Antalya Travel Guide 2026: Beaches, History and the Turkish Riviera

Antalya is Türkiye’s premier Mediterranean resort city — the fourth-largest city in the country by population, with 12 million tourists a year passing through. For most visitors it serves as the gateway to the Turkish Riviera (Turquoise Coast), with direct flights from across Europe and a broad range of accommodation from all-inclusive resort strips to intimate boutique hotels in the Roman-era old town. The city itself, beyond the resort infrastructure, is genuinely interesting: a well-preserved old quarter (Kaleiçi), excellent museum, and some of the country’s most accessible ancient sites on day-trip range.

Key facts

• Currency: Turkish Lira (₺). Budget in the old town and local restaurants is significantly lower than the resort strips.
• Best months: May, June, September, October. July and August are peak season — hot (35–38°C), crowded, and expensive.
• Airport: Antalya Airport (AYT) — one of the busiest in Europe by summer traffic. Shuttle bus to centre ₺15–25; taxi ₺100–180.
• Language: Turkish. English widely spoken in tourist areas.

Getting around

The city’s central areas (Kaleiçi, Konyaaltı beach, Lara beach) are navigable by bus, tramway, and taxi. The AntRay tram runs from the airport to the city centre. Istanbulkart is not valid in Antalya — use local Antalyakart (₺50 deposit + top-up) or cash.

For beach destinations along the Riviera (Kemer, Alanya, Side), intercity buses (dolmuş and coaches) are cheap and frequent. Fethiye is 2.5 hours west by bus (₺150–200); Kaş 3.5 hours (₺150–200); Alanya 2.5 hours east (₺100–150).

Kaleiçi: the old town

Kaleiçi (“inside the walls”) is Antalya’s historic core — a Roman harbour surrounded by Byzantine and Ottoman walls, with streets of restored 18th and 19th-century Ottoman houses converted into boutique hotels and restaurants. The Hadrian’s Gate (2nd century CE) marks the main entrance from the modern city. The Roman harbour at the base of the cliff is now a marina; the tea houses and restaurants around it are tourist-oriented but atmospheric.

Accommodation in Kaleiçi runs from ₺500/night guesthouses to ₺3,000+ boutique properties. Eating and drinking prices are higher than local Antalya — restaurants facing the harbour charge ₺300–500 for a meal; walk one street back for half the price.

Beaches

Antalya’s two main city beaches:

Konyaaltı Beach (west of centre): Long pebble/shingle beach with clear Mediterranean water. Free public sections; beach clubs with sunbeds ₺200–400. The Antalya Aquarium is here (₺200+ entry).

Lara Beach (east of centre): Sandy, lined with five-star all-inclusive resorts. The public section is accessible; the resort section is for guests only.

Serious beach travellers typically use Antalya as a base for day trips to the better beaches nearby. See our Antalya beaches guide for full coverage.

Ancient sites

Antalya is surrounded by some of the best ancient sites in Türkiye:

Aspendos (47km east): The most complete Roman theatre in the world — still used for performances, capacity 15,000. Entry ₺300. Combine with the Belkıs waterfall nearby.

Perge (17km east): Colonnaded Roman city with a stadium, baths, and agora. Less visited than Aspendos; entry ₺300.

Termessos (30km northwest): Perched at 1,000m in the mountains — a mountain city that Alexander the Great declined to besiege. Atmospheric ruins in a forested national park setting. Entry ₺200.

Side (75km east): Large coastal Roman city now half-buried in a resort town. Excellent museum in the restored bathhouse. Day trip by bus (1.5 hours, ₺80).

Daily costs

Budget level	What it includes	Daily estimate
Budget	Hostel, street food, public transport	₺600–900 ($19–28)
Mid-range	Boutique hotel, sit-down meals	₺1,500–2,500 ($47–78)
Comfortable	Good hotel, restaurant dinners, tours	₺3,000–5,000 ($94–156)
All-inclusive	4–5 star resort with all meals	₺3,000–8,000/night room only

For detailed accommodation guidance, see where to stay in Antalya and best hotels in Antalya.

Practical tips

The resort strip areas (Lara, Kemer) operate primarily in the all-inclusive model — if you book this way, budget food costs are included. If staying in or near Kaleiçi, the local market (bazaar) area near the PTT office has affordable produce and restaurants a 5-minute walk from the tourist core. Antalya’s Kaleiçi has a predictable tourist surcharge; local residential districts like Muratpaşa have prices comparable to other Turkish cities.

For Antalya’s connection to the wider Riviera, see our guides to Fethiye, Kaş, Marmaris, and Bodrum.