Where to go · Antalya
Antalya — choose the right stretch of coast.
"Antalya" covers 200 kilometres of very different places. Book the wrong one and you spend the week in a taxi. This page is about getting that decision right.
The short version
Antalya at a glance
| How long | Five to seven nights. It is a place to stop moving. Three nights works if you are combining it with İstanbul. |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Direct flights from many European cities in season, or one hour from İstanbul. Antalya airport (AYT) is close to the city but up to 90 minutes from the far resorts — check before you book a hotel. |
| Sea season | May to October. June and September are the sweet spot: warm sea, bearable air. July and August are hot — genuinely hot — and full. |
| All-inclusive | Very common here and often genuinely good value. It also keeps you inside the hotel all week, which some people love and some regret. Decide deliberately. |
| Beaches | Much of the coast is pebble, not sand. Lara and Belek are sandy; Kemer and Kaş are stone. Water shoes are a real recommendation, not an upsell. |
| Ruins | Some of the best-preserved ancient sites anywhere — Aspendos, Perge, Side, Termessos. Most visitors see none of them, which is a shame. |
Which part
Five stretches of coast, five different holidays.
This is the decision that matters. Tell us who is travelling and we will point you at the right one — including when the cheaper option is the better one.
Antalya city & Lara
Old town, marina, restaurants and a real city around you. Sandy beach at Lara. Best if you want to walk out of the hotel and find something.
Belek
Golf, big family resorts, sandy beach. Polished and comfortable. Not much outside the hotels — which is the point for many people.
Kemer
Mountains meeting the sea, pine forest, pebble beaches, clearer water. Cooler in the evening. Popular with visitors who find Belek too manicured.
Side
Roman ruins in the middle of the town and a temple on the point. Good compromise between resort comfort and something to look at.
Kaş & Kalkan
Three hours west, and a different country. Small, hilly, no mega-resorts, exceptional water. Our recommendation for couples who do not want a big hotel.
Alanya
Longer transfer, lower prices, lively and busy. Good value if the drive does not put you off.
The mistake we see most: booking a cheap deal in Alanya or Kaş, then discovering the airport transfer is two to three hours each way. It is not a disaster, but it is two half-days of your holiday. Always ask the transfer time before you accept a hotel price — from us or from anyone.
Worth leaving the hotel for
Three days that are not by the pool
Aspendos & Perge
The Roman theatre at Aspendos still hosts concerts because the acoustics still work. Go early — there is no shade at midday.
A boat day
Out of Kemer or Kaş. Swimming from the boat in water you can see the bottom of. A private boat for a family costs less than most people assume.
The old town at dusk
Kaleiçi — Ottoman houses, the harbour, and dinner where the city eats rather than where the coaches stop.
Questions
Before you write
Is all-inclusive worth it?
For families with children, usually yes. For couples who want to eat out and explore, often not — you pay for meals you do not eat. Tell us how you actually like to travel and we will say which one suits you.
How hot is August really?
Regularly above 35°C, sometimes far above, with warm nights. It is a pool-and-shade holiday, not a sightseeing one. If your dates are flexible, September is better in every way except school holidays.
Can I combine Antalya with İstanbul?
Yes, and it is the most common Turkish trip: three or four days in İstanbul, then a one-hour flight south for the beach. We book the internal flight with enough margin that a delay does not cost you a day.
Is the sea warm in May and October?
Warm enough for most people in both, though October cools through the month. May has fewer crowds and greener hills; October has warmer water.
Start here
Who is travelling, and what do you want from the week?
Those two answers decide the stretch of coast. The hotel comes after.
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