Antalya is the summer ticket most often bought from Baku, and many people know it only as an all-inclusive hotel. Buffet at eight in the morning, the pool at midday, entertainment in the evening — a whole week goes by like that. Yet a hundred metres beyond the hotel gate there is a Roman gate, an ancient theatre and a waterfall that falls from the mountain into the sea. Below I have written both the resort side and the city itself.
Antalya in brief
| Country | Türkiye, the Mediterranean coast |
| Documents | For Azerbaijani citizens an ID card is enough on a direct flight |
| Currency | Turkish lira; euros and dollars also accepted at the resorts |
| Swimming season | May–October, water at 27 degrees July–September |
| Flight | Direct from Baku, 3 hours, several flights a day in summer |
| Districts | Lara, Konyaalti, Kemer, Belek, Side, Alanya |
| How many days | A week for a holiday, two days for the city |
Kaleici: the old heart of the city
Kaleici is narrow streets, Ottoman houses and a small harbour inside the fortress walls. Hadrian’s Gate is left from the second century and is still the entrance to the city today. The Fluted Minaret is the city’s symbol, and spices and leather are sold in the bazaar beside it. The streets come alive towards evening, and the boat tours set off from the harbour.
Inside the city the Duden waterfall pours straight into the sea, and looking at it from the point called Karpuzkaldiran is free. The Antalya museum is among the best in Türkiye, and the statues from the Perge excavations are there. Give it two days and you will see the city comfortably.
Which shore suits you
Lara is the sandy shore, with the five-star resorts and the water parks, and is the most comfortable option for families. Konyaalti is the city’s own beach: pebbly, with cleaner water, and everything within walking distance. Kemer is where the mountain meets the sea, with pine forest running down to the shore and slightly cooler air.
Belek is the golf and luxury hotel side. Side suits anyone who likes history, with its ancient temple, and Alanya suits a budget with its prices, though it is a two-hour drive from the airport. The choice is simple. If you are going for the first time and have children, take Lara or Belek. If you want quiet, look at Kemer.
Day trips from Antalya
Pamukkale is three hours away, and the white travertine terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis fit into one day. Olympos, Cirali beach and the burning stones of Chimaera make an evening programme. A boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova, rafting in the Koprulu canyon and the Saklikent gorge are also on the list.
Buying these tours from the desk in your hotel is the most expensive route. Taking the same programme after comparing it online comes out cheaper and lets you read the reviews and choose the operator yourself.
Transport, transfers and rules
In the city the trams and buses run on an AntalyaKart. From the airport it is twenty minutes to Lara, an hour to Kemer and two hours to Alanya. If you come on a package, the transfer is included in the price; if you come independently, booking the transfer in advance works out cheaper and more predictable than negotiating with a taxi.
Renting a car pays off for Pamukkale and the Lycian coast and costs 30–50 dollars a day. The roads are excellent. One warning: there are many speed cameras, and the fine arrives months later through the rental company.
Season and budget in Antalya
June and September are the most balanced months: 28–32 degrees, a warm sea and prices below July and August. In July and August the temperature climbs to 38 and the hotels are at their most expensive. May and October are cooler, but the sea is still, and already, suitable. In winter Antalya is 15 degrees — excellent for walking the city, not for the sea.
A four-star all-inclusive is 80–150 dollars a night for two, and a five-star 200–400. An ordinary hotel in the city centre comes down to 40–70 dollars. Comparing hotels and dates should be done early for summer, since July flights fill three months ahead. For the direct flight from Baku, check flight prices to Antalya before the school holidays.
Museum opening hours and entry prices for the ancient cities change with the season; the current list is on the site of the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.
Frequently asked questions about Antalya
Is all-inclusive really good value?
For a family with children and a week’s holiday, yes — it removes the cost of food entirely. If you want to see the city, an ordinary hotel in the centre makes more sense.
When is the sea warm?
It is 24 degrees in June and 27 from July to September. In October it stays at 24, so swimming late in the autumn is entirely possible.
Which airport is closest to the districts?
Antalya airport is closest to Lara and Belek. For Alanya, Gazipasa airport is more convenient, but there are fewer flights.
In short
Antalya is not only the poolside; anyone who gives one day to Kaleici and one to Pamukkale gets an entirely different holiday for the same money. Choose the district properly, and take the tours in advance rather than from the hotel. If you would rather not look for a hotel and a transfer separately, look at Türkiye resort tours. To put the holiday plan together with us, fill in the application form.
Note: the prices in this article are those at the time of publication and may change with the season.
