Is Antalya Worth Visiting? I Rated It 9.5 Out of 10
Antalya was our first stop in Türkiye and I nearly rated it the best of the trip.
We gave it two nights, which was a mistake, and it still scored 9.5 out of 10 across seven places. Here is what it actually is, and why I would tell almost anyone to start a Türkiye trip here.
Is Antalya Worth Visiting? My Quick Answer
Yes, and particularly if it is your first time in Türkiye.
It is a proper city with real streets and real prices, it has hidden cove beaches ten minutes from the old town, and it is completely unintimidating to arrive in. That last part matters more on day one of a trip than anything else.
Why I Rated It 9.5
These are the reasons, in the order I gave them at the time.
Stunning landscapes and hidden cove beach spots. The cliffs drop straight to the water and there are swimming spots tucked below them, ten minutes from the centre. You do not pay for a sunbed to get in the sea here, which is not true further along the coast.
Beautiful streets and so many food options. The old town is genuinely lovely to walk and the food is priced for people who live there. Our first Turkish breakfast was here and it cost fourteen dollars for both of us.
Great co-working spaces and cafes. Rarer than it should be, and a real point in Antalya's favour if you work while you travel.
Heaps of cute shops. None of them designer, which is the difference between here and Bodrum.
Super easy to navigate. Walking, or the tram, which costs about two dollars fifty. We barely needed it.
What Antalya Costs
This is the part that makes the case better than any adjective.
Scroll to see the full table →
| Antalya | Bodrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Per person, per day | A$90.19 | A$172.18 |
| Room, per night for two | A$88 | A$160 |
| Tram | A$2.57 | n/a |
| Turkish breakfast for two | A$14 | n/a |
Antalya cost us half what Bodrum did, on the same trip, doing broadly the same things. If you are choosing between them, we wrote that up properly in Antalya or Bodrum.
The Honest Downside
Two nights is not enough, and that is on us rather than on Antalya, but it shaped how we saw it.
We arrived, found our feet, ate well, swam, and left. I never got the day where you stop planning and just live somewhere, and that is exactly the day Antalya is best for. Give it three.
The other thing worth knowing: it is hot. We were there in mid-June and the middle of the day is for shade or water, not for walking around. There is more on that in Türkiye in June and July.
Who Should Skip It?
If you have one week in Türkiye and you want Cappadocia and Istanbul, Antalya is the one to cut. It is a city you enjoy rather than a place you tick off, and it needs time you may not have.
If you have two weeks or more, start here. It is the softest possible landing into a country that can otherwise feel like a lot on day one.
Where to Stay in Antalya
We stayed in an Airbnb with wonderfully helpful hosts, in a spot that put the old town and the coves within walking distance, for A$88 a night for the two of us.
Staying central genuinely works here, because Antalya is compact enough to walk and cheap enough that you are not paying a premium for it.
The two Antalya hotels we would compare. We stayed in an Airbnb at A$88 a night for the two of us, and both of these are central enough to walk everything.
Oli Hotel and Suites
Antalya. Walkable to the old town and the cove beaches, which is the whole reason to stay central here.
Audo Local
Antalya. The apartment option if you would rather have a living space than a hotel room.
Our Antalya Airbnb and every other base is on our Türkiye stays page.
So, Is Antalya Worth Visiting?
9.5 out of 10, and my only complaint is that we did not stay longer.
It is the cheapest base we had in Türkiye, one of the prettiest, the easiest to move around, and the one I would send a first-timer to without hesitating. The only reason it did not score higher is that Çeşme and Cappadocia exist.
Still planning? Here is how it stacks up against Bodrum and what the whole trip cost.
FAQs About Visiting Antalya
How many days do you need in Antalya?
Three. We did two and it was one short of the day where you stop rushing.
Is Antalya expensive?
No, and it is the cheapest of the seven places we stayed in Türkiye. A$90.19 per person per day on the ground and A$88 a night for a room for two.
Is Antalya better than Bodrum?
For a first trip, yes, and for value it is not close. Bodrum is better if you specifically want beach clubs and designer shopping.
Does Antalya have good beaches?
Yes, and the cove beaches below the cliffs are the good ones, ten minutes from the old town. They are free, which is not the case everywhere on this coast.
Is Antalya walkable?
Very. We walked almost everywhere and used the tram twice, at about A$2.50 a ride.
Want your Türkiye itinerary planned in a couple of clicks?
Tell it how long you have got, and it lays the days out from everywhere we actually went.
- Two lengths, one week or the full fortnight
- Only places we actually went, never a generic list
- Both flights inland worked out for you
- Share it to your notes or send it to whoever you are travelling with
