City guides
Antalya
Turkey's main beach city on the Mediterranean, with a walled old town, long beaches, waterfalls and Roman ruins close by, under a wall of mountains. Most visitors split their time between the beach (Lara, Konyaaltı or a resort town) and short trips to old sites. It is warm from April to October and very hot in July and August.
Good for
- Families
- Beach holidays
- All-inclusive resorts
- Older travellers who want rest
- Roman ruins
- Nature and waterfalls
A good length: 6 days
Keep it slow: beach in the morning, shade at midday, and the old town or a short trip in the late afternoon; plan no more than one day trip every other day.
Best months
April, May, June, September, October
Per person per day
- Budget
- US$50
- Mid-range
- US$110
- Comfort
- US$280
Per person per day with two sharing: a simple hotel or apartment, meals, local buses and one paid sight. All-inclusive resorts can be cheaper overall when bought as a package (2026).
Where to stay and spend time
Kaleiçi (Old Town)
Stay or visitNarrow lanes, old Ottoman houses turned into small hotels, the Roman harbour and sea-view cafés, all on foot.
For: Couples, short stays, people who like history
Watch out: Cobbles, stairs and no car access to many hotels, hard with suitcases or for older people; restaurant prices are touristy.
Open in mapKonyaaltı
Good baseA long pebble beach with a seaside promenade, parks, the aquarium and many hotels and apartments, about 10 to 15 minutes by car from the old town.
For: Families, longer stays, good value
Watch out: The beach is pebbles, not sand, and the sea gets deep fast; bring water shoes for children.
Open in mapLara
Good baseSandy beach with calm, shallow water and big all-inclusive hotels, close to the airport and the Lower Düden waterfall.
For: Families with young children, resort holidays
Watch out: Far from the old town, so expect a taxi or bus each time you go into the city.
Open in mapCity centre (Muratpaşa)
Stay or visitOrdinary city streets next to the old town with cheaper hotels, local shops and the tram, so you can reach both beaches easily.
For: Budget travellers, shoppers
Open in mapBelek
Good baseA coast of large resorts with private beaches, golf courses and the Land of Legends theme park, about 40 minutes east of the city.
For: Families wanting a full resort week
Watch out: Little to do outside the hotels; trips into Antalya need a taxi or a tour.
Open in mapKemer
Stay or visitA resort town under pine-covered mountains with clear water and a marina, about an hour south-west, close to the ancient sites of Phaselis and Olympos.
For: Nature lovers, families
Watch out: The coast road is winding; take motion sickness pills if needed.
Open in mapSide
Stay or visitA small old town on a peninsula with Roman columns and a seaside temple, about 75 km east; good as a day trip or a quiet stay.
For: History lovers, couples
Watch out: Very crowded with tour groups at midday in summer; go in the late afternoon.
Open in map
Places worth your time
- SightsFree
Kaleiçi lanes
Kaleiçi · 2 to 3 hours
Wander the old lanes, bougainvillea and wooden houses; go in the late afternoon when it is cooler and stay for the harbour sunset.
- SightsFree
Hadrian's Gate
Kaleiçi · 15 minutes
A Roman triple-arched gate at the edge of the old town; a good starting point for a walk and a meeting point if the family splits up.
- SightsFree
Yivli Minaret
Kaleiçi · 20 minutes
The fluted Seljuk brick minaret that is the symbol of the city, at the top of the old town near the clock tower.
- Views
Old Harbour boat trip
Kaleiçi · 1 to 2 hours
Boats leave the Roman harbour for one or two hours along the cliffs, some to the Lower Düden waterfall. Agree the price and length before you board.
- ParksFree
Karaalioğlu Park
Kaleiçi · 1 hour
Cliff-top park with sea and mountain views, benches and tea gardens; flat and easy for older people.
- With childrenFree
Konyaaltı Beach
Konyaaltı · Half a day
Long public beach with the Taurus Mountains behind it, a promenade for walking and cycling, and playgrounds. Sunbeds are paid; the beach itself is free.
- ViewsFree
Lower Düden Waterfall
Lara · 45 minutes
A river falls straight off the cliff into the sea; open public park with free entry. Best seen in the morning light, or from a boat.
- Parks
Upper Düden Waterfall
North of the city · 1 hour
Shady park with a waterfall you can walk behind through a small cave; cool on hot days. Small entry fee (about 100 lira in 2026).
- With children
Antalya Aquarium
Konyaaltı · 2 hours
Large aquarium with a walk-through tunnel, a good indoor plan for hot afternoons with children. Buy only the basic ticket unless the children want the extra sections.
- Day trips
Aspendos Theatre
East of Antalya · 1 to 2 hours
One of the best-kept Roman theatres anywhere, about 45 minutes east. Combine it with Side or Perge on the same day.
- Day trips
Perge
Aksu, near Antalya · 2 hours
A large Roman city with a long colonnaded street and stadium, close to the airport. Almost no shade: go early, with hats and water.
- Day tripsFree
Side old town
Side · Half a day
Walk among Roman ruins to the Temple of Apollo on the shore, best at sunset; the town streets are free, the museum and theatre are paid.
- Parks
Kurşunlu Waterfall
Aksu, near Antalya · 1 to 2 hours
A green nature park with a turquoise pool and shaded paths, quieter than Düden; has stairs, so take it slowly with older people.
- With children
Land of Legends
Belek · Full day
Big theme and water park with rides and an evening show; children love it. Tickets are pricey, so plan a full day and check what the ticket includes.
Getting around
From the airport
AntRay tramabout 40 min
The tram stop is across from the domestic terminal and International Terminal 1; from Terminal 2, take the shuttle bus between terminals or walk. It runs into the city about 06:00 to 23:00; get off at İsmetpaşa for Kaleiçi. No cash on board: use an Antalyakart or a single ticket; a contactless bank card also works but costs more.
about 1 USD (42 lira with Antalyakart, 46 lira single ticket, 2026)
City bus 600about 60 min
Municipal bus from outside the terminals to the city centre; pay with an Antalyakart only. Slow but cheap; hard with big suitcases.
about 1 USD with Antalyakart (2026)
Havaş shuttleabout 45 min
Airport coach to the city centre with room for luggage; check that its last stop is near your hotel.
about 4 to 5 USD (220 lira, 2026)
Taxiabout 25 min
Yellow taxis wait at the official rank and use the meter; to Kaleiçi they stop at the gates near Hadrian's Gate or the clock tower. The only easy option after 23:00.
about 14 USD to Kaleiçi on the meter (2026)
In the city
Antalyakart
The city's transit card for trams and buses, sold at kiosks and tram stops; a ride is 42 lira (about 0.8 USD) in 2026, and paying with a bank card costs more. Buses do not take cash.
AntRay tram
Modern tram linking the airport with the city centre near Kaleiçi and the northern suburbs; clean and easy for older people.
Buses and dolmuş
City buses reach Konyaaltı, Lara and the waterfalls; shared minibuses (dolmuş) run to nearby towns. Use Moovit or Google Maps for routes.
Taxis and ride apps
Yellow taxis are metered (the start fare was about 50 lira in 2026) and can be booked through BiTaksi. Insist on the meter or agree a price before long trips, and pay in lira cash. For day trips to Aspendos, Side or Kemer, a hotel-arranged driver or a small group tour is often cheaper than several taxis.
On foot
Kaleiçi and the seafront are walkable, but the old town has steep cobbled lanes down to the harbour. The Konyaaltı promenade is flat and good for strollers and older people. In summer avoid walking between 12:00 and 16:00.
Food
Halal food: Meat is halal almost everywhere and resorts serve large buffets. Many tourist restaurants and resort bars serve alcohol; if that matters, choose family kebab houses and lokantas in the city centre.
Persian food and community: There is no Persian quarter in Antalya. Around Nowruz many Iranian families come on package tours, mostly to the big resorts of Lara and Belek. Turkish grills, rice and yoghurt dishes are close to Iranian taste.
- Try piyaz (bean salad with tahini), a local Antalya speciality, with grilled köfte.
- Eat a few streets outside Kaleiçi for half the price of harbour restaurants.
- Check the menu price and whether bread and starters are charged before you sit down.
- Buy fruit at the local markets; oranges and pomegranates from the region are excellent in season.
- Drink plenty of bottled water in summer; heat exhaustion is common among visitors.
Money and phone
Cash: Bring US dollars or euros in good condition and change them at exchange offices (döviz) in the city centre or near Kaleiçi; hotel desks and the airport give worse rates. In early November 2026 one dollar was about 50 lira. Resorts and some shops take euros or dollars, but paying in lira is usually cheaper.
Cards: Iranian cards do not work here. The easiest way is a package tour or hotel paid in toman in Iran, then cash for extras. A relative's foreign card or an international prepaid card bought before the trip helps with trams, taxi apps and entry tickets.
SIM and internet: Turkcell's tourist pack is about 1,800 lira (about 36 USD) for 20 GB and 28 days in 2026, sold in Turkcell stores with your passport; Vodafone and Türk Telekom have similar packs and airport shops cost more. A foreign phone works on a Turkish SIM for 120 days without registration. Buy and install any travel eSIM before you fly, because several eSIM websites are blocked in Turkey.
What travellers say
Advice that travellers from many countries repeat, chosen for Iranian visitors.
- Pick your base by what you want: Lara for sand and small children, Konyaaltı for value and city access, Kaleiçi for atmosphere.
- Cheap excursions often include long stops at leather, jewellery or carpet shops; ask before booking or choose a tour without shopping stops.
- Visit ruins like Perge and Aspendos early in the morning; there is little shade.
- Konyaaltı's pebbles get hot and the sea deepens quickly; water shoes help a lot.
- Use the tram and Antalyakart instead of taxis for city trips; it is fast and simple.
- May, June, September and October give warm sea without the extreme heat of July and August.
- Agree boat trip prices and length before boarding at the harbour.
For Iranian travellers
- Iranians can visit Turkey for short trips without arranging a visa in advance; see our visa page for the current rule.
- Nowruz is the busiest Iranian season in Antalya and prices jump; book early or travel a week later.
- Many Iranians buy an all-inclusive package in toman; read exactly what is included (drinks, transfers, beach towels) before paying.
- If there is no direct flight from your city, connecting through Istanbul is usually simple and often cheaper.
- Burkinis and modest swimwear are common on public beaches; for hotel pools, ask the hotel about its swimwear rules.
- There is no Iranian consulate in Antalya; for a lost passport you need the consulate in Istanbul or the embassy in Ankara, so keep copies.
Stay safe
- Emergency number for police, ambulance and fire: 112.
- Sun and heat are the biggest risk: hats, sunscreen, water and shade at midday, especially for children and older people.
- Swim only at beaches with lifeguards or calm water; waves can be strong at Konyaaltı on windy days.
- Watch for taxi drivers who do not start the meter and for restaurant bills with extra items you did not order.
- Kaleiçi and the seafront are lively and generally safe at night; keep bags closed in crowded areas.
Checked 7 November 2026