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Voykit pocket guide · Türkiye (Turkey)
Antalya
Pick Antalya for a Mediterranean beach and ruins trip: two nights in the old town of Kaleiçi, then base on the coast or move on to Kaş or Olympos.
Antalya is the main city and airport of Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Its old quarter, Kaleiçi, has an Ottoman-era harbour and a Roman gate, Hadrian's Gate, and the modern city sprawls behind it. Perge, Aspendos and Termessos are within a day, and resorts run along the coast on both sides. Go for the sea and the ruins, and skip midsummer if heat bothers you.
- Country
- Türkiye (Turkey)
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and crowded)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TRY
- Money
- Currency is the Turkish lira (₺, TRY). About ₺56 to €1 in late September 2026 — check; inflation was still in the double digits, so prices rise several times a year.
- Daily spend
- Budget TRY 1,300–2,200 excl. bed · Mid TRY 2,200–4,500 excl. bed · High TRY 4,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom sell tourist SIMs at airports (passport needed); they are dearer than in town shops — check.
- Emergency
- Police 155 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Lokanta / simple café: Leave the coins or round up.; Sit-down restaurant: 5–10% in cash, even if the card machine does not offer a tip; check for a 'servis' charge first.; Taxi: Round up to the next ₺10–50.; Hamam: 10–15% to the attendant (tellak/natır).; Guide / driver day: €10–20 for a guide, €5–10 for a driver per day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₺50–100.
- Water
- Tap water is treated and chlorinated but tastes of it; locals buy bottled or 19-litre dispenser water. Restaurants charge for bottled water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets (alaturka) in older mosques and bus stops. Public toilets (WC) cost ₺10–30 — carry coins or small notes. Most toilets have a bidet spray; paper goes in the bin in older buildings.
Get in
By air
- AYT · Antalya Airport
- About 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the centre. Bus 600 and 800 run to the centre in about 30 to 45 minutes (roughly TRY 40–60, check); a taxi takes about 20 to 30 minutes (TRY 500–800, check).About 6.2 mi (10 km) east of the centre. Bus 600 and 800 run to the centre in about 30 to 45 minutes (roughly TRY 40–60, check); a taxi takes about 20 to 30 minutes (TRY 500–800, check).
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A tram (T1) runs from the old town through the centre, and buses and dolmuşes cover the rest; a rechargeable Antalyakart is the cheapest way (2026 estimate: a few TRY per ride, check). Ruins and coast towns need a rental car, bus or tour.
See and do
Known for
- Kaleiçi old town and harbour
- Hadrian's Gate
- Konyaaltı beach
- Perge ruins
- Aspendos theatre
- Termessos in the mountains
- Antalya Museum
- Düden Waterfalls
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Perge and Aspendos | Bus or car east, about 15 to 45 km (9.3 to 28 mi)Bus or car east, about 9.3 to 28 mi (15 to 45 km) | About 45 min–1 h |
| Termessos | Car or taxi northwest, about 35 km (22 mi)Car or taxi northwest, about 22 mi (35 km) | About 1 h |
| Olympos and Çıralı | Bus or car south, about 80 km (50 mi)Bus or car south, about 50 mi (80 km) | About 1.5–2 h |
| Pamukkale | Bus or car north, about 220 km (137 mi)Bus or car north, about 137 mi (220 km) | About 3.5 h |
Sleep
- Kaleiçi
- Old town and harbour; walkable, restored Ottoman houses as small hotels.
- Lara
- Resort and beach strip east of the centre; quieter, needs transport, many all-inclusive hotels.
- Konyaaltı
- Long pebble beach west of the centre; the tram and the museum are nearby.
Language
Turkish uses the Latin alphabet with a few extra letters (ç, ğ, ı, ö, ş, ü), so signs are readable once you know the sounds. English works in hotels, tourist restaurants and among younger city people; elsewhere a translation app helps.
- Pronunciation keys: c = j, ç = ch, ş = sh, ğ lengthens the vowel, ı is a short 'uh'.
- WhatsApp is used by hotels, guides and shops.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Merhaba' (hello) or 'Selamün aleyküm' in conservative areas; cheek kisses between friends of the same sex; avoid: Offering a hand to a conservative woman first — wait for hers
- Mosques: Covered clothing, headscarf for women, shoes in hand, quiet voice; avoid: Walking in front of people praying; visiting during Friday midday prayer
- Hospitality: Accept tea or at least a sip; bring sweets or pastries to a home; avoid: Refusing food repeatedly; showing the soles of your feet
- Politics and history: Listen; let hosts raise it; avoid: Opinions on Atatürk, the Kurdish issue, Armenia or Cyprus with people you just met
- Ramadan: Eat discreetly in conservative towns during the day; avoid: Eating, drinking or smoking in front of fasting people in small towns
- Gestures: A slight upward head nod with a tut means 'no'; avoid: The OK hand sign (can be read as rude) and a thumb between fingers
- Dress in town: Shorts are fine in Istanbul and resorts; longer clothes in the interior and east; avoid: Swimwear away from the beach
- Names: First name plus Bey (men) or Hanım (women): 'Ahmet Bey'; avoid: Using the surname alone
Scams and watch-outs
- Midsummer heat is intense; swim and sightsee early or late.
- Agree taxi fares in advance or insist on the meter; airport taxi touts overcharge.
- Shoulder-season hotels and some restaurants close from November to March.
- Beach clubs and boat trips can add extras; ask what the price includes.
- Strong currents and jellyfish occur; follow flag colours on the beaches.
- Check current government travel advice for your country before you go; Turkey is generally open to visitors but advice varies by region, especially near the Syrian and Iraqi borders.
Antalya is generally safe for visitors; expect taxi overcharging, aggressive touts around Kaleiçi and heat as the main issues.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Antalya yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kaleiçi old town and harbour
- Hadrian's Gate
- Konyaaltı beach
- Perge ruins
- Aspendos theatre
- Termessos in the mountains
- Antalya Museum
- Düden Waterfalls
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Türkiye official tourism portal: goturkiye.com/
- Wikivoyage — Antalya: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Antalya
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/antalya). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.