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A vaulted stone arcade corridor inside the ancient Aspendos theatre, arches receding into warm light.
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AntalyaTravel Guide

Turkey5 stories

The capital of the Turkish Riviera: an Ottoman old town above a Roman harbor, long Mediterranean beaches, waterfalls and world-class ancient ruins.

Is Antalya right for you?

When to come

Late spring and early autumn

Around 35°C by day in July, 15°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

It depends where you stand. There is a cheap version and an expensive one — the guides below say which is which.

What we've planned, and who for

We publish a multi-day route for this one.

When to go
January: around 15 degrees by day, 6 at night, 211 millimetres of rain, very wet.
February: around 16 degrees by day, 7 at night, 113 millimetres of rain, wet.
March: around 18 degrees by day, 8 at night, 95 millimetres of rain, wet.
April: around 22 degrees by day, 11 at night, 63 millimetres of rain, some rain.
May: around 26 degrees by day, 16 at night, 37 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
June: around 32 degrees by day, 20 at night, 10 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
July: around 35 degrees by day, 23 at night, 4 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
August: around 35 degrees by day, 24 at night, 5 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
September: around 32 degrees by day, 20 at night, 22 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
October: around 27 degrees by day, 16 at night, 77 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
November: around 22 degrees by day, 11 at night, 152 millimetres of rain, very wet.
December: around 17 degrees by day, 8 at night, 262 millimetres of rain, very wet.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Late spring and early autumn

Average daily highs, recorded at Antalya, 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

Turkish State Meteorological Service (English Wikipedia, 'Antalya')

Budget level

Mixed

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Rhodes, Greece230 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September

  • Paphos, Cyprus280 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September · a different price level (mid)

  • Izmir360 km

    half a day's travel · both good in May, June, September · a different price level (mid)

  • Cappadocia410 km

    half a day's travel · both good in May, June, September

Plan itWhere to stay in Antalyaad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Antalya

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Antalya

The Lower Duden waterfall dropping straight off the cliff into the Mediterranean at Antalya, the city's coastline curving away behind
01
The List

The 8 Unmissable Experiences in Antalya, Ranked

From the lanes of Kaleiçi to the Roman theatre of Aspendos, these are the experiences that define the Turkish Riviera's capital — ranked.

Turkey · 2 min
The glass panoramic lift rising up the cliff face below Antalya's old town at sunset, with the clifftop terraces and apartment blocks lit gold behind it.
02
Itineraries

Antalya Deserves Four Days, and the Order Matters

A walled old town, two Roman cities on the plain, a mountain citadel and a hillside that has been on fire for centuries — four days covers Antalya properly, and the sequence is what makes them work.

Turkey · 11 min
Hadrian's Gate in Antalya's old town, the triple Roman marble archway with its carved Corinthian columns, seen from the sunken walkway in front of it.
03
Destinations

Antalya Essentials: Arriving, Getting Around and Doing It Properly

A practical primer on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast capital — which airport door to use, how the tram and dolmus system really works, and when to come so the heat works for you rather than against you.

Turkey · 2 min
A Turkish breakfast laid out from above: eggs with sucuk in a copper pan, a basket of bread, olives, jam, cheese and salad, with a tulip glass of black tea.
04
Food

Turkish Coffee, Künefe and the Slow Antalya Afternoon

Antalya’s café hours run on tulip glasses of tea, coffee thick enough to read, and cheese-filled pastry served scalding. A guide to what to order and where to sit while the heat passes.

Turkey · 2 min
Excursion boats along the stone breakwater of Antalya's old Kaleici harbor beneath the cliffs
05
Hidden Gems

Green Antalya: Parks, Waterfalls and Easy Escapes from the Heat

The Turquoise Coast is better watered than it looks. Clifftop parks, a waterfall that drops into the sea, pine-shaded ruins and a canyon with a Roman bridge — all within reach of the old town.

Turkey · 2 min
In pictures

Antalya, framed

The Lower Duden waterfall pouring straight off the cliff into the Mediterranean at Antalya, with the city's coastline and high-rises stretching along the bay.
A woman in a headscarf rolling and griddling gozleme, the Turkish stuffed flatbread, on a domed sac at a stall beneath a painted GOZLEME sign
Photo: Mihaela Claudia Puscas / Unsplash
The old town of Antalya, Turkey
Photo: Igor Savelev / Unsplash
A Halk Ekmek bread kiosk on a street in Antalya
Photo: Kseniia Poroshkova / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Antalya

See and do

Eat and drink

Before you go

Practical essentials for Turkey

Money

Turkish lira (TRY)

Language

Turkish; English is common in the big cities and the resort towns, much less so inland

Power

Type C/F, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

An Istanbulkart covers metro, tram, bus, funicular and ferry with sharply discounted transfers; contactless bank cards work on many turnstiles but not on the Marmaray, and charge the full fare every tap.

Tipping

About 10% in restaurants, in cash and handed to the server; round up taxi fares, and check whether a service charge is already on the bill.

Tap water

Tap water is treated to EU standards but old building plumbing means almost everyone drinks bottled water, which is cheap and everywhere.

Driving

Right-hand side; visitors need a 1968 International Driving Permit or a notarised Turkish translation of their licence — the 1949 permit is no longer accepted.

Emergency

112 (all services)

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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