Antalya
Where the Taurus Mountains meet a turquoise sea — and where the British have been quietly returning for thirty years.
Antalya is the Turkish Riviera capital and, for British travellers, the easiest first taste of Turkey: a four-hour direct flight from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, an old harbour that pre-dates Christianity, and beaches that hold Blue Flag status without holding the price tag of Mallorca.
Most package holidays land here and stay near the airport. We do something different — we use Antalya as a base for the Lycian coast east, the Roman cities inland, and the markets of Kaleici at dusk when the tour buses have left.
The five experiences that make a Antalya trip unforgettable
Kaleici by sundown
The Roman-Ottoman old town empties between 4pm and 7pm — locals are still working, day-trippers have left. Walk Hesapci Sokak from Hadrians Gate down to the harbour with no one in your photographs.
Konyaalti and Lara — the right beach for you
Konyaalti is pebbled, dramatic and family-quiet; Lara is sand, lively, with the resort hotels. We tell you which suits your week, then walk you off-strip to the coves no transfer driver mentions.
Antalya Museum, properly
The second-finest archaeological museum in Turkey after Istanbul — Roman emperor statues from Perge, Lycian sarcophagi, and almost no queue if you arrive at 9.05am. Allocate two hours.
Day trip to Perge, Aspendos and Side
Three of the best-preserved Roman sites in the Mediterranean, all within 90 minutes of Antalya. Aspendos still hosts opera in its 2nd-century theatre. We arrange a private classicist guide for the morning.
Duden Waterfalls and the Taurus foothills
Upper Duden plunges through pine forest twenty minutes from the city. Lower Duden falls directly into the Mediterranean from a 40-metre cliff — best seen from a small boat at golden hour.
The right month makes the trip
Ideal: Late April to early June, and mid-September to late October
Sea is 22-25°C, air is 25-28°C, evenings need a light jumper. July and August touch 38°C in the city — fine on the beach, exhausting in Kaleici. Winter (December-February) is mild (15°C days) and almost empty; the museums and Roman sites are at their best, but sea swimming is over.
Combine in a single trip
- →Cappadocia (1-hour flight)
- →Kalkan (3-hour drive west along the coast)
- →Fethiye and the Lycian Way (3.5 hours west)
Antalya: questions British travellers ask us
Is Antalya better than Bodrum or Kalkan for a first Turkey trip?
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For a first trip with mixed-age family or anyone who wants culture and beach without driving, yes — Antalya wins. Direct UK flights, an international airport, a 2,000-year-old old town, and Roman cities on the doorstep. Kalkan is more boutique but a 3-hour transfer; Bodrum is more glamorous but a longer flight via Dalaman.
Is Antalya safe for British families?
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Antalya is one of the safest holiday destinations in the Mediterranean. The UK Foreign Office places Turkey at the same advisory level as Spain or Greece. Kaleici is walkable day and night, the resort strips are family-policed, and locals look out for tourists. We brief every guest on the small things — taxi etiquette, market pricing, beach flags — before they land.
How long is the flight from the UK to Antalya?
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Around 4 hours 10 minutes direct. London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham have multiple daily departures from May to October; Edinburgh and Bristol have several a week. Off-season (November-March), expect a connection through Istanbul which adds 2-3 hours.
Should we hire a car in Antalya?
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Not unless you plan to drive west along the Lycian coast for several days. The city itself has trams and inexpensive taxis; day trips to Roman cities are easier with a private driver-guide. If you do drive, the D400 coastal road to Kas is one of the great Mediterranean drives — but UK licence holders should know that Turkish driving is more assertive than British.
What is the difference between Antalya, Lara and Belek?
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Antalya is the city — old town, museums, real life. Lara is a beach district 12km east with the big resort hotels and the sand beach. Belek is 30km further east, purpose-built for golf and all-inclusive resorts. We mostly base guests in Kaleici or on a quiet stretch of Konyaalti, then take them out to the day-trip sights.
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