Antalya - popular touristic city in Turkey at Mediterranean Coast

Antalya is the largest city on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, and is one of the hubs of the Turkish Riviera.

Understand

Having entered the scene in 150 BC as Attalia, named after its founder, Attalos II, king of Pergamon, Antalya has always attracted a wide array of travellers, including Paul the Apostle, and Ibn Battuta among others. Antalya had replaced Phaselis—beautiful ruins of which now lie to south of the city, between Kemer and Olympos—as the main harbour of the surrounding region during the reign of Seljuks, in the early 1200s, but the lack of a large hinterland (or, rather, lack of good connections with its mountainous hinterland) meant for much of its history eversince that it was a provincial coastal town, albeit with a multicultural community of Muslims, Christians, and Jews. As the centre of a region with beautiful beaches, verdant mountains, and a mindblowing number of ancient ruins, the tourism investments started in the 1970s, which changed the fate of the city considerably. However, as most of the visitors (make no mistake—they are in the range of millions annually) to the region are actually on "all-inclusive" vacation packages nowadays, they are immediately taken from the airport to the huge resorts lining the coastline of hundreds of kilometres, where they stay until the end of their holidays except perhaps a raid or two to the nearest and the most popular attractions, so Antalya itself, especially the old town (Kaleiçi), is more of an independent traveller destination, where you will meet the other travellers of a similar mind, and the locals.

Climate

Antalya experiences a humid variant of the Mediterranean climate, its summers are hot, sunny and often rainless, while its winters are mild with occasional but very heavy rainstorms.

Summer, which is high season in Antalya, is quite hot; daytime temperatures average around 30-35°C, but 40°C heat is not unheard of, especially in more inland regions. The skies are often cloudless, and Antalya only averages one day of rain a month during summer. It's also important to mention that near the coast, summer nights can sometimes be muggier than the days, as the lack of a sea breeze at night, higher humidity and warm nights combine to make oppressive conditions.

Winters are mild, and often experience what could be called 'springlike' daytime temperatures in temperate climates such as Istanbul or most of Western Europe, despite the occasional cold nights. Quite contrary to the comfortable temperatures, however, are the strong storms that regularly soak Antalya in winter, sometimes dropping more than 150mm (6 inches) of rain in a single day. Along with these storms, frequent lightning and damaging winds are common, and while damaging tornadoes aren't, they are not unheard of.

Snowfall in Antalya is incredibly rare: the record daily snowfall was 5 cm (2 inches) in 1993 and January 2022.

Owing to its hot summers and more importantly mild winters, Antalya's beach holiday season is quite long, with water temperatures above 24°C from June to October, which makes early fall an ideal time to go if you want to enjoy the warm sea without getting overwhelmed by the heat.

For a sightseeing tour, October to November, and April to May seem to be the best times, with warm temperatures and relatively little rainfall.

Get in

Antalya is easily reachable by air from virtually every European airport, especially in summer, but unfortunately there is no rail connection to other parts of Turkey and buses can be slow and tedious.

By plane

Antalya Airport Terminal 2

Unfortunately, Antalya Airport is not as straightforward to navigate as the relative importance the city it serves might indicate. While the domestic terminal and international terminal 1 are connected buildings and you can walk from one to the other (even the General Aviation Terminal is not too far away in a different building), there is a Terminal 2 that serves only international flights which is some 2.5 km from the main building including terminal 1 and the domestic terminal. The public bus 600 serves both but the Light Rail line only serves Terminal 1. There is no easy way to walk between Terminal 1 and 2 and no airport shuttle buses. Bus 600 serves both but buses only go every half hour and there are taxis - one might even get the idea that this awkward arrangement is a "make work program" for local taxi companies. If you are unsure which terminal you fly out of or fly out of terminal 2, plan ample time and make sure the taxi (or bus) drops you off at the right place.

• Antalya Airport (Antalya Havalimanı, IATA: AYT), 36.900278°, 30.792778°. Served by a surprising number of airlines from pretty much all over Europe—even relatively minor airports. 2022-03-16 Antalya Airport caters to charter flights full of tourists. There are lots of tourists from Germany, post-Soviet Union countries such as Russia, and the UK.

If a flight connection to Antalya does not fit for you, you can check flights to other airports around like Dalaman, Bodrum, Gazipaşa, Konya, Adana, Ankara, Kayseri, Izmir and even Kos or Rhodos. From there you can take an intercity bus, train and/or ferry respectively to Antalya.

Getting there/away:

• The AntRay tram connects the inner city with Terminal 1 and the domestic terminal. To the airport just take any train saying "Havalimanı" or change onto one of the last station before lines diverge. To the old town you have to leave the tram at Ismetpasa. You can also continue direct to the bus station (Otogar). The price is 8 TL (March 2022). To return take the T1B line to Havalimani (T1A goes to Expo, the same stops until Yonica Kaysak, where T1B cuts off).
• There are public buses from the airport (line 600, "Terminal-Otogar"), which leave on the hour. Terminal 2 is served by public bus lines 600 (hourly) and 800 (every 75 min) serves both terminals. Buses from the otogar run along Adnan Menderes Blv and Mevlana Cd (exact location of bus stops can be found on Google Maps).

To catch a public bus from the International Terminal (1) you have to go to the domestic terminal (300 m, just turn right when you leave the International Terminal). There is a small blue "D" sign next to a larger ficus tree. There is another blue "D" sign next to the taxi stand in front of the International Terminal which won't get you anywhere. Waiting there usually attracts taxi drivers (telling you, truthfully, "There is no bus leaving here!") offering a ride.

• A taxi ride between the airport and the city centre will set you back €15 during the day. You may also prefer transfer companies in order to avoid any scam. Or use the BiTaksi ride service app. Besides, you can make pre-booking transfers by private taxi companies.
• Other options for airport transportation include Havaş buses, which are less expensive and more frequent. They depart on the hour from "Güllük PTT".

By bus

• Antalya Bus Terminal (Otogar), 36.921817°, 30.665240°. Antalya’s bus terminal is huge. The Turkish bus system is comprehensive and you can get about anywhere from anywhere. Better spend a few more liras and you will have an unforgettable journey. Ulusoy has buses with seats that resemble business class in airplanes. There are also other bus companies, including Kamil Koç, Truva and Varan. Some companies have an onboard WLAN. Fares are low. Simply show up at the bus station (otogar) and announce your destination. 2019-12-09

Destinations:

• Denizli – Gateway to Pamukkale, every 2 hr, 3.5 hr.
• Konya – Every 2 hr, 300 km / 5 hr.
• Göreme – Several overnight connections, 9 hr.
• There are also regular buses along the coastal roads and stop at tourist towns such as Kas and Fethiye, although the latter one is quicker (3½ hr instead of 5-6 hr) using a direct bus not along the coastal road.

By boat

Most travellers arrive in Marmaris from Rhodes, Greece, then bus it overland. You can also take a ferry from Kastellorizo, a tiny Greek island just off the Turkish fishing village of Kas.

By train

Antalya is not yet connected to the Turkish railway network, but there are plans to change that. The nearest stop is in Konya, which is served by fast high speed rail services. However, considering the detour, you might be better off taking a bus directly depending on where you are heading, e.g. bus and train (90 min YHT fast train) is quicker to Ankara and about the same time to Istanbul (e.g. Istanbul Pendik 3½ hr train for IATA: SAW).

Get around

Antalya offers a variety of public transportation, such as public buses, trams, mini-buses, taxicabs and dolmuş.

Antalyakart

To use the tram and buses, you need this plastic IC card (11.50 TL non-refundable deposit as of May 2022), or a disposable paper card (2 TL). They are available at kiosks along the AntRay tramway, at stores around the stations, or at specific AntRay counters (e.g., at the Otogar).

Single rides cost 6.70 TL with Antalyakart and 7.50 TL (May 2022) with the disposable paper card. Purchasing and recharging Antalyakart is cash only (no credit card). The disposable paper card can only be charged once, when buying it. But you can charge it whatever amount you deem appropriate. Luckily and contrary to Istanbul, you can use coins. However, money charged onto the cards is not refundable.

Alternatively, contactless credit/debit cards can be used instead of Antalyakart. Just tap your card at the reader/ turnstile.

By tram

Antalya has two, disconnected light rail lines, one modern and one deliberately made to look old-fashioned although the stations of the heritage line near the old town are within a quick walk distance to those of the other.

The Heritage Tramway has been donated by the German city of Nuremberg and connects the western Konyaalti Beach and Antalya Museum to the eastern part of the city center. It runs every 30 min in either direction. This tramway can be used for sightseeing as it passes some beautiful places of the city center.

The AntRay tramway consists of one line, serving the route Fatih-Otogar-Muratpaşa-Ismetpaşa-Meydan every 15 min during the day, and some trams continue to the airport (Havalimanlı) or to the Expo 2016 site. To get to the Kaleiçi or to the interconnection with the historic tram line, get off at Ismetpaşa station. To get to the bus terminal from the Kaleiçi, take the tram in the direction of Fatih, get off at Otogar, and follow the signs for 10 min.

Check OpenStreetMap for the location of tram lines and stops.

By bus

In Antalya, buses pass from anywhere to any destination in the city. Fares are low and most buses offer air-conditioning, USB chargers and TV even for short routes. To travel to remote places you may need to travel to the bus terminal first. The bus terminal has its own buses with distinctive blue stripes. Bus terminal to city to airport travel (Bus route 600, "Terminal-Otogar") is possible every 30 min (2016).

You can look up the street names on Google maps which includes the location of bus stops.

By dolmuş

Dolmuş literally means "filled up". Dolmuş is a large cab, a station wagon, a regular taxi or a minibus that travels a certain route. Most major public transportation stations have a dolmuş station, where you just take a seat in the dolmuş that travels your desired route. In Antalya dolmuş do not wait until it fills up. Instead, it is scheduled. However, if empty dolmuş will move slowly hoping to find more passengers. Still it has to abide its schedule and cannot stall much.

By taxi

There are taxi stands all over the city where the drivers have their base and tea pot. Each taxi is metered and there are two different rates. For popular destinations there are price lists showing the rate in euro. A fair rate is about 8 TL/km (May 2022).

You can also negotiate with any taxi driver to be your private tour guide. You also have to pay the gas money. This option could be quite expensive but if you have the money ...

By rental car

Car rentals are available in the bus terminal, air port and city center. It is advised not to use car to reach city center (specially Cumhuriyet, Atatürk, Isiklar streets, Sarampol street and old city), as finding a car park and the way people drive (sometimes you feel like you are in the race tracks) might be difficult. Be sure to abide non-parking restrictions, the municipality is very strict about it. There are destination signs on roads to help travellers. Also most of the younger locals know English will be pleased to help about your destination. You can also obtain city map from tourist information desks in the city center.

By bicycle

Using bicycle in crowded roads might be dangerous and tiresome, especially in summer as the temperature hits high. However, there are a few bicycle-only roads passing beside the sea having incredible views.

See

Antalya is rich in history and art. The old quarter, Kaleiçi, has narrow, winding streets enclosed in ancient city walls, which now protect the peaceful quarter from the noise of the concrete metropolis of a million people. Although there are other entrances, it is best to enter and exit the old quarter from charming Hadrian's Gate 📍 , built to welcome the Roman emperor Hadrian (it's unknown if he ever really visited, though) as the entrance arch to the city.

• Hıdırlık Tower, 36.881272°, 30.703614°.
• Yivliminare Mosque (Fluted Minaret Mosque), 36.886389°, 30.704444°.

Outside the old center, there's a great archaeology museum and plenty of historic buildings and ancient ruins.

• Antalya Museum, Bahçeli Evler Mah. Konyaaltı Cad. No 88 (at the Konyaaltı end of the Heritage Tramway), 36.8856°, 30.6797°, +90 2422385688. 1 Apr - 1 Oct: Tu-Su 08:30-18:45; 1 Oct - 1 Apr: Tu-Su 08:30-18:00; last entrance 30 min before closing. One of Turkey's largest museums, with 5000 works of art which illuminate the history of the Mediterranean and Pamphylia regions in Anatolia. 45 TL 2020-11-05
• Antalya Aquarium, Dumlupınar Bulvarı Arapsuyu Mahallesi No 502, Konyaaltı (Bus 56 stops next to the aquarium, or take a taxi from the otogar (approx 20 TL)), 36.878907°, 30.660675°, info@antalyaaquarium.com. US$33 2015-10-26
• Kurşunlu Waterfall Nature Park, 37.003°, 30.821°. A beautiful park with some impressive waterfalls. There is a concrete/stone path around the site which takes you past all the best bits. It is not suitable for elderly/disabled persons. There is the chance to get wet in the waterfall. In the ponds, you can see fish and turtles. There are refreshment stalls near the entrance and a good café/restaurant near the end of the path. 6TL 2017-06-24
• Broken Minaret Mosque (Kesik Minare Cami), 36.88258°, 30.70606°. closed. 2020-11-20
• Aspendos, 20 km east (take D400 road east from Antalya, then 07-04 north after Serik. Take a bus to Serik and from there take local bus number 10), 36.93889°, 31.17222°. 08:00-17:00. Well-preserved Roman amphitheatre about half an hour from Antalya. The site includes other ancient ruins. 50 TL 2020-11-11
• Perge, Barbaros Mahallesi, Perge Caddesi (east of the airport along D400 road, north of the Aksu exit. Alternatively take the tram to the Aksu station and walk north from there for 20 minutes), 36.9597°, 30.8545°, +90 2424262748. 08:00-17:00. Ruins of ancient Greek city. 50 TL 2020-11-06

Do

Most of Antalya's historic buildings can be found along the narrow, winding streets of Kaleiçi, the old quarter. Historical, architectural and archaeological sites of note include: Yivli Minaret, Karatay Medresesi, Hıdırlık Tower, Ahi Yusuf Mescidi, Iskele Mosque, Murat Paşa Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque, Balibey Mosque, Musellim Mosque, Seyh Sinan Efendi Mosque, Hadrian Arch, and the Clock Tower. Many structures date back to the Hellenistic era. Also The Antalya Museum has a notable archaeology collection.

• Sunset – There are two good sunset points near the harbour, one sunset point 📍 is about 200 m up with a nice view over the bay, the other sunset point 📍 is just along the quai wall.

• Walk around and chill at Karaalıoğlu Park or observe fishermen at lively Yacht Harbour.

• Tünek Tepe, 36.8216°, 30.5837°. A hilltop restaurant/café, with a height of 618 m, giving stunning views over the city and the coastline in both directions. A cable car (Teleferik) opened in 2017, transporting visitors from a station close to the port right to the site. There is plenty of car parking at the cable car station (cost 5 TL). It is also possible to drive to the top of the hill, but parking could be a problem. Tünek Tepe is not really on the tourist radar, so it could be quiet. 30 TL 2021-12-27

You can take a short scenic cruise on the Mediterranean from the boats anchored in the harbor. Assume that the right price is about half of the first price you are offered. Don't believe their assurances that the boat is leaving right away—the boat will leave when the owners think there is no reasonable chance that more passengers can be persuaded to board. Morning cruises tend to be calmer than afternoon cruises.

Buy

The usual souvenirs are kilims, blue eyes, fake designer clothing, shoes, aromatic herbs, waterpipes and more.

Pharmacies sell most prescription drugs completely legal just over the counter and at low prices. A wide array of generics (drugs containing the same agent as a brand medicine, but from less known companies) is also available. Best-sellers include Viagra, Prozac, Ventolin, Xenical, various contraceptive pills and antibiotics.

Several weekly bazaars are held around the center, where you can pick up cheap fake clothes or delicious walnuts, dried fruits or inexpensive spices like cardamom – it is good to know the right price beforehand though.

Shopping malls

• Terracity Mall, Fener Mahallesi, Tekelioglu Caddesi No: 55 (On the way to Lara), 36.853°, 30.757°, +90 2423181818. Has all of the international designer shops you could wish for. There is even a stylish supermarket and power boat dealer. 2020-11-08

• Migros Shopping Center, 36.883°, 30.659°, +90 (242) 230 11 11. Midsize mall, also an important transportation hub with many buses and taxis going along the coast. 2020-11-08

• Agora Shopping Center, 36.9143535°, 30.771063°. Large shopping center in an area with many similar shopping alternatives. 2020-11-08

• Mall of Antalya, Altınova Sinan Mahallesi, 07170 Kepez/Antalya (Just west of the airport along D400. Sinam tram station), 36.920023°, 30.786096°, +90 0242 340 54 70. Large mall right by the airport. 2020-11-11

Eat

A meal in a restaurant will normally cost about 20 to 60 TL (a typical dish will be about 35 TL as of March 2022). Service is amazing, and only matched by its genuine friendliness. There are also good seafood restaurants. Of course seafood and fancy restaurants are more expensive. One caveat to be aware of is to make sure the quoted price is the same as the price written on the menu.

If you’re on a budget you’ll appreciate the plenty quick eating stalls south of Muratpaşa, where you can get a chicken dürüm from ~15 TL (March 2022).

Budget

Old Town

• Piyazcı Sami, Elmalı, 25. Sk. No:1, 36.8876620°, 30.7019534°. Antalya style piyaz. A very nice place if you like a little history. If you are looking for a presentation with candles, it is not for you. 2023-01-22
• Urfali Cİğercİ Apo, Elmalı, 14. Sk. No:17, 36.8894187°, 30.7027960°. The chicken is good. If you want natural döner with special treatment and good cooking, go there. Humble place and good food. 2023-01-22
• Ciğerci sıddık ustanın yeri kebap & dürüm evi, Elmalı, 36.8895088°, 30.7039161°. Grilled lamb, wraps,chicken sticks and wings. Real traditional Turkish food. 2023-01-22
• Özkan Kebap, Sinan, 1253. Sk. 8/A, 36.8867034°, 30.7089674°. There is a lot of variety in food. The dry beans are good, so is chickpea rice. Fast service, good customer service. 2023-01-22
• Çiğköfteci Ömer Usta, Altındağ, Anafartalar Cd. 65/ F, 36.8901339°, 30.6950575°. Durum. Vegetarian tartare wraps, a Turkish dish. The Cigkofte is good there. Friendly staff. 2023-01-22
• Gizem Cafe Fast Food, Kızılsaray, Milli Egemenlik Cd. 1/D, 36.8894072°, 30.6961297°. Shawarma and dürüm. It is not fancy at all but the food and service are very good. 2023-01-22

Along the beach

• Köfteci, Arapsuyu Mh., 640. Sok. Ü. Bilgin Apt. 1/B, 36.876237°, 30.652071°. Simple eatery for Turkish national food. Meatballs and piyaz. Very clean and attentive. 2023-01-22
• Public Konyaaltı, Altınkum mahallesi Akdeniz Bulvarı, Kent Meydanı, 36.862189°, 30.637515°. Thin–crust pizza. It is suitable to go with large groups of friends. Warm environment. Smiling staff. 2023-01-22
• Yamaçoba Restaurant Ev Yemekleri, 36.848930°, 30.613751°. The food is of high quality. The place is full of local people which is a sign of great food. The family running the restaurant are nice and lovely people. 2023-01-22

Mid-range

• Volkan Balık, 1315 Sokak (Near from the old town and Atatürk Stadium), 36.8783314°, 30.7093418°, +90 242 248 8557. Fish and mezzes. Good atmosphere. Nice and simple fishermen—style decoration. ~€5,70 /person for a whole meal (March 2019) 2022-09-01
• Rokka Pizza Falafel, Haşimişcan, Recep Peker Cd., 36.8852673°, 30.7093761°. Good place to eat at Antalya Kaleiçi. The Manaeesh is very good. Nice meals also for the vegans. 2022-09-01
• Ayar Meyhanesi, Kılınçarslan, Hesapçı Sk. 59, 36.8818605°, 30.7049454°. Great selection of fresh fish. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, friendly staff, good service and a beautiful location. 2022-09-01
• Paradise Restaurant, Selçuk, Selçuk Mah No:42, 36.8862421°, 30.7040503°. A lovely place and the view is nice. The service is good. Sport matches on TV. 2022-09-01
• Grand Friends Fish & Steak Restaunt, Kılınçarslan, Kocatepe Sk. 37-35, 36.8844248°, 30.7073638°. Fresh fish. The food is nice and the location is quiet. Very friendly, attentive service. Lovely music. 2022-09-01
• Karaf Bistro Kaleiçi, Kılınçarslan, Selvi Hanim Konagi, Kılınçarslan Mahallesi 2, Sakarya Sk. No:14, 36.8820906°, 30.7062051°. A pleasant place with pizza and wines in Kaleiçi. Very unpretentious and cute place. The staff is nice. The pizzas have a thin crust. 2022-09-01
• Hasanaga Restaurant, Barbaros, Mescit Sk. No:15, 36.8858136°, 30.7067724°. Long-established, family-run restaurant a little away from the old town. Beautiful garden terrace. Very gentle service and traditional food. 2022-09-01

Splurge

• Seraser Fine Dining Restaurant, Tuzcular mah. Karanlik sok. No:18 Kaleici/ Antalya, +90 242 247 6015, info@seraserrestaurant.com. 15:00-01:00. 2022-05-01

Drink

Antalya has a lively nightlife in summer. Options include bars with nargile (water pipe), games, live music and sitting around, discothèques with glamorous visitors, etc. On Konyaalti's Beach Park one club follows the next. Some of traditional houses of Kaleiçi (Old City) has been turned into bars, in which a bottle of 'Efes' beer costs 30-50 TL (March 2022), depending on the place. Their gardens shaded by trees offer a nice escape with a beer from the peak of summer heat. Raki is a traditional alcoholic beverage that tastes like licorice. Make sure you do not drink it fast otherwise you will be out quickly.

Sleep

You can divide Antalya into three main areas as far as tourists are concerned: Kaleiçi, Lara and Konyaaltı. The Old Town (Kaleiçi), as its name implies, is full of character and has beautifully restored buildings with small guest houses and more evidently luxury boutique hotels. Lara, to the east of the city, has many 4/5 star beach hotels that cater for the all-inclusive holiday market. Konyaaltı is a long stretch of pebble beach to the southwest of the city, with a very long promenade, and packed with hotels of every price range. All are good options, depending on what you are looking for. Of course, there are very good hotels outside of these areas, but not in the same density.

Old Town (Kaleiçi)

You can just stroll around (with luggage) and you won't have to wait for long until you'll be offered 'Pansiyon' (Hostel) accommodation. Almost every second house in the Old Town is a small hotel (many of which are of very high standard, with small swimming pools and smart restaurants). A couple of years ago summers used to be packed but those days seem to be gone. The big share of visitors to this region are package tourists being channeled through all inclusive programs outside the city.

As nearly everywhere in Turkey accommodation prices have been inflated in the last years.

Budget and mid-range

• Whitegarden Hotel / Pansiyon, Kaleiçi, Hesapçı Geçidi 9, +90 242-241 91 15, +90 242-247 41 66, info@whitegardenhotel.com. Simple, clean and cheap hotel in the old town offers friendly service and good Turkish breakfast. 70 TL
• Sibel Pansiyon, Kaleiçi, Fırın Sok. 30, +90 242-241 13 16. Very nice hotel owned by a warmhearted French woman who also speaks German and Turkish. Rooms have aircon, satellite TV and private bathrooms. It is quiet at night and the breakfast is delicious. €25
• Hotel Blue Sea Garden, +90 2422488213. Lovely hotel with garden restaurant with a sea view, in the old town. Friendly service and great breakfast. Strong wifi and fluent English spoken.
• Kozan Otel, 1312. Sk. No.6, 36.8773505°, 30.7073285°, +90 242 243 50 50. Not exactly in the old city, but very close, in a quiet place where it is easy to park and where you'll find of car rental opportunities. Ugly decoration and non-English-speaking staff, but good comfort and friendly people. Double with bathroom & AC: 80 TL

Splurge

• Alp Pasa Hotel, Barbaros Mah. Hesapçı Sok. 30, Kaleiçi (Old City) (100 metres from Hadrian’s Gate.), +90 242 247 56 76, info@alppasa.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Luxury boutique hotel in the historical district, also has a up-scale restaurant on the premises
• Tuvana Hotel, Tuzcular mah. Karanlık sok. No:18 Kaleiçi Antalya, +90 242 247 60 15, info@tuvanahotel.com. Located within old town "Kaleiçi". 45 rooms and suites, restaurant “Seraser” on site.

Lara

At Lara beach there are a lot of stunning 4/5-star hotels along the beach. These generally cater for the 'All inclusive' package holiday traveller. However, they can also make an excellent base for those wanting to visit places away from the resorts, but return to some luxury in the evening. Being a package offering, they can end up being relatively cheap. All of the hotels fall into the Splurge category.

Splurge

• Baia Lara. Baia Lara receives consistently high ratings for quality and service.
• Delphin Diva. Expensive but stunning hotel which is highly rated by travellers.
• Mardan Palace. Reputedly has the largest swimming pool in the Mediterranean. Also claimed to be the most expensive Mediterranean resort.
• Asteria Kremlin Palace, Kundu Mahallesi, Tesisler Caddesi No:440/1 Aksu, +90 242 431 24 00. Supposed to recreate a Russian-tsar type environment, it has 8 restaurants, pools with waterslides, a spa (hammam) with sauna and massage services, and complimentary breakfast. TL 596

Stay safe

Antalya Police Department has a "tourism police" section where travellers can report passport loss and theft or any other criminal activity, they may have become victims of. They have staff multilingual in English, German, French, and Arabic.

• Tourism Police (Turizm Polisi), Kaleiçi Yat Limanı (at the marina below the old town), +90 242 243-10-61.

Connect

Antalya has 4G from all Turkish carriers, and the signal extends along the resort strip to Alanya and beyond. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

Southwest

• Kemer to the south west is a touristic sea side region popular with the historical places, night life and hotels which is half an hour from Antalya city.
• Further south, Çıralı is a coastal town with several mid-range, quiet _pansiyon_s to stay at, including Hotel Canada, with pleasant gardens. The beach at Cirali is protected from development because sea turtles come onto shore every year to lay their eggs.
• The beach at nearby Olimpos is also a nice, pebble beach. Accommodations in Olimpos are more backpacker style, with treehouses especially popular with younger travelers.
• Demre further west from Olympos, is the site of the St Nicolas Church, associated with the real Santa Claus (don't miss the larger than life Santa Claus statue in town.) Also just outside Demre are Lycian rock tombs in the cliffsides.
• Kaş which is about 2 hours drive from Antalya can be another excellent choice for extended holiday if you decide to run away from the whole crowd.
• Kalkan is half an hour further west of Kas. A beautiful upmarket harbour town with cobbled streets and high quality restaurants. Nearby Patara has the best golden sand beach on the Mediterranean coast, and can be visited even if you are not staying there.

East

• The Antalya region has some of the finest Roman ruins in the country, including Perge and Aspendos, with the largest, most well preserved Roman theater anywhere.
• Belek to the east is popular with golf links and luxury hotels.
• Manavgat is about 1 hour to the east by car. It is home of the impressive Manavgat waterfalls.
• Further east, Side is a nice coastal resort with some well-preserved Roman ruins.
• Alanya to the south east is a popular tourist destination 2 hours away.

North

• Termessos — the ruins of an ancient city in a gorgeous setting high over the Taurus Mountains inside pine forests
• Trains and buses arrive in the travel hub of Denizli. From there, dolmus take you the 10 miles or so to Pamukkale.
• During high season, buses run direct from tourist centers including Istanbul, Ankara, Fethiye, Bodrum, Marmaris and Selçuk.
• If you intend to head north by thumb, take public minibuses #25 or #57 which stops at city bus stops near the otogar. These minibus lines take you to a highway junction with traffic lights out of city, situated amidst pine woods. This junction is not the last stop so be sure not to miss the stop situated there.