Around April, when you can perfectly get a suntan and the weather is much more bearable than summer months, is one of the best times to visit the city.
Being 10 km from the city from Antalya, Antalya Airport [url=http://www.antaliaairport.com/en/index.asp]] caters for the charter flights full of holiday makers. Airlines that serve Antalya include: Transavia.com [url=http://www.transavia.com/[/url](lowcost]and charters from Netherlands, France and Denmark), AtlasJet [url=http://atlasjet.com/[/url]](domestic flights), SunExpress [url=http://www.sunexpress.com.tr/[/url]](dozens of flights from all over Europe), Turkish Airlines [url=http://www.thy.com/[/url]](plenty of flights from Ankara and İstanbul-Atatürk), Aeroflot [url=http://aeroflot.ru/eng/main.aspx[/url]](daily flights from Moscow-Sheremetyevo), Ukraine International Airlines [url=http://www.flyuia.com/eng/main.html[/url]](several charter flights a week from [[Kiev[/url]]) to Antalya. Britain is also represented by numerous Charter firms such as Thomas Cooks and Airtours. Condor [url=http://www.condor.com]]also serves Antalya.
As of March 2011, a taxi ride between the airport and the city centre will set you back € 18 (38 TL [url=http://taksiyle.com/en/40814[/url])]during the day. You can also prefer transfer companies [url=http://transfertaxi.com[/url]]in order to avoid any scam. Other, more wallet-friendly options for the airport transportation include: Havaş buses can be used which are less expensive but more frequent, and they are departing on the hour from "Güllük PTT" (10 TL). There are public buses from the airport (line 600, "Terminal-Otogar") which leave on the half hour and cost 4 TL [as of January 2016[/url]. To catch the public bus from the International Terminal you have to go to the domestic terminal (300m, just turn right when you leave the International Terminal), there is a small blue "D" sign next to a larger ficus tree. The blue "D" sign next to the taxi stand in front of the International Terminal won't get you anywhere; waiting there usually attracts taxi drivers (telling you truthfully: "There is no bus leaving here!") offering a ride.
The Turkish bus system is comprehensive and you can get about anywhere from anywhere. Better spend a few more liras and you will have an unforgettable journey. Ulusoy has buses with seats that resemble business class in airplanes. There are also other bus companies, including Kamil Koc, Truva, Metro and otobusbileti selling bus tickets of Ulusoy Turizm and other seventy bus firms. Some companies have an onboard WLAN.
The terminal is separated in two buildings. The larger building obviously houses the long distance bus routes, and the smaller building to the left (west) serves for shorter distance routes including Serik, Manavgat, Side, and Fethiye.
Fares are low. Simply show up at the bus station (“otogar”) and announce your destination. From most cities, there are an overnight bus options (with Antalya [url=http://www.antalyasitesi.com]).]There are regular buses destined for Antalya that run along the coastal roads and stop at tourist towns such as [[Kas[/url]] and [wiki=329a43beb04aee247107c31e76b1c91e]Fethiye[/wiki].
Most travelers arrive in Marmaris from Rhodes, Greece, then bus it overland. You can also take a ferry from Kastellorizo, a tiny Greek island just off the Turkish fishing village of Kas.
The nearest train station is in [wiki=81c5678af2b5a6b767522efd8c36e091]Burdur[/wiki], 122 km north. Although Turkish State Railways (TCDD) [url=http://www.tcdd.gov.tr]]ceased to operate direct passenger trains to Burdur from Istanbul, you can still buy a ticket for Pamukkale Express, which has sleeper berths as well as a coach car. You should get off the train in [[Dinar[/url]] station and transfer to the connecting bus provided by TCDD (no extra payment other than your train ticket). Once in Burdur, all you need is to catch a minibus for Antalya, which takes one and a half hour and costs 9 TL/person one-way. All this may seem a bit of a hassle, but it is still an option if you are on a tight budget, keen on reducing your carbon footprint or hold an [wiki=8825fa95518755b7eb51c5f42d9b2f67]Inter Rail[/wiki] pass.
The Pamukkale Express is NOT operating as of April 2009 and it is unclear when or IF it will resume service.
In Antalya, buses pass from anywhere to any destination in the city. Fares are low and most buses offer air-conditioning and TV even for short routes. To travel to remote places you may need to travel to the bus terminal first. The bus terminal has its own buses with distinctive blue stripes. As of 2011 bus terminal to city to airport travel (Bus 202, "Terminal-Otogar") is possible every 30 min. There is also Bus 600 which runs from the Otogar to Konyaaltı Beach, then through the town centre towards Aksu. The closest bus stops to the Old Town would be on Ali Çentinkaya Cd. whıch ıs a few mınutes of walkıng from the Old Town.
Dolmus literally means "filled up". Dolmus is a large cab, a station wagon, a regular taxi or a minibus that travels a certain route. Most major public transportation stations have a dolmus station, where you just take a seat in the dolmus that travels your desired route. In Antalya dolmus does not wait until it fills up. Instead, it is scheduled. However, if empty dolmus will move slowly hoping to find more passenger. Still it has to abide its schedule and cannot stall much.
There are taxi stands all over the city where the drivers have their base and tea pot. Each taxi is metered and there are two different rates. After midnight (24:00) till morning (06:00) it will cost 50% more than the daytime fare. For popular destinations there are price lists showing the rate in Euro. A fair rate is about TRY 0.8 to 1 per kilometer.
You can also negotiate with any taxi driver to be your private tour guide. You also have to pay the gas money. This option could be quite expensive but if you have the money, it is worth it!.Besides,you can make pre-booking [url=https://www.voyagetransfers.com/En/transfer-from-antalya-airport-taxi]antalya airport transfers[/url] [url=https://www.sunshuttles.com/airport-transfer/antalya-airport-transfers]antalya airport transfers[/url] by private taxi companies.
The (historic) tramway has been donated by the German city of [wiki=baa993ff1d0f2fccb0573468522a2a4a]Nuremberg[/wiki] and connects the western Konyaalti Beach and Antalya Museum to the eastern part of the city center. It runs all 30 min. in either direction and costs 1.75 TL per person. Tramway can be used for sightseeing as it passes most beautiful places of the city center.
The new tram system ("AntRay") currently (04/2011) consists of one line, serving the route Fatih-Otogar-Muratpaşa-Ismetpaşa-Meydan every 15min during the day. To get to the Kaleiçi or to the interconnection with the historic tram line, get off at Ismetpaşa station. Tickets (1.75TL) can be obtained at the stores around the stations or at specific AntRay-counters (e.g., at the Otogar). If you're unsure, just ask the helpful station guards.
Car rental is available in the bus terminal, air port and city center. It is advised not to use car to reach city center (specially Cumhuriyet, Atatürk, Isiklar streets, Sarampol street and old city), as finding a car park and the way people drive (sometimes you feel like you are in the race tracks) might be difficult. Be sure to abide non-parking restrictions, the municipality is very strict about it. There are destination signs on roads to help travelers. Also most of the younger locals know English will be pleased to help about your destination. You can also obtain city map from tourist information desks in the city center.
Using bicycle in crowded roads might be dangerous and tiresome(especially in summer as the temperature hits high 40's at noon (100F-120F). However, there are a few bicycle-only roads passing beside the sea having incredible views.
Kaleiçi, has narrow, winding streets enclosed in ancient city walls, which now protect the peaceful quarter from the noise of the concrete metropolis of a million people. The northern part (Selçuk and Tuzcular sections) of Kaleiçi is mostly touristy shops and restaurants lining the narrow mazelike streets. The Kilinçarslan section is a little more quiet and still charming. Although there are other entrances, it is best to enter and exit the old quarter from charming Hadrianus Gate, built by the Roman emperor Hadrianus as the entrance arch to the city. Hadrian Gate will lead you to Kilinçarslan district.
* Fluted Minaret Yivli Minare - In this area, you can see the famous 125 feet tall fluted minaret and the mosque. Nearby is an old market building with an interesting entrance, and a ruined gate or two.
* Clock Tower area Saat Kulesi - Ottoman-era clock tower and 18th century Paşa Camii mosque.
* Fortified Roman port Yat Limanı - A beautiful harbour surrounded by town walls built during the Roman Era. Nearby is the İskele Camii mosque.
* Broken Mınaret Mosque Kesik Minare - beautiful ruins of an old Roman temple, which eventually was converted into a Christian church and finally a mosque.
* Hıdırlık Tower Hıdırlık Kulesi - a tower on the edge of the town walls with scenic views of the marina and the harbour.
* Atatürk's Home Atatürk Evi (just outside the Kilinçarslan district, walk to Karaalioglu Park along Atatürk Cd.) - house where the first president of Turkey stayed at during his visits in Antalya.
Aqualand, which is a large complex of waterpark and beach park. (2013-08-08: Opening hours where 10:00-17:00 and entrance fee 47 TL for adults, information that they don't display on their homepage)
* Migros MMM - a large shopping centre with a traditional American-style mall food court lined with American fast food chain restaurants as well as some Turkish restaurants.
* Antalya Aquarium - boasts the world's largest tunnel aquarium.
* Aktur Lunapark Antalya - a fairground with various rides
TerraCity - a huge shopping mall.
Antalya Zoo and Nature Park - 400 acres of Zoo, accessible by taking the tram to the last stop.
Remember that you do not necessarily have to go to the Otogar to get on these buses. They can be hailed anywhere along the route. Check the bus map to see where the routes run.
* Perge ruins - (buses heading to Aksu can drop you off at the road leading to Perge, TL1.75 each way with bus.) a fantastic Roman city ruins, with a hippodrome, theatre still intact. The South Bathhouses helps very well to create good imagination of what it looked like in the era.
* Düden Falls - it is a waterfall off the cliffs southeast of the town. You can have the option to take a boat for TL25 for a two hours cruise to view the falls and swim, or take the dolmus # VC30 from Sarampol to the last stop.
* Aspendos - a beautiful intact theatre from the Roman time. It is possible to take a ride with Serik Koop bus from the Otogar (TL6 - 2013) to Serik, where you will change buses to local bus number 10 for Aspendos which depart on the 55th minute of the hour. It is about 4 to 5 hours roundtrip. It definitely can be combined with a stop at Perge, which is on the same route.
* Side - an ancient Roman city near Manavgat.
* Termessos - an ancient city ruins in a nature setting (part of a nature park). One can take the high-road Fethiye Sayahat bus and ask to be dropped off at the intersection for Termessos. You have the option to take a taxi, look for a lift or walk the 9 km up the steep road to the actual site.
* Demre/Myra - take a low-road route bus with Fethiye Sahayat bus and get off at Demre. At Demre, you can see ancient Lycian ruins with tombs and Myra is also the home of St. Nicholas, or "Santa Claus."
The export of antiques or objects considered so is strictly forbidden and will cause a lot of problems not to say hefty fines to those caught when leaving the country. Possession and possibly even commerce in Turkey is legal - just the export is banned. Be on your guard and don't believe sellers who may try to convince you of the opposite. Also, customs back home target more and more faked goods such as video, CDs, shoes, watches and the like. The odds of being caught are minimal, but you should know that you are moving on illegal terrain.
Tudors bar (kaleici): Women are warned to steer clear of this bar. The ownership is very strict on clothing and will throw out any woman that does not dress conservatively. Do not be confused by the prostitutes that do frequent the bar. Better bars are to be found outside of Kaleici, in Lara or Konyalti.
You can just stroll around (with luggage) and you won't have to wait for long until you'll be offered 'Pansiyon' (Hostel) accommodation. Almost every second house in the Old Town is a small hotel (many of which are of very high standard, with small swimming pools and smart restaurants). A couple of years ago summers used to be packed but those days seem to be gone. The big share of visitors to this region are package tourists being channelled through 'all inclusive' programs outside the city. The going rate for a double room with en-suite is TRY 20-35 per night/room.
* Simple, clean and cheap hotel in the old town offers friendly service and good Turkish breakfast.
* Cheap and private accommodation in the old town.
*This is a bed & breakfast type small hotel in the old city area of Antalya.
*Very nice hotel owned by a warmhearted French woman who also speaks German and Turkish. Rooms have aircon, satellite TV and private bathrooms. It is quiet at night and the breakfast is delicious.
*Lovely hotel with garden restaurant with a sea view, in the old town. Friendly service and great breakfast. Strong wifi and fluent English spoken.
New: the old town offers a self-service laundry service, quick & cheap. Address: Hıdırlık Sokak 10 phone: 0531 282 69 32 "http://www.antalyalaundry.com/englisch/"
At Lara, a suburb to the east of Antalya, there are a lot of stunning 4/5-star hotels along the beach. These generally cater for the 'All inclusive' package holiday traveller. However, they can also make an excellent base for those wanting to visit places away from the resorts, but return to some luxury in the evening. Being a package offering, they can end up being relatively cheap. All of the hotels fall into the Splurge category.