Where to stay · Antalya · Turkey
Where to stay in Antalya
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Esginmurat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Kaleiçi. Walled old town of Ottoman houses, boutique hotels and the old Roman harbour. Best alternatives — families: Konyaaltı; budget: Konyaaltı.
Key facts
- First visit
- Kaleiçi
- Families
- Konyaaltı
- Budget
- Konyaaltı
- Nightlife
- Kaleiçi
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Kaleiçi | Walled old town of Ottoman houses, boutique hotels and the old Roman harbour |
| Families | Konyaaltı | Long pebble beach and seafront park with Taurus Mountain views |
| Couples | Kaleiçi | Walled old town of Ottoman houses, boutique hotels and the old Roman harbour |
| Budget | Konyaaltı | Long pebble beach and seafront park with Taurus Mountain views |
| Luxury | Lara | Sandy beach strip of large resort hotels east of the city |
| Nightlife | Kaleiçi | Walled old town of Ottoman houses, boutique hotels and the old Roman harbour |
| Solo travellers | Muratpaşa city centre | Everyday Antalya of shopping avenues, local restaurants and the bazaar |
| Shopping | Muratpaşa city centre | Everyday Antalya of shopping avenues, local restaurants and the bazaar |
| Quiet stays | Olympos and Çıralı | Pebble beach, wooden bungalows and Lycian ruins in a forested valley |
| Beach | Konyaaltı | Long pebble beach and seafront park with Taurus Mountain views |
Antalya neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and nightlife
Kaleiçi
Kaleiçi is Antalya's historic quarter, bounded by Hadrian's Gate, the Clock Tower and the cliffs above the old harbour. Its narrow lanes hold small hotels in restored wooden-bay-windowed houses, courtyard restaurants and bars, plus the Yivli Minaret and the Broken Minaret. Mermerli Beach and harbour boat trips are on foot, and the tram along Atatürk and Cumhuriyet avenues passes the main gate.
- Good
- Atmospheric, walkable historic base; Wide range of small hotels; Restaurants and bars on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Steep, cobbled lanes; Some bar streets are noisy at night; No sandy beach inside the walls
- Nearby
- Hadrian's Gate, Yivli Minaret, Old Harbour, Karaalioğlu Park
$$ · Best for families, beach and budget
Konyaaltı
West of the centre, Konyaaltı's 7 km pebble beach is backed by a landscaped beach park with cafés, playgrounds and cycle paths. Mid-range hotels and apartments line the parallel streets, and the Antalya Museum and Antalya Aquarium are close by. The water deepens quickly, and the snow-capped Taurus Mountains form the backdrop in spring.
- Good
- City beach with mountain views; Good for families; Tram and buses to Kaleiçi
- Watch out
- Pebbles rather than sand; Steep shelf into deep water; Less character than Kaleiçi
- Nearby
- Antalya Museum, Antalya Aquarium, Tünektepe cable car
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and beach
Lara
Lara stretches east from the clifftop Lower Düden waterfall to a long sandy beach lined with large all-inclusive hotels, some built in themed architecture. It is about 15 minutes from the airport and 20–30 minutes by taxi from Kaleiçi. Shopping streets and restaurants run along the inland avenues.
- Good
- Sandy beach with gentle shelving; Close to the airport; Resort hotels with pools and kids' clubs
- Watch out
- Hotel-centred, with little street life; A taxi ride from the old town
- Nearby
- Lower Düden Waterfall, Lara Beach, Antalya Airport
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and shopping
Muratpaşa city centre
Around the Clock Tower, Kalekapısı and the shopping streets inland from Kaleiçi, the modern centre is where locals shop and eat. The old bazaar lanes, Işıklar Avenue and Republic Square are here, with business hotels and good-value restaurants serving piyaz and köfte. It is a practical, walkable base on the tram line.
- Good
- Lower prices than Kaleiçi; Local restaurants and shops; Central for trams and buses
- Watch out
- Busy roads and traffic; Few hotels with views or pools
- Nearby
- Clock Tower, Republic Square, Kaleiçi
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury and beach
Belek
About 40 km east of Antalya and 30 km from the airport, Belek is a purpose-built resort area of pine forest, sandy beach and some of Turkey's best-known golf courses, with large luxury all-inclusive hotels. The Land of Legends theme park is nearby, and Aspendos and Perge are short drives away.
- Good
- Large resorts with extensive facilities; Sandy beaches; Several championship golf courses
- Watch out
- Little life outside the hotels; Far from Kaleiçi
- Nearby
- The Land of Legends, Aspendos, Perge
$$ · Best for beach, nightlife and families
Kemer
Kemer and its neighbouring villages, from Beldibi to Tekirova, sit on a narrow strip between pine-covered mountains and the sea about 45 km south-west of Antalya. Kemer town has a marina, Moonlight Beach and a nightlife strip, while the villages have quieter resort hotels. Phaselis and the Olympos cable car are close.
- Good
- Clear water and mountain scenery; Marina, bars and shops; Near Phaselis and Olympos
- Watch out
- About an hour from the airport; Mostly pebble beaches
- Nearby
- Moonlight Beach, Phaselis, Olympos cable car
$$ · Best for families, culture, beach and couples
Side
About 75 km east of Antalya, Side's old town occupies a peninsula strewn with Roman ruins, including a large theatre and the seafront Temple of Apollo. Sandy beaches run either side, lined with resort hotels, while the old town lanes are full of shops and restaurants.
- Good
- Sandy beaches beside ancient ruins; Sunset at the Temple of Apollo; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Old town is very touristy; About 1 hour 15 minutes from Antalya airport
- Nearby
- Temple of Apollo, Side theatre, Manavgat Waterfall
$ · Best for quiet stays, budget, beach and solo travellers
Olympos and Çıralı
About 80 km south-west of Antalya, Olympos and the neighbouring village of Çıralı share a long pebble beach protected for nesting loggerhead turtles. Olympos is known for simple treehouse and bungalow lodges near its overgrown Lycian ruins, while Çıralı has family-run pensions in orange groves. The Chimaera flames burn on the hillside above.
- Good
- Natural, low-rise setting; Ruins on the beach; Good value
- Watch out
- Remote without a car; Basic accommodation in places
- Nearby
- Ancient Olympos, Chimaera flames, Çıralı beach
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Kaleiçi | $$ | Hadrian's Gate, Yivli Minaret, Old Harbour, Karaalioğlu Park |
| Konyaaltı | $$ | Antalya Museum, Antalya Aquarium, Tünektepe cable car |
| Lara | $$$ | Lower Düden Waterfall, Lara Beach, Antalya Airport |
| Muratpaşa city centre | $ | Clock Tower, Republic Square, Kaleiçi |
| Belek | $$$$ | The Land of Legends, Aspendos, Perge |
| Kemer | $$ | Moonlight Beach, Phaselis, Olympos cable car |
| Side | $$ | Temple of Apollo, Side theatre, Manavgat Waterfall |
| Olympos and Çıralı | $ | Ancient Olympos, Chimaera flames, Çıralı beach |
Getting to your hotel
Antalya Airport (AYT) is about 13 km north-east of Kaleiçi. A taxi takes about 25 minutes to the old town, and the tram connects the airport with the city centre and the bus station. Most resort hotels in Lara, Belek, Kemer and Side offer pre-booked transfers.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Antalya for first-time visitors?
Kaleiçi. Kaleiçi is Antalya's historic quarter, bounded by Hadrian's Gate, the Clock Tower and the cliffs above the old harbour.
+Where should families stay in Antalya?
Konyaaltı: City beach with mountain views.
+Which area of Antalya is best for a budget stay?
Konyaaltı ($$): Long pebble beach and seafront park with Taurus Mountain views.