Antalya is the capital of Turkey's Mediterranean coast — a 500-kilometre stretch from Kaş in the west to Alanya in the east, locally branded the Turkish Riviera. The city proper holds 2.6 million people and is the fastest-growing metro in the country; the resort belt outside it (Belek for golf, Kemer for families, Side for ruins-plus-beach, Alanya for volume tourism) doubles that in peak season. Antalya Airport (AYT) is the country's busiest after Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen — 15 minutes from the historic Kaleiçi old town by metered taxi (TRY 500-700) and well-connected to most European capitals by low-cost direct flights.
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Fixed-price private transfers with English-speaking drivers. Meet-and-greet included.
Getting to and around Antalya
Kaleiçi — the walled old town on the harbour — is the single most photographed neighbourhood in Turkey: Hadrian's Gate at the eastern entrance (130 AD), the Roman-era Yivli Minare from the Seljuk period, Ottoman konaks converted into boutique hotels, and the honey-coloured stone wrapping the natural harbour. Antalya Archaeological Museum — a 20-minute tram ride west — holds the finest Roman-imperial portrait collection outside Rome. The Düden Waterfalls (upper falls 10 km north, lower falls crashing directly into the sea east of town) are the standard half-day city trip.
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Airport lounge — AYT (Antalya)
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Stay connected — pick an eSIM
Install before you land. No roaming fees, no SIM swap at the airport.
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Travel insurance — don't skip it
A single medical bill overseas costs more than a year of coverage.
from $45/moNomad Insurance — SafetyWing
Medical coverage from $45/month. Trip interruption, emergency evac, covid included. Cancel any time.
from $12/tripTravel Insurance — Globely
Per-trip and annual plans. Luggage, cancellation, and emergency medical.
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Things to see & do in Antalya
Day trips from Antalya cover most of the Lycian and Pamphylian coast: Termessos (mountain city, 34 km west), Aspendos (the world's best-preserved Roman theatre, 45 km east, still hosting opera in summer), Side (ruins-on-a-beach, 75 km east), and Olympos + the Chimera flames (70 km west). A 4-5 day trip easily fills out: 2 days city + Kaleiçi + archaeology museum, 1 day Termessos + Düden, 1 day Aspendos + Side, 1 day Olympos or Perge.
Tours & experiences
Top tours & experiences in Antalya
Browse Viator’s catalogue of Antalya tours, day trips, and experiences. Most include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
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Neighborhoods & food in Antalya
Visit April-June or September-October for the sweet 22-28°C coastal weather without high-season crowds. July-August are hot (33-38°C) and packed — the beaches crowd out but water temperatures peak. Winter is mild and quiet (12-18°C) with occasional rain. Most Western passports are visa-exempt for 90 days; check the e-Visa portal otherwise. Turkish lira for day-to-day spending; USD/EUR accepted in tourist-heavy spots but at poor rates. Uber does not operate in Antalya; BiTaksi is the local ride-hail app.
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