Weather by month, where to stay, things to do and what it actually costs, everything you need to plan a trip to Turkey's Antalya coast.
Antalya is Turkey's biggest package holiday coastline, and for good reason. You get reliable summer sun, some of the best value all-inclusive resorts in Europe, dramatic mountain scenery right behind the beaches, and genuinely interesting places to visit inland, from Roman ruins to waterfalls and white water rafting. The tricky part is picking an area, because Lara, Belek, Side and Alanya are all quite different holidays under the same Antalya banner.
Want golf, a quieter resort strip and the top end of Turkey's all-inclusive hotels? Base yourself in Belek. Want a lively town with plenty of bars and nightlife within walking distance? Alanya is the one to look at.
Seven nights is the classic package length here, and it's enough for a proper all-inclusive break with a couple of excursions built in. Ten to fourteen nights suits people who want to properly switch off, fit in more of the inland trips, and not feel like the holiday is over before it's begun.
It suits families well, with big resort pools, water parks and kids' clubs built into most of the 4-star and 5-star properties. It also works for couples wanting a lot of luxury for the price, and for groups of friends on a budget, particularly around Alanya where the nightlife and value both run high.
Antalya Airport (AYT) has some of the best direct UK links of any Mediterranean destination, with Jet2, TUI, easyJet and Wizz Air among the carriers flying from Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle, plus several smaller UK airports. Flight time is around 4 to 4.5 hours direct.
Transfer time from the airport varies a lot depending on which area you pick. Lara is the closest at around 20 minutes, Belek is around 35 to 40 minutes, Side and Kemer are about an hour, and Alanya is the outlier at over two hours. It's worth checking transfer time before you book, not just flight time.
If a short transfer matters to you, Lara and Belek are the easiest options. Alanya has the best nightlife on this coast, but budget for over two hours each way from the airport.
Antalya has hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, with most resort hotels closing over the winter months. These are long-term averages, so treat them as a guide rather than a forecast for your specific dates.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Sea temp | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C | 4°C | 18°C | Wettest month, most hotels closed for winter |
| February | 14°C | 4°C | 17°C | Coolest sea temperature, still quiet and rainy |
| March | 17°C | 6°C | 17°C | Spring arriving, too cool to swim comfortably |
| April | 21°C | 9°C | 18°C | Warm days, resorts reopening, sea still cool |
| May | 26°C | 14°C | 21°C | Reliable sunshine, sea becomes swimmable, good value |
| June | 32°C | 19°C | 25°C | Hot and dry, peak season begins |
| July | 36°C | 23°C | 28°C | Very hot, virtually no rain, busiest month |
| August | 36°C | 23°C | 29°C | Hottest sea and busiest time to visit |
| September | 31°C | 19°C | 27°C | Still hot, sea at its warmest, crowds ease off |
| October | 25°C | 14°C | 25°C | Warm, sea still very swimmable, good value shoulder season |
| November | 19°C | 9°C | 21°C | Cooling fast, most all-inclusives start closing |
| December | 14°C | 6°C | 19°C | Wettest and coolest month, most hotels closed |
Figures are long-term monthly averages for the Antalya area.
June to August is the hottest and busiest stretch, with temperatures regularly above 30°C and the highest prices of the year. May and September to October are the best value months, with warm, swimmable sea, comfortable daytime heat and noticeably better prices on flights and hotels. November to March is effectively out of season for a beach holiday, since the sea drops too cold to swim and most all-inclusive hotels close for winter.
Antalya covers a long stretch of coastline, and the area you pick shapes the whole holiday more than almost anywhere else Jake sells.
The closest resorts to the airport and right next to Antalya city and the old town. Lara has a long sandy beach and big 5-star all-inclusives, while Konyaalti is more of a local, city-beach feel.
Turkey's premier golf destination, with dozens of championship courses and the most upmarket resorts on this coast. Quieter and more polished than the other areas, with a sandy Blue Flag beach.
A working small town built around ancient ruins, with a beach on either side of the old centre. Good for families and couples who want history and a genuine town alongside their beach time.
The liveliest and most budget-friendly resort on this coast, with a dramatic clifftop castle and Kleopatra Beach right in the centre. The furthest from the airport at over two hours each way.
First time in the region? Lara or Side give you the best balance of beach, things to do and an easy transfer. Save Belek for when you want to treat yourselves.
Dolmus minibuses run cheaply and frequently along the coast and between towns, and they're the classic budget way to get around once you're there, though services thin out to some of the quieter spots. Taxis are widely available and reasonably priced by UK standards, and Antalya city has a modern tram line linking the airport to the centre and the beaches.
Car hire gives you the most flexibility for exploring inland, towards the canyons and ancient ruins. Turkey drives on the right, and roads between the main resort areas are generally good dual carriageway.
A shortlist of the bookable tours and activities around the Antalya region worth having on the radar.
Four real, bookable picks across budgets, all available through TUI, Jet2holidays or easyJet holidays.
A well located, good value 4★ all-inclusive directly across from Kleopatra Beach in Alanya town, an easy walk to the castle and the bars and shops along the front. Bookable through TUI and easyJet holidays.
A beachfront 5★ all-inclusive with direct beach access, three outdoor pools plus an indoor pool and waterslides, six restaurants and a strong kids' offer including a playroom, splash pad and adventure park. Bookable through Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays.
A beachfront 5★ Ultra All Inclusive on the Lara coast, with six pools including adults-only options, nine a la carte restaurants included in the rate, an aquapark and a full spa. Bookable through Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays.
A design led all-inclusive resort on its own private beach in Belek's golf district, with easy access to championship courses, multiple pools and fine dining. Bookable through TUI and Jet2holidays.
Hotel availability, board basis and pricing change regularly, always confirm the live details with Jake before booking.
A few of the highlights worth building a day around, beyond just the beach.
Upper Duden sits inland in a park and cave setting, while Lower Duden falls straight off the cliffs into the Mediterranean near Lara. An easy half day trip either way.
One of the best preserved Roman theatres anywhere in the world, still used today for the annual opera and ballet festival. Well worth the inland trip from any of the resort areas.
Antalya's historic walled quarter, with Ottoman era houses, Hadrian's Gate, a working harbour and marina, and cobbled lanes of bars, shops and restaurants to wander through.
A well preserved Greco-Roman city a short drive from Antalya, with a Roman stadium, colonnaded streets and far fewer crowds than the better known sites.
Hire a car for at least a day if you can, or book an organised tour. The best inland sites, including Koprulu Canyon for white water rafting, aren't well served by public transport.
Turkey uses the Turkish Lira, so prices below are shown in pounds with the Lira equivalent alongside, based on averaged, crowd-sourced data and a rate of roughly £1 to ₺65. Lira has been volatile in recent years, so treat these as a general guide for budgeting your spending money rather than an exact price list.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | £7.70 (about ₺500) |
| Draft beer, half litre, bar or restaurant | £2.30 (about ₺150) |
| Cappuccino | £3.20 (about ₺207) |
| Soft drink, 330ml | £1.35 (about ₺89) |
| Bottled water | £0.35 (about ₺23) |
| Taxi, starting fare | £0.70 (about ₺46) |
Source: crowd-sourced averages via Numbeo, checked at time of writing. Lira to pound conversion is approximate and will move around.
Most all-inclusive resorts cover food and local drinks on-site, so your spending money is mostly for excursions, taxis and the odd meal out in town.
The essentials, at a glance.
| Currency | Turkish Lira (₺) |
| Plug type | Type C and F, two round pins, same as most of mainland Europe. UK plugs need an adapter |
| Language | Turkish, with English widely spoken in resort areas |
| Flight time from the UK | About 4 to 4.5 hours direct |
| Time difference | 2 hours ahead of the UK in summer, 3 hours ahead in UK winter |
| Driving | Right hand side, opposite to the UK |
Photos: engin akyurt, Bhumil Chheda, Ondrej Bocek, Marina T, silviannnm, Adel Salehi, Mick Haupt, Igor Sporynin, Cheesum Hoo, big.tiny.belly and Roberto Nickson via Unsplash.
I can build a trip to this exact part of Turkey, or somewhere else entirely, around what you're after.
