Antalya is the pearl of the Turkish Riviera - an exciting major city, and a paradise for swimmers. It is a prime tourist destination which is known for its Turquoise Coast. The coast has many delightful beaches that suit all tastes, and along the coast, you will find lots of high-class hotels and restaurants. Those who want to take a break and get away from beach life can make interesting excursions to antique ruins and beautiful landscapes. The largest city of Turkey, Antalya depicts an exciting blend of traditional and contemporary. Old Antalya or 'Kaleiç' is a beautifully preserved old area situated at the heart of the city. Here, you can even stay in old Ottoman houses that have been restored and which now come with all modern amenities. Apart from delving into its historical heritage, you can also enjoy the modern and stylish life of Antalya. To revel in its natural beauty, the golden beaches of Konyaalti and Lara and the milky white waterfalls of Düden, Kursuntu and Manavgatare, are the main spots to visit in Antalya.

Airports in Antalya

1. Antalya International Airport (AYT)

Antalya International Airport is one of the major airports, operated in Turkey's primary holiday destination located on the country's Mediterranean coast. Antalya Airport is the third busiest airport in Turkey, mainly due to a large number of tourists celebrating their summer holiday in the south of Turkey. The airport has three terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 for international flights and Terminal 3 (Domestic) for domestic traffic. Terminal 1 is connected to Domestic Terminal, but 2.5 kilometres apart from Terminal 2. The airport is 13 km from the city centre, and there are regular bus services to the city centre. By car, it takes 25 minutes to get to the centre of Antalya.

2. Antalya Gazipasa Airport (GZP)

Antalya Gazipasa International Airport (GZP) is the secondary airport of the city of Antalya, which welcomed around 11.5 million visitors in 2014. The airport is currently in service in the Gazipasa area of Antalya and is only 30 minutes by road from Alanya compared to a travel time of two hours between Alanya and Antalya Airport, which was previously the nearest airport, 120 km away. Now Gazipasa Airport is one of the essential strategic facilities within the region. More than 25% of Antalya's visitors have vacationed in Alanya, 135 km to the east of the city centre of Antalya. The airport has an annual passenger capacity of 1,500,000 passengers, a terminal area of 6,700 square meters and a parking lot with a capacity of 105 vehicles.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Antalya?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Antalya. All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka's price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Antalya.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Antalya?

With its location on the southern coast of Turkey, you can expect lots of warm sunshine when you visit Antalya. Its location between the Mediterranean Sea and the Taurus Mountains means the region enjoys a warm climate that's sheltered from chilly northern winds. If you want to soak up the most sunshine and highest temperatures, then the time to visit is between June and September. The summer months can be scorching with high humidity that could be highly discomforting for tourists not accustomed to this weather. However, most tourists still flock to the city during this time, and the place becomes too overcrowded to enjoy. The best time to visit Antalya is during September through mid-December, as most tourists would have gone by then, you can also take advantage of the off-season discounts at hotels. Antalya is known for hot summers and mild, wet winters. Since the winter months from January to March receive moderate to heavy rainfall, it will be a good idea to avoid these months as well.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Antalya?

Antalya offers plenty of things to do for everyone. If you want to focus on sightseeing, you'll find a fascinating line-up of attractions to keep you busy. The labyrinthine old town is full of atmospheric historical sites, while the city is ideally placed to act as your base for sightseeing around the outlying area, where dozens of magnificent ruins await. It's not all history, though. This city is also a great spot for lounging on the white-sand beaches of Turkey's Turquoise Coast.

1. Old Town (Kaleiçi) - The maze-like Kaleiçi neighbourhood was made for strolling. Perfectly restored whitewashed and red-roofed Ottoman mansions line the cobblestone streets, now home to a plethora of boutique hotels, souvenir shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Although it's more a place to breathe in the old-world ambience, there are also plenty of small tourist attractions for those who want to sightsee. The main square (Kale Kapısı) has a fortress gate and stone-clad clock tower, while the 18th-century Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque is worth a look just for its stunning interior tile work. Along Hesapçı Sokak, you'll find the graceful Kesik Minare (truncated minaret). Destroyed by fire in the 19th century, this is all that is left of a building that started its life as a Roman temple, was converted into a Byzantine church, and finally became a mosque.

2. Konyaalti Beach - Konyaalti Beach is one of the two main beaches in Antalya, located about 3 km west of Kalekapısı. Stretching over 7 km from Beydağları Mountains to the cliffs, it is a long strip of pebbles and rough sand with a park at the back. Close to the beach, there are many hotels and residential areas. Take the Nostalji tram westward from Kalekapısı at the centre of Antalya to the end of the tramway line near the Antalya Museum to reach this beach. On foot, it is around 15 minutes' away from the old town

3. Aspendos - The main reason history-buffs visit Antalya is to make the day trip to Aspendos. This archaeological site is home to a Roman theatre commonly thought to be the best preserved in the world and one of the top tourist attractions in Turkey. The glory days of this dazzling, ancient town were during the 2nd and 3rd centuries when most of the ruins that can be seen today were built. Apart from the theatre, which has been fully restored and can seat 15,000 people, much of the rest of the site still lies in ruins and is probably only attractive to the most enthusiastic sightseer.