🇹🇷Antalya
Turkey's Mediterranean resort capital — turquoise coves, Roman ruins a short drive from the beach, and an Ottoman old town wedged between palm trees and the harbor.
In photos
Quick facts
Money & what things cost
Antalya's economy runs on resort tourism, so prices bifurcate hard: an all-inclusive beach resort strip charges near-European rates, while Kaleiçi's back streets and local lokantas are as cheap as anywhere in Turkey. Cards are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants; carry some lira for beach clubs, markets, and dolmuş fares.
What locals earn
| Minimum wage (2025) | ₺22,104/month (≈ $560) | seasonal tourism jobs often pay near this baseline plus tips |
| Average monthly salary (Antalya) | ≈ $650–900 equivalent | boosted by the tourism and export-agriculture sectors relative to inland Anatolia |
Food & drink
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Simit or pastry from a bakery | ₺20–40 | $0.50–1.00 |
| Piyaz or köfte plate, local lokanta | ₺150–280 | $4.00–7.00 |
| Fresh fish lunch on the harbor, per person | ₺500–900 | $13–23 |
| Mid-range dinner, per person | ₺500–1,000 | $13–25 |
| Beach club day-bed + minimum spend | ₺1,000–2,500 | $25–65 |
| Turkish coffee · fresh orange juice | ₺60–150 | $1.50–4.00 |
Transport
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Antray tram or city bus ride (Antalyakart) | ₺20–25 | $0.50–0.65 |
| Dolmuş (shared minibus) short hop | ₺25–40 | $0.65–1.00 |
| Taxi, short cross-town ride | ₺150–350 | $4.00–9.00 |
| AYT airport → Kaleiçi, taxi | ₺600–900 | $15–23 |
| AYT airport → center, HAVAŞ shuttle bus | ₺180 | $4.50 |
| Day trip minibus to Aspendos or Perge | ₺— | $25–45 |
Where to sleep & what it costs
| Tier | Per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | $12–25 | Concentrated in Kaleiçi, walkable to the harbor |
| Budget boutique hotel (Kaleiçi) | $45–80 | Restored Ottoman houses around courtyards, often with a small pool |
| Mid-range hotel or resort | $80–160 | Either central Kaleiçi or a beach-strip resort in Lara or Konyaaltı |
| All-inclusive luxury resort | $200–500+ | The Belek and Lara strips specialize in these — often booked as package holidays from Europe |
Getting around
- Antalyakart
- The city's transit card covers the Antray tram and city buses — pick one up at a kiosk near any tram stop; it stretches your money over İstanbulkart-style single fares.
- Dolmuş (shared minibus)
- Cheap and frequent along the coastal routes to Lara and Konyaaltı beaches — flag one down or wait at a marked stop, pay the driver in cash.
- Taxis / ride-hailing
- Plentiful; agree the fare or confirm the meter is running, especially from resort-strip hotels where longer routes to the airport are common.
- Rental car
- The most efficient way to combine Kaleiçi, the waterfalls, and the ancient sites (Perge, Aspendos, Termessos) in a multi-day visit — roads are excellent and well signed.
- On foot
- Kaleiçi's old town is compact, cobbled, and best explored on foot, with the harbor and clifftop park a short walk from anywhere inside the walls.
Neighborhoods to stay in
- Kaleiçi (old town)
- Ottoman houses, the historic harbor, cobbled lanes — the atmospheric, walkable choice and best base for a short city stay.
- Konyaaltı
- A long pebble beach backed by clifftop parks and a modern promenade; more of a local, less package-tour feel than Lara.
- Lara
- The classic resort strip — sandy beach, big all-inclusive hotels, a short taxi from Kaleiçi.
- Belek
- Golf-and-resort territory east of the city, sandy beaches and pine forest, best if you want a resort-only stay rather than city sightseeing.
Tipping & etiquette
- Beachwear stays at the beach — cover up when walking through Kaleiçi's streets or visiting mosques.
- Mosque etiquette applies at any of the old town's working mosques: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off, quiet during prayer times.
- Bargaining is normal in Kaleiçi's souvenir shops, less so at fixed-price beach or resort businesses.
- Many resorts and restaurants serve alcohol freely and expect Western dress norms — Antalya is markedly more secular and tourism-adapted than inland Anatolia.
- If you rent a car for the ancient sites, bring cash for small on-site parking fees — cards aren't always accepted at rural ticket booths.
Safety & common scams
Very safe for tourists — Antalya's economy depends on repeat foreign visitors and the resort areas are correspondingly well policed. The main hazards are heat exhaustion in summer, strong currents at some beaches, and standard petty theft around the harbor and busy tourist streets.
Scams to know
- Overpriced harbor fish restaurants — some waterfront spots serve an unrequested 'welcome' plate of extras and then charge for it; ask what's included before eating anything placed on the table.
- Jet-ski and boat-tour touts — verbal-only price agreements sometimes balloon at settlement; get the price and duration in writing or from a visible price board.
- Taxi long-routing from resort areas to the airport or Kaleiçi — a fixed-price or app-hailed ride avoids the detour.
Emergency numbers: 112 for everything · resort-area hotels typically have English-speaking staff who can mediate with local police if needed
Phone & internet
An eSIM is the easiest option and works the moment you land at AYT; physical tourist SIMs are available at the airport but pricier. Resort and hotel Wi-Fi is near-universal given the package-tourism infrastructure.
First-timer FAQs
Do I need a visa?
Same as the rest of Türkiye — many Western passports enter visa-free or via e-Visa; check evisa.gov.tr before flying.
Is Antalya just a beach resort, or worth it for sightseeing too?
Both — Kaleiçi's old town, the Antalya Museum, and nearby ancient sites like Perge and Aspendos make it a legitimate history stop, not only a beach base.
How far are the ancient ruins?
Perge is about 20 minutes from the city center, Aspendos around 45 minutes, and Termessos about an hour — all easily done as half- or full-day trips by rental car or organized tour.
Is it too touristy?
The Lara and Belek resort strips are heavily geared to package tourism, but Kaleiçi and Konyaaltı still feel like a real Turkish city with a beach attached, especially outside peak July–August weeks.
How many days do I need?
Two days covers Kaleiçi, the harbor, and one beach afternoon. Four to five lets you add Aspendos, Düden Waterfalls, and a proper resort day without rushing.