Antalya is much more than one city. You can stay among the narrow streets of Kaleiçi, by the long Konyaaltı beach with the mountains in the background, or at one of the big resorts along the coast towards Lara, Belek and Side. To the west lies Kemer, where the mountains run all the way down to the sea.
The distances are greater than many people expect, so the area you choose decides both what kind of holiday you’ll have and how much time you’ll spend in a car. Here are my recommendations for six good areas, with hotels in several price ranges.
Contents
The Best Areas in Antalya
- Kaleiçi - best area for first-time visitors
- Konyaaltı - best area for beach and city on the same trip
- Lara - best area for all-inclusive close to the airport
- Belek - best area for luxury resorts and golf
- Side - best area for ancient ruins and beaches
- Kemer - best area for mountains, nature and the marina
Below, I’ll take you through the areas one by one, from the city’s historic centre to the resort coast. For each area, I suggest three hotels, so you can choose between luxury, mid-range and a cheaper stay.
1. Kaleiçi - best area for first-time visitors 🏛️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in Antalya’s historic centre, with Hadrian’s Gate and the old harbour within walking distance.
- 🚶 Transport: Kaleiçi is best explored on foot. For the beaches and the airport, take a taxi or public transport from the main roads around the area.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 20 minutes by car from the airport to the centre.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€. Lots of small hotels in old houses and a few more expensive boutique hotels with pools.
- 👮 Safety: Generally safe. Keep an eye on your bag in the crowds by the harbour, and politely say no thanks to pushy sellers.
Kaleiçi is my top choice for a first trip to Antalya, especially if you want to experience the city and not just lie by the pool. The area is Antalya’s Old Town, with narrow cobbled streets, old Ottoman houses and remains of the city walls, and you enter through the Roman Hadrian’s Gate from the main street, Atatürk Caddesi.
Down at the old harbour, you’ll find the boats for trips along the coast, and in the evening the restaurants fill their terraces above the water. During the day, the streets are full of small shops and cafés, and it’s easy to spend a whole day wandering around without a fixed plan. The airport is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre according to Antalya Airport, so Kaleiçi also works well for a long weekend or for the first few nights before you move on to a beach town.
The downside is the beach. Kaleiçi sits on the cliffs above the sea, and the long beach in Konyaaltı starts just under three kilometres to the west. You can easily take a taxi out there, but if you want to swim every day without planning it, Konyaaltı or Lara is a better fit.
The hotels here are often small and built into old houses. That gives them charm, but also steep stairs, smaller rooms and music from the bars in the evening. Choose a hotel on a side street if you’re a light sleeper, and check whether there’s parking if you’re arriving in a hire car.
If you’re combining Antalya with a few days in the big city, you can read my guide to where to stay in Istanbul. Kaleiçi has some of the same historic atmosphere on a smaller scale, but with the sea right below the city walls.
Places to Stay in Kaleiçi
Tuvana Hotel - boutique hotel in a historic building with a pool
Tuvana is my luxury pick in Kaleiçi. The hotel is in a historic building with Ottoman decor and wooden furniture, around 250 metres from Hadrian’s Gate, and it has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar and a garden.
I’d choose it for a couple who want the atmosphere of the old streets and a quiet pool to come back to. The breakfast buffet is included, and there are standard, superior and deluxe rooms. Guests do mention music from the nearby venues in the evening, though, so ask for a quiet room.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The atmosphere and style of the hotel were really good.”
See photos and book Tuvana Hotel here.
Bacchus Pension - Ottoman-style guesthouse with a small pool
Bacchus Pension is an Ottoman-style guesthouse in the western part of Kaleiçi, around 400 metres from the old harbour. There’s a small pool that’s open in season, as well as a garden and a terrace, and breakfast is included.
It’s my mid-range suggestion if you want a personal place to stay close to both the harbour and the restaurants. There are double, twin and triple rooms, so it also works for three people. A few guests feel the cleaning could be more thorough.
Here’s what one guest highlights on Booking.com: “Everything was fantastic, including the breakfast and the friendly host and kitchen staff.”
See photos and book Bacchus Pension here.
Pruva Inn Hotel - budget choice in a central spot by Hadrian’s Gate
Pruva Inn is around 200 metres from Hadrian’s Gate in the northern part of Kaleiçi. It’s a modern bed and breakfast with air conditioning and private bathrooms in the rooms, and breakfast is included in the price.
I’d choose it if you’d rather spend your budget on restaurants and excursions than on hotel facilities. There’s no pool, and guests mention that some rooms get very little daylight. On the other hand, the hotel has one of the highest guest ratings in the area, and it’s only a short walk to the main street.
One guest describes their stay on Booking.com: “The staff were very friendly and helpful, the breakfast was excellent, and the hotel is really well located.”
See photos and book Pruva Inn Hotel here.
2. Konyaaltı - best area for beach and city on the same trip 🏖️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: The eastern end of the beach is just under 3 km from Kaleiçi, and most hotels are 4 to 5 km from the Old Town.
- 🚕 Transport: Taxi or city bus into Kaleiçi. The promenade along the beach is good for walks.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Allow around 30 to 40 minutes by car, depending on the traffic.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€€. From apartment hotels on the back streets to five-star hotels by the beach.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet and family-friendly. Watch out for the waves, and walk carefully on the stones at the water’s edge.
Konyaaltı is my pick if you want the beach every day and still want to be able to head into the city in the evening. The beach stretches several kilometres west from the city’s cliffs, and behind it rise the Taurus Mountains. It’s one of the most beautiful city beaches on the Mediterranean.
The beach is mostly small pebbles rather than sand. That keeps the water clear, but water shoes are a good idea, especially for children. A park and promenade with cafés and restaurants runs along the beach, and in the evening lots of local families are out for a stroll.
Antalya Museum is at the eastern end. According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a large part of the sculpture collection comes from the ancient city of Perge, and the museum is a good place to spend a hot afternoon.
The hotels are mostly in the neighbourhoods behind the beach road, often in newer buildings and apartment hotels. That makes Konyaaltı good for families who want more space and perhaps a kitchen. On the other hand, don’t expect the historic atmosphere of Kaleiçi. Not all apartment hotels have a pool, so check the facilities before you book.
There’s no entrance fee for the beach itself. You can rent a sunbed and parasol at the beach bars or just lie down on a towel, and in the evening the promenade is a good place for a walk while the sun sets over the mountains.
For evening trips into the Old Town, a taxi is the easiest option. The further west your hotel is, the longer the journey, so look at the map if you’d like to head into the city several times.
Places to Stay in Konyaaltı
Hotel SU & Aqualand - five-star hotel with a water park and its own beach area
Hotel SU is the luxury pick in Konyaaltı and an obvious choice for families. The hotel has its own beach area, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa with a hammam, a kids’ club and the Aqualand water park.
It’s in the eastern part of the area, just under 4 km from Kaleiçi, so it’s a short trip into the city. Rooms come with sea views or land views, family rooms included, so choose your category carefully if the view matters to you.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel is fantastic, very clean and has an excellent location.”
See photos and book Hotel SU & Aqualand here.
voco Antalya Konyaalti - modern hotel with a spa and a year-round pool
voco is part of the IHG chain and is in the Arapsuyu neighbourhood, less than a kilometre from the beach. There’s a year-round outdoor pool, a spa with a sauna, steam room and hammam, and a gym, and breakfast is included.
I’d choose it for a couple or a small family who want a modern hotel without all-inclusive. You can choose between standard rooms and suites with a separate bedroom. A few guests don’t find the neighbourhood particularly attractive, so think of it as a practical place to stay rather than a beach address.
Here’s what one guest highlights on Booking.com: “Cleanliness and excellent staff.”
See photos and book voco Antalya Konyaalti here.
Oli Hotel and Suites - apartments with one of the highest guest ratings in the area
Oli Hotel and Suites has both double rooms and apartments in several sizes and is in a residential neighbourhood around 700 metres from the beach. There’s free parking, a lift and a small garden.
It’s my budget pick in Konyaaltı because you get lots of space for your money, and the apartments make it easy to have breakfast at home. There’s no pool, and breakfast isn’t included in the price, so you’ll use the beach and the cafés on the promenade.
One delighted guest writes on Booking.com: “The best hotel we’ve ever stayed at, and we’d love to come back!”
See photos and book Oli Hotel and Suites here.
3. Lara - best area for all-inclusive close to the airport 🌴
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 10 to 16 km east of Kaleiçi as the crow flies, depending on where along the coast you stay.
- 🚕 Transport: Taxi or city bus into the city. The resorts are built for you to stay put most of the time.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Often just 15 to 25 minutes by car, because the airport is close to the area.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€€. All-inclusive is the most common, but there are also smaller hotels with breakfast.
- 👮 Safety: A safe resort area. Follow the flags and the lifeguards on the beach, especially with children.
Lara is the place if you want a sandy beach and a big all-inclusive hotel close to the airport. The coast east of the city is long and flat, and many of Antalya’s biggest resorts are lined up here with their own beaches, pools and water slides.
The short transfer is a real advantage with children. You can land in the afternoon and be in the pool before the sun goes down, instead of sitting on a bus for an hour or more to Side or Kemer.
Lara isn’t one single place, though. Old Lara to the west sits on the cliffs close to the city, and this is where the Lower Düden Waterfall plunges straight into the sea. Further east, around Kundu, are the big resorts on the sandy beach, and those are what most people mean when they say Lara.
Outside the hotels, there isn’t much to walk around in the evening, so Lara suits you best if you want to relax on site. If you’d like to see a bit more, the ancient city of Perge is around 18 km east of Antalya according to UNESCO, and it’s easy to combine with a day in Kaleiçi.
The beach itself is sand, and at the public section closest to the city there are cafés and sunbeds. Large parts of the coast further east are divided up between the hotels’ own beach areas, though, so here it’s the hotel that decides where you lie.
My advice is to choose Lara for the hotel and the beach and then add a couple of excursions to your week. That way, you get both the easy beach holiday and a bit of the area’s history.
Places to Stay in Lara
Concorde De Luxe Resort - ultra all-inclusive right on the beach
Concorde De Luxe is one of the highest-rated big resorts in Lara, with a score above 9 from several thousand reviews. It’s right on the beach and has ultra all-inclusive, several pools, a spa, a kids’ club, a water park, tennis and bowling.
I’d choose it for a family or a couple who want everything in one place and don’t plan to leave the hotel much. Some guests feel the rooms don’t quite live up to the rest of the resort, so compare the room types and views carefully before you book.
One guest praises the pool area on Booking.com: “Good pools and always plenty of sunbeds.”
See photos and book Concorde De Luxe Resort here.
Corendon Grand Park Lara - all-inclusive with water slides at a lower price
Corendon Grand Park Lara is in the same part of Lara as Concorde, but the price is often quite a bit lower. There’s ultra all-inclusive, pools with water slides, a kids’ club and a spa, and the hotel’s beach area is around 200 metres from the hotel itself.
I’d choose it for a family with children who want lots of activities without paying for the most expensive resort. Guests mention that the main restaurant can get crowded, so expect a bit of a wait at the busiest times.
Here’s how one guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “Everything about the hotel was just fantastic!”
See photos and book Corendon Grand Park Lara here.
Peramis Hotel & Spa - smaller hotel with a spa in Old Lara
Peramis is in Old Lara, just under 2 km from the Lower Düden Waterfall and closer to the city than the big resorts. The hotel has a year-round outdoor pool, a spa with a hammam and sauna, and a gym, and breakfast is included.
It’s my budget pick if you’d rather stay at a smaller hotel and choose for yourself where to eat. There are family rooms, but a few guests mention that the apartments are in a separate building. It isn’t a beach hotel, so expect to travel a little way to swim.
One guest sums it up briefly on Booking.com: “Everything was excellent!”
See photos and book Peramis Hotel & Spa here.
4. Belek - best area for luxury resorts and golf ⛳
- 📍 Distance from the centre: A good 30 km east of Kaleiçi. Belek has its own small centre, and the resorts are along the coast south of the town.
- 🚕 Transport: Car, taxi or transfer. The resorts are spread out, so most guests stay at the hotel.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Allow around 30 to 40 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price range: €€€ to €€€€€. Some of the area’s most expensive resorts are here, but there are also apartments in the town.
- 👮 Safety: A very safe and quiet resort setting. Take care in the sun, and follow the lifeguards’ flags on the beach.
Belek is Antalya’s luxury and golf area. Along a long sandy beach, big resorts sit among pine trees and golf courses, and many of them are almost small towns with restaurants, spas, kids’ clubs and their own beaches.
It’s the right choice for a holiday where the hotel is a big part of the experience. You don’t come here to stroll the streets in the evening, because Belek itself is a small town, and the distances between the resorts are long. In return, you get peace and quiet, big gardens and a hotel that takes care of most things.
Golfers have several courses close to the hotels, so you can play in the morning and be by the pool in the afternoon. If you have children with you, The Land of Legends theme park and water park is a little west of Belek, and it’s easy to reach by taxi.
If you’re staying in the town itself and not at a resort, the public beach in Belek is a good alternative. There are showers, changing rooms, a café and parking right by the beach, so you can easily make it your regular place to swim all week.
If you want to see something historic, the ancient city of Aspendos isn’t far away. UNESCO describes the theatre at Aspendos as the best-preserved ancient theatre in the world, and it’s one of the best half-day trips from the coast.
The downsides are the price and the distances. A stay at the best resorts costs far more than in Lara, and without a car you’re dependent on taxis for everything outside the hotel. Check your dates in good time, too, if you’re travelling outside the summer season, because the choice can be smaller.
Places to Stay in Belek
Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort - suites, villas and top-class golf
Maxx Royal is the most expensive hotel in this guide and has a guest rating of 9.5. The resort is by the sea with a private beach area, several pools, a spa, a kids’ club and a golf course nearby, and you stay in suites or villas, some with their own pool.
I’d choose it for a special occasion when everything has to be just right from morning to evening, and the food is part of the experience. The price is far above most other resorts in the area, and a few guests mention wear and tear in some parts of the resort.
One guest singles out the staff on Booking.com: “Very friendly and helpful staff, nothing was too much for them.”
See photos and book Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort here.
Limak Arcadia Sport Resort Belek - beach resort with lots of activities
Limak Arcadia is right on the beach, around 1.2 km from Belek’s centre. The hotel has five pools, one of them with water slides, four tennis courts, a kids’ club and a gym, and there are golf courses close by.
It’s my mid-range suggestion in Belek because you get the big resort facilities at a much lower price than at the most exclusive hotels. It suits active families and couples who want to play tennis or golf on holiday.
Here’s what one guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel was clean, good food and friendly staff.”
See photos and book Limak Arcadia Sport Resort Belek here.
Assos Apart Belek - apartments with kitchens in the middle of town
Assos Apart is in Belek’s small centre. The apartments have two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen, and there’s a pool, a garden and a playground.
I’d choose it for a family who want to stay in Belek without paying resort prices. On the other hand, it isn’t by the water, and it’s just under 3 km to the public beach, so expect a taxi or a long walk. A few guests mention smoke from other guests in the shared areas.
One guest praises the staff on Booking.com: “The office staff in particular did everything they could to help with the questions we had.”
See photos and book Assos Apart Belek here.
5. Side - best area for ancient ruins and beaches 🏺
- 📍 Distance from the centre: A good 60 km east of Kaleiçi. Side has its own centre in the ancient city on the peninsula.
- 🚶 Transport: Walk around Side, and use a taxi or minibus to the hotels along the coast and to Manavgat.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Allow around an hour or a little more by car.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€€. Small hotels close to the ruins and big all-inclusive resorts along the beaches.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. The streets are busy in the evening in high season, so keep track of your bag and watch your step on the uneven stones between the ruins.
Side is the area I’d choose if the beach and ancient ruins matter equally. Side’s Old Town is on a small peninsula where restaurants and shops sit side by side with Roman columns, and by the water stands the Temple of Apollo, Side’s best-known sight.
It’s a lovely place to walk around in the evening once the heat has eased. According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the town’s museum is in a Roman bathhouse from the 2nd century and displays statues, sarcophagi and coins, among other things.
Many of the ruins are right between the houses and restaurants, so you see a lot just by walking around. The museum and the fenced-off areas have their own opening hours, so check them before you go. In the evening, the harbour by the Temple of Apollo is the obvious place to watch the sunset. If you’ve hired a car, Side is also a good base for a trip to the theatre at Aspendos.
The beaches are on both sides of the peninsula. To the east, there’s a long beach with lots of hotels, and to the west, the coast continues towards Kumköy, where several of the big resorts are.
The downside is the distance to the airport. The journey usually takes around an hour, so Side makes the most sense for a holiday of a week or more and not for a long weekend.
Many hotels in and around Side are adults-only or have an age limit, so check the rules if you’re travelling with children. Of my three suggestions, only Barut Hemera is built for families with children, while the other two suit couples best.
Places to Stay in Side
Barut Hemera - family-friendly luxury resort on the beach in Kumköy
Barut Hemera is right on the beach in Kumköy, around 2.5 km from the ruins in Side. The hotel has ultra all-inclusive, several restaurants, a spa, an indoor pool, a tennis court, a kids’ club and a water park.
I’d choose it for a family or a couple who want a complete resort and still want to be able to take a taxi into Side in the evening. The distance does mean, though, that you can’t just stroll into the Old Town after dinner.
One guest is full of praise on Booking.com: “I give 10/10 for all the service and the hotel’s design!”
See photos and book Barut Hemera here.
Vox Maris Resort - all-inclusive for adults and teenagers over 16
Vox Maris is in the eastern part of Side, around 1.3 km from the ruins. There’s ultra all-inclusive, a year-round outdoor pool, an indoor pool, a spa with a sauna and hammam, and a gym.
Guests must be at least 16, so it’s a choice for couples and groups of adults. The hotel’s beach area is around 700 metres away, and there’s a shuttle out there. It’s a good choice if you want all-inclusive close to the town, but not if you want the beach right outside the door.
Here’s what one guest highlights on Booking.com: “The staff were really friendly, good service and super good food.”
See photos and book Vox Maris Resort here.
Blue Serenity Hotel - small adults-only hotel on the beach
Blue Serenity is a smaller adults-only hotel that faces the beach on Side’s eastern coast. There’s an outdoor pool, a sun terrace and its own beach area, and a continental breakfast buffet is served.
I’d choose it for a couple who want a quiet base and like to eat out in Side in the evening. It’s around 1.5 km to the ruins, so you can walk along the coast or take a short taxi ride. Guests mention that the breakfast is fairly simple.
Here’s how one guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “A very cosy and quiet hotel with the sweetest staff ever.”
See photos and book Blue Serenity Hotel here.
6. Kemer - best area for mountains, nature and the marina ⛰️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: A good 30 km southwest of Kaleiçi. Kemer has its own centre around the marina.
- 🚌 Transport: Walk around the town. Minibuses connect Kemer with Antalya, and a car or boat is best for the bays along the coast.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Allow around an hour by car, because the route goes around Antalya.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€€. Simple hotels in the town and big all-inclusive resorts along the coast.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. In summer, there can be loud music from the beach bars, so choose a side street if you want to get to sleep early.
Kemer is where the Taurus Mountains run all the way down to the sea, which gives it a completely different backdrop from the flat coast at Lara and Belek. The town is built around a marina with restaurants, and right next to it is Moonlight Beach.
It’s a good choice if you want to combine the beach with nature. Boat trips head out along the coast from the marina, and the ancient port city of Phaselis is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre according to Kemer Municipality. The city had no fewer than three harbours, and the ruins make a good half-day trip.
Moonlight Beach is the town’s best-known beach and is just south of the marina. The beaches here are mostly small pebbles, though, so if you want a soft sandy beach, Lara or Side is a better choice. On the other hand, you get clear water and the mountains as a backdrop when you’re lying by the sea.
In the evening, life centres on the marina and the streets behind it, where there are restaurants, shops and bars. If you’re staying in the town itself, most things are within walking distance, so you’ll manage fine without a car until you want to head out along the coast.
The downside is the journey from the airport, which goes west around Antalya and takes longer than the trip to Lara and Belek. For a week’s holiday it matters less, but for a short trip I’d choose an area closer to the airport.
Many big resorts with Kemer in their address are in the neighbouring towns along the coast, such as Beldibi, Göynük and Tekirova. Check the map if you’d like to be able to walk to the marina and the town’s restaurants.
Places to Stay in Kemer
Akra Kemer - ultra all-inclusive close to the town
Akra Kemer has a guest rating of 9.0 and is on the coast in the northern part of Kemer, less than a kilometre from the centre. There’s ultra all-inclusive, its own beach area, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a kids’ club and a water park.
I’d choose it if you want a luxury resort and still want to be able to walk to the marina in the evening. The rooms range from superior rooms with land views to penthouse suites. Guests mention that the sunbeds on the beach are quickly taken in the morning.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The food is fantastic, varied and really delicious.”
See photos and book Akra Kemer here.
Truemar Hotels & Suites - duplex apartments with a pool
Truemar has duplex apartments with a kitchenette and a washing machine, some with a balcony or jacuzzi, and there’s an outdoor pool and free parking. It’s in the southern part of Kemer, just over a kilometre from the marina.
I’d choose it for a family or two couples who want space and the freedom to cook for themselves. It isn’t a beach hotel, and guests mention that some of the furnishings are worn, so read the latest reviews before you book.
Here’s what one guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: “Everything you could wish for, and I’d book again.”
See photos and book Truemar Hotels & Suites here.
Elijah Hotel - simple hotel close to Moonlight Beach
Elijah is a three-star hotel around 500 metres from Moonlight Beach and around 700 metres from the marina. The rooms have a balcony, a minibar and air conditioning, and there’s an outdoor pool, a restaurant and a bar.
It’s my budget pick in Kemer because you can walk to both the beach and the restaurants. Meals beyond what you’ve booked cost extra, and outside the season the hotel can be very quiet.
One guest praises the breakfast on Booking.com: “The breakfast consisted of healthy food, it was varied and well prepared.”
See photos and book Elijah Hotel here.
Where should you avoid staying in Antalya?
I wouldn’t stay in Antalya’s modern inner districts, far from both Kaleiçi and the beach, even if the hotels can look cheap. You’ll save a little on the room but spend a lot of time in traffic, and there isn’t much within walking distance in the evening.
I also wouldn’t choose Side or Kemer for a short weekend, because the transfer takes up too much of your time. And don’t book a big resort in Lara or Belek if you dream of going out to eat somewhere new every evening, because everything outside the hotel means taking a taxi there. Check, too, whether the hotel is on the beach or just has a beach area some distance away. It isn’t always clear from the name.
If I had to choose one area for a first trip, it’d be Kaleiçi for the atmosphere, the restaurants and the short journey from the airport. If you want the beach every day and still a city in the evening, Konyaaltı is the best compromise.
Lara suits all-inclusive holidays with children and a short transfer, and Belek is the choice when the budget is big or golf is part of the plan. Side is the place for beaches and ruins, while Kemer gives you the mountains and a proper town with a marina.
If you’re travelling on to Istanbul on the same trip, you can use my guide to things to do in Istanbul to plan your days. My guide to getting from Istanbul Airport to the city centre will help you get into the city quickly when you land.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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