward: a swimmable coastline backed by olive groves, a slower pace than İskenderun's working port, and views toward the Amanos mountains behind the town. It's the pick of these day trips for anyone who wants a beach day rather than a sightseeing day.
Highlights: Arsuz's town beaches - a stretch of coast with public and hotel-fronted beach areas suited to a straightforward swimming day · Rhosus ancient site - the scattered remains of the ancient port town Arsuz grew from, visible around the modern settlement · Amanos mountain backdrop - the coastal olive groves and mountain views that give Arsuz a different feel from İskenderun's port
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Items
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
Multi-day tours from Hatay
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from HatayWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early — most popular day-trip destinations get crowded by mid-morning.
Check return transport times before you leave — missing the last train or bus can be costly.
Carry water, snacks, and layers — weather and food options can be limited at smaller destinations.