City
Antalya
Antalya pairs walled Ottoman Kaleiçi with the long beaches of Konyaaltı and Lara, and a swimming season that runs from April to October.
The old town inside the walls
Kaleiçi, Antalya's old town, is a walled Ottoman-Roman harbour quarter of whitewashed and ochre wooden houses, most now converted into guesthouses and restaurants. The small inner harbour still holds tourist boats, and the fluted minaret of Yivli Minare is visible from almost anywhere in the quarter. Hadrian's Gate, built in the 2nd century in honour of the visiting Roman emperor, still marks one of Kaleiçi's main historic entrances, and the Antalya Museum nearby holds finds from the wider region going back to the Bronze Age, worth an hour for anyone who wants context beyond the beach. The rest of modern Antalya runs along the coast — this is the part most travellers mean when they say "Antalya," without realising that resort towns like Belek, Side, or Kemer are separate places, an hour or more from the centre.
Beaches and seasons
Konyaaltı is a long pebble beach backed by mountains; Lara, on the other side of the city, has sand and draws more families. The swimming season runs from April to October, long for the Mediterranean, but July and August bring temperatures past 35 degrees with heavy humidity — May, June, and September are what experienced agents actually recommend. The Düden waterfalls, minutes from the centre, make an easy break from the beach without a long trip.
Food and getting there
Antalya-style piyaz (a bean salad distinct from other Turkish versions) and tahini-topped pide are specialities you won't find everywhere in Turkey. Antalya's airport sits close to the city and even closer to the coastal resorts, so the transfer is one of the shortest of any Turkish holiday destination. Connections from Tirana vary by season, with more direct charter flights running in summer. The most common mix-up is assuming "Antalya" in an offer means the historic city itself, when it often means a resort in Kemer or Side, well away from Kaleiçi.
In pictures
Frequently asked questions
Is Antalya just beaches, or is there an old town too?
Antalya has a historic core called Kaleiçi, enclosed by the walls of an old Ottoman-Roman harbour, with narrow lanes, mosques, and restaurants. The main beaches, Konyaaltı and Lara, sit within the city itself, while larger resorts like Belek or Side are separate towns further along the coast.
Which beach is better, Konyaaltı or Lara?
Konyaaltı is pebbled with mountains behind it, while Lara has sand and draws more families. Both are inside the city and reachable by local transport, so the choice comes down to beach type rather than distance.
When is the best time to visit Antalya?
The swimming season runs from April to October. July and August are the hottest and most humid months, while May, June, and September offer more comfortable temperatures with smaller crowds.
How far is the airport from the beaches?
Antalya's airport sits very close to both the city and the main coastal resorts, so transfers are generally short. It's one of the most convenient airport connections of any Turkish holiday destination.
What we do
Related services
Ready when you are
Request an offer
Tell us where you want to go and when. We will come back with a concrete proposal.