Antalya Travel Guide

Antalya is the capital of the Turkish Riviera and the gateway to Turkey’s busiest holiday coast. It is a real city of more than a million people, with a charming walled old town, a harbour full of wooden boats, two long beaches and the Taurus Mountains rising behind it all. Within an hour you can reach Roman theatres, mountain ruins, waterfalls and the resort towns of Belek, Side, Kemer and Alanya.

Why go to Antalya

• A city and a beach holiday in one: stay in the old town for atmosphere, or by the beach for swimming, and switch between them by bus or taxi.
• Easy to reach: Antalya Airport is about 13 km from the city centre, with direct flights from across Europe.
• History everywhere: Hadrian’s Gate, the old harbour, and ancient cities such as Perge, Aspendos and Termessos close by.
• A long season: beach weather from May to October, and mild, sunny days for sightseeing in spring, autumn and even winter.

🏨 Where to stay? Compare the areas: Lara, Konyaaltı or Kaleiçi: where to stay in Antalya

🗺️ Plan your visit: Airport transfers · Which resort to choose · Alanya · Side · Kemer · Belek

🗺️ Planning excursions? Read our guide: The best day trips from Antalya: Aspendos, Side, Köprülü Canyon, Kekova and more

📅 What’s on: see our events and festivals in Turkey page, including the Antalya Piano Festival and the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival.

Top things to do

• Kaleiçi, the old town: walk the narrow lanes of Ottoman houses, boutique hotels and courtyard cafés, entering through the triple-arched Hadrian’s Gate, built for the Roman emperor’s visit in the 2nd century AD.
• The old harbour: the little Roman harbour below the old town is the starting point for boat trips along the cliffs to the waterfalls and caves.
• Düden Waterfalls: the upper falls lie in a shady park, while the lower falls plunge straight off the cliffs into the sea near Lara. The view from a boat is unforgettable.
• Konyaaltı and Lara beaches: Konyaaltı is a long pebble beach west of the centre with mountain views; Lara, to the east, is sandy and lined with large hotels.
• Antalya Museum: one of Turkey’s finest archaeology museums (closed since July 2025; a new building is going up on the same site), with marble statues from nearby Perge.
• Ancient cities: Perge (17 km east), the remarkably complete Roman theatre of Aspendos (about 48 km) and Termessos, a city high in the mountains.

Boat trips and tours

• Boat trips from the old harbour: short cruises along the cliffs to the Düden waterfalls, and longer day trips with swimming stops in the bays.
• Private yachts and gulets: charter a boat for your family or group, for a day or for a longer cruise along the Turkish Riviera.
• Day tours: guided trips to Aspendos, Perge and Side, rafting in Köprülü Canyon, and jeep tours into the Taurus Mountains.

Getting there and around

• Antalya Airport: about 13 km from the city centre. Airport buses, the tram, taxis and car rental desks connect it with the city.
• Private transfers: the easiest way to reach Belek, Side, Kemer or Alanya, especially with children or a lot of luggage. Book ahead in summer.
• Car hire: useful for day trips to the ancient cities, beaches and mountain villages.
• In the city: buses run between Kaleiçi, Konyaaltı and Lara, and the AntRay tram links the centre with the airport and the bus station; taxis are easy to find.

Where to stay

• Kaleiçi: small boutique hotels in restored old houses. Best for couples and first-time visitors who want atmosphere and restaurants on the doorstep.
• Konyaaltı: beach hotels and apartments with a seaside promenade, a good mix of city and beach.
• Lara: large all-inclusive resorts on a sandy beach, close to the airport.
• Belek: golf courses and large family resorts on long sandy beaches.
• Kemer: pine forests, mountains and a marina, about an hour south-west.
• Side and Alanya: Side has Roman ruins in its harbour town; Alanya is a lively beach town below a castle.

Which resort to choose near Antalya

Most visitors land at Antalya Airport and then head to one of the resort towns along the coast. Each has a different character:

• Lara (about 15 km from the airport): the closest beach area, with sandy beaches and big all-inclusive hotels, and the city of Antalya right next door.
• Belek (about 35 km): Turkey’s golf capital, with luxury resorts, long sandy beaches and theme parks. Great for families and golfers.
• Kemer (about 55–60 km): pine forests and mountains running down to the sea, a lively marina, boat trips and the Olympos cable car. Best for nature lovers.
• Side (about 65 km): a resort built around a real ancient city, with the Temple of Apollo on the seafront and sandy beaches on both sides.
• Alanya (about 120 km): a busy resort town under a huge castle, with Cleopatra Beach, boat trips, nightlife and good value hotels. Gazipaşa Airport is closer for some flights.

Transfers from Antalya Airport to all these resorts are easy to book in advance, and many agencies sell day tours that pick you up from your hotel.

When to go

For swimming, come between May and October. July and August are very hot, so many visitors prefer June and September. Spring and autumn are perfect for exploring the ruins, and winter is mild and sunny, though too cool for most people to swim.

More things to do in Antalya

Kaleiçi: Step Into a Living Fairy Tale

Antalya's walled old town, where cobbled lanes pass Ottoman houses and Roman ruins above the harbor

⏱ Visit duration: 3-4 hours

Antalya Marina: Where Ancient History Meets Luxury Yachts

A working harbor below Kaleiçi with berths for about 90–100 boats, boat tours, and waterfront cafes

⏱ Visit duration: 2-3 hours

Düden Waterfalls: Antalya's Most Instagram-Worthy Natural Wonder

Two waterfalls on the same river: an upper falls in parkland and a lower falls dropping into the sea

⏱ Visit duration: 3-4 hours (both waterfalls)

Lara Beach: Your Golden Sandy Dream

Blue Flag sandy beach in the Lara district with shallow water and resort facilities

⏱ Visit duration: Full day

Konyaaltı Beach: The Vibrant Cultural Hub

Pebble Blue Flag beach west of the center, backed by the Beydağları mountains and a long promenade

⏱ Visit duration: Full day

Antalya Archaeology Museum: Discover 5,000 Years of History

The former museum, winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 1988, closed in July 2025 for a new building

⏱ Closed for rebuilding since July 2025

Smoky Perfection: Antalya's Şiş Köfte Masters

Hand-shaped lamb and beef meatballs grilled over charcoal, an everyday Antalya specialty

⏱ Visit duration: 1 hour

Mediterranean Treasure: Antalya's Piyaz Masters

White bean salad with tahini dressing, eggs, and tomatoes, Antalya's signature dish

⏱ Visit duration: 1 hour

Oven Magic: Antalya's Pide and Lahmacun Masters

Flatbreads baked in stone ovens: boat-shaped pide with toppings and thin, spiced lahmacun

⏱ Visit duration: 1 hour

Fire and Tradition: Antalya's Kebap Masters

Charcoal-grilled lamb, beef, and chicken kebap served at grill houses across Antalya

⏱ Visit duration: 1-2 hours

Golden Layers: Antalya's Baklava Masters

Paper-thin phyllo layered with nuts and soaked in syrup, Turkey's best-known dessert

⏱ Visit duration: 30 minutes

Morning Feast: Antalya's Turkish Breakfast Tradition

The traditional Turkish morning spread of small plates, cheeses, olives, and endless tea

⏱ Visit duration: 1-2 hours

Flaky Perfection: Antalya's Börekçi Masters

Layered yufka pastry with cheese or spinach fillings, cheap and filling at bakeries citywide

⏱ Visit duration: 30-45 minutes

Simit in Antalya: Golden Circle Guide

Sesame-crusted bread rings sold warm by street vendors, Turkey's cheapest breakfast

⏱ Visit duration: 15-30 minutes

Çiğ Köfte in Antalya: Spicy Red Delight

Spicy bulgur-based vegetarian street food served in lettuce wraps with lemon

⏱ Visit duration: 30 minutes

Döner Kebab: Antalya's Spinning Meat Mastery

Marinated meat stacked on a vertical rotisserie, carved fresh into bread with vegetables

⏱ Visit duration: 30-45 minutes

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Yat Limanı, Kaleiçi by Cobija, CC BY-SA 4.0; View of Konyaaltı Beach and Beydağları Mountains, Antalya by FingerWiki, CC BY-SA 4.0; Aspendos Theatre, Turkey by Lee Vilenski, CC BY-SA 4.0; P9271456 Hadrians Gate, Antalya by Joe Wallace, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Card photos via Wikimedia Commons: REHBER0770, CC BY-SA 4.0; Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bestalex, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jörg Fuhrmann (Intermerker), CC BY-SA 4.0; Esginmurat, CC BY-SA 4.0; Yamen, CC BY-SA 4.0; E4024, CC BY-SA 4.0; FingerWiki, CC BY-SA 4.0; O.celebi, CC BY-SA 4.0; Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0; Francesc Fort, CC BY-SA 4.0. Full credits on each guide page. Header photo: Konyaaltı Beach from the cliffs, Esginmurat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.