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21 minutes readContent
- Why travel agents should be selling Antalya right now
- Practical information for travel agents
- Where to stay in Antalya: Areas and hotel options
- Top Antalya attractions: Must-see places to visit
- Antalya activities by travel type
- Day trips from Antalya
- Turkish food in Antalya: What your clients should try
- Insider tips
- Antalya as a “Destination Next” recommendation
Why travel agents should be selling Antalya right now
Antalya consistently delivers on the fundamentals that matter most to agents. Here’s why:
- Strong air connectivity from across Europe and the Middle East
- Wider price range than almost any comparable Mediterranean destination
- A year-round season that extends well beyond the summer peak.
- World-class beach resorts in regions with genuine historical and cultural depth
For agents building Turkish Riviera itineraries, Antalya is the natural anchor for these itineraries. It has a wider accommodation supply, better flight options, and more to see than any other Turkish coastal city. Antalya’s supply depth means it is a recommendation suitable for most clients, with RateHawk’s Generation Next tool generating hotel options before they have time to change their mind.
Betul Culhacilar,
Head of Business Development Turkey, Egypt & Jordan
“Turkey continues to show strong demand this year, especially for Istanbul and Antalya, driven by their accessibility, value for money, and diverse travel experiences. Istanbul remains popular for city breaks, shopping, gastronomy, and cultural tourism, while Antalya continues to attract travelers looking for beach holidays, luxury resorts, and family-friendly stays.
One of the key reasons behind this positive trend is that Turkey offers a combination of short flight durations, visa accessibility for many nationalities, and competitive pricing compared to many European destinations.
Istanbul is highly popular among couples, solo travelers, and short-stay leisure visitors.”
Practical information for travel agents
Travel guidelines
Weather and best time to visit Antalya
Antalya enjoys a classic Eastern Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, making it one of the longest reliable beach seasons in Europe. The climate is the destination’s strongest selling point for agents curating spring and autumn itineraries when comparable northern European alternatives are out of season.
- Peak Season (June–August): Reliably hot and sunny, with temperatures regularly reaching 35–38°C in July and August. The beach experience is at its best, but the city and popular sites are at their busiest. All-inclusive resorts along the coast fill quickly; book well ahead.
- Shoulder Season (April–May, September–October): The best time to visit Antalya for tourists prioritizing cultural itineraries and those who want beach weather without the intensity and humidity of midsummer. Temperatures sit comfortably between 22–30°C, sea temperatures remain warm through October, and prices are meaningfully lower than peak season. It’s an ideal time for tourists who aren’t locked into the academic holidays.
- Low Season (November–March): Antalya’s mild winters (12–16°C) make it suitable for cultural city breaks and walking holidays year-round. The beach resort corridor quiets significantly, but the old city, museums, and ancient sites are far more enjoyable in cooler temperatures and without summer crowds. Perfect for clients who are attracted to Antalya for its culture or want some winter sun.
Photo by Igor Sporynin on Unsplash
Antalya fun facts
- Antalya is home to more five-star hotels than any other city in Turkey, reflecting its position as the country’s leading resort destination.
- The city was founded by the Pergamon king Attalos II around 150 BC, and named Attaleia after him, remaining an important settlement ever since.
- Antalya enjoys around 300 sunny days per year, contributing to one of the Mediterranean’s longest beach seasons.
- The region surrounding Antalya forms part of the “Turkish Riviera”, Turkey’s famous Mediterranean resort coastline stretching east and west along the southern coast.
- The Antalya Museum is one of the largest and most significant archaeological museums in Turkey, housing artefacts from sites across the surrounding region spanning from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine period.
Photo by silviannnm on Unsplash
Getting around Antalya
Antalya’s city centre and old town are very walkable, but the resort corridor stretching east toward Lara and west toward Kemer requires wheels to get around. A hire car significantly improves the diversity of experiences accessible to your clients, including visits to ancient sites, waterfalls, and more remote beaches.
Photo by Igor Sporynin on Unsplash
- Tram (Antalya Tramway): Antalya’s tram network connects key parts of the city, including the museum district, Kaleiçi access points, the intercity bus terminal, and the airport, making it a practical and inexpensive way to move around central Antalya.
- Car Hire: Strongly recommended for clients wanting to visit Perge, Aspendos, Side, Düden Waterfalls, or beaches beyond the immediate city area. Antalya Airport has a full range of international and local car hire operators.
- Taxi and Ride-Hailing: Taxis are widely available across the city. The BiTaksi app offers transparent metered pricing and is the most reliable option. Always pre-agree prices for longer journeys or airport transfers.
- Dolmuş (Shared Minibus): The traditional Turkish shared minibus network covers routes across the city and to nearby towns at very low cost. It’s a useful tip to share with budget-conscious and solo travellers.
- Airport Transfer: Antalya Airport is approximately 13 km from the city centre, making it a 20 to 30-minute drive in normal traffic. Private pre-booked transfers are the most comfortable option; Havas airport buses also run to the city centre.
RateHawk insight
You can streamline your client’s itinerary by offering airport transfers, car hire, and train tickets through RateHawk. Antalya’s location makes it ideal for a multi-stop itinerary across Europe or Asia. Travel Agents can optimize the value of their packages by adding on transport, including domestic or international flights, by booking the best rates through RateHawk.
Where to stay in Antalya: Areas and hotel options
Antalya’s accommodation offer is exceptionally broad, from intimate boutique hotels in the Roman-era lanes of Kaleiçi to vast all-inclusive resort complexes along the Lara and Belek coast. Matching your client to the right location that suits their budget and preferences is the most important part of curating their package.
Kaleiçi (Old Town Antalya)
Ideal for: Cultural travellers, couples, and clients on city break itineraries who want to immerse themselves in Antalya’s layered history.
Photo by Igor Sporynin on Unsplash
Antalya’s ancient walled old town is the most atmospheric place to stay in the city. Its cobbled streets, Ottoman mansions, Roman harbour, and Hadrian’s Gate create a genuinely distinctive setting. Most of the boutique hotels here are converted from historic stone houses and are among the most characterful accommodation options on the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
Lara Beach
Ideal for: Clients who want a full beach holiday experience with all-inclusive packages and plenty of on-site facilities.
Located east of the city centre, Lara is Antalya’s most concentrated high-end resort strip, as a 10–12 km stretch of white sand beach lined with large-scale five-star all-inclusive hotels. Most hotels here are all-inclusive and offer plenty of amenities, including multiple pools, water parks, spa services, and evening entertainment for resort guests. The beach here is one of the finest on the Turkish coast and is Blue Flag certified for upholding its environmental, educational, and safety standards.
Konyaaltı Beach and the city centre
Ideal for: Clients who want a good value deal without losing out on beach access or committing to an all-inclusive property.
Photo by Erik Karits on Unsplash
Konyaaltı is the city beach immediately west of the old town, shadowed by the Taurus Mountains and connected to the centre by tram. It attracts a more local crowd than Lara and has a more relaxed, less resort-packaged feel. Hotels in this area tend to be mid-range to four-star. The area is also well positioned for accessing the city’s museums, restaurants, and the old town on foot or by tram.
Belek (golf and luxury resort corridor)
Ideal for: Golf itineraries, high-end family holidays, and corporate incentive travel.
Located approximately 30 km east of Antalya city centre, Belek is Turkey’s premier golf and luxury resort destination. The area hosts more than a dozen championship golf courses and a collection of large five-star and ultra-luxury all-inclusive properties set in landscaped grounds behind private beaches. A hire car or regular transfer service is needed for clients to explore beyond the resort zone.
Top Antalya attractions: Must-see places to visit
1. Kaleiçi: Antalya’s Ancient Old Town
Kaleiçi is the beating cultural heart of Antalya city. The ancient neighbourhood is remarkably intact and enclosed by Roman walls, where narrow cobbled streets lead past Ottoman-era mosques, Byzantine churches, and restored stone mansions now operating as boutique hotels and restaurants. It gives tourists the real feeling of walking through history.
Photo by Igor Sporynin on Unsplash
The Roman harbour at the base of the old town is one of the most picturesque anchorages on the Mediterranean coast. Key landmarks within Kaleiçi include Hadrian’s Gate (Üçkapılar), a triumphal arch built in 130 AD to mark the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s visit to the city; the Yivli Minaret (Fluted Minaret), Antalya’s iconic 13th-century landmark; and the Clock Tower (Saat Kulesi) at the old town entrance.
Exploring Kaleiçi takes at least half a day and is best done on foot. Most of Kaleiçi is best explored on foot, with vehicle access heavily restricted in many areas.
2. Antalya Museum (Antalya Arkeoloji Müzesi)
One of the finest archaeological museums in Turkey, the Antalya Museum holds an extraordinary collection of artefacts from sites across the surrounding region, dating from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine period.
Photo by Igor Sporynin on Unsplash
The galleries offer a glimpse of one of the most complete collections of Roman sculpture in the world, a remarkable sarcophagus hall, Lycian tomb monuments, and prehistoric finds from Karain Cave, one of the oldest inhabited sites in Anatolia.
The museum is located on the western edge of the city and is a short tram or taxi ride from Kaleiçi. Tourists should set aside at least three hours to explore it fully, as it’s a non-negotiable addition to any cultural itinerary in Antalya.
3. Perge Ancient City
Located approximately 17 km northeast of Antalya city, Perge is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in Turkey and among the most rewarding archaeological day trips in the region. Founded in the Hellenistic period and developed to its peak during Roman rule, Perge features a colonnaded main street, a vast Roman bath complex, a theatre, a stadium, and a well-preserved agora.
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
The site covers a large area and takes at least two hours to explore without feeling rushed. The statuary excavated from Perge, much of it now in the Antalya Museum, gives an indication of the city’s former scale and sophistication. During the summer months, it’s best visited in the morning before the heat builds.
4. Düden Waterfalls
Antalya’s two Düden waterfalls are a natural spectacle that makes it a unique city getaway. The Upper Düden Falls (Yukarı Düden Şelalesi) are located 12 km north of the city and cascade through a forested gorge into a natural pool. It’s accessible via a short walk from the car park, with a path that passes behind the main waterfall.
Photo by Adel Salehi on Unsplash
The Lower Düden Falls (Aşağı Düden Şelalesi) drop directly into the Mediterranean Sea from a clifftop east of the city. It’s best viewed from the sea on a boat trip, or from the clifftop of Düden Park. These two waterfalls can be combined as part of a half-day itinerary and are particularly popular for families.
5. Aspendos Theatre
One of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the ancient world, Aspendos is one of Turkey’s most extraordinary archaeological sites. It’s a must-visit for tourists who are interested in Antalya’s history or architecture.
Photo by Hafizul Hafiz on Unsplash
Located 47 km east of the city, the theatre was built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century AD and has a seating capacity of approximately 15,000. Its two-storey stage building stands almost completely intact, rare for a monument of its age.
The site continues to function as a performance venue with the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival regularly staged here during the warmer months, although the exact date changes annually. Aspendos Theatre can be combined with the ancient city of Perge as a full-day itinerary.
Antalya activities by travel type
Beach holidays
Antalya’s beaches are among the best on the Turkish coast, each with its own personality, guaranteeing that travel agents can find one that suits their clients’ preferences and needs.
- Lara Beach: The city’s most popular beach with a long stretch of fine sand. This Blue Flag certified beach has sunbeds, beach bars, and watersports hire, making it ideal for all-inclusive resort clients who want to travel light.
- Konyaaltı Beach: The city beach immediately west of the old town, shadowed by the Taurus Mountains. It’s less polished than Lara but with a more authentic atmosphere, offering a mix of public areas and private beach clubs.
- Kaputaş Beach: A dramatic small beach and one of the most photographed in Turkey. It’s nestled at the foot of the limestone cliffs along the coastal road between Kaş and Kalkan. This beach is best combined with an overnight stay along the Lycian Coast rather than attempted as a short beach excursion from Antalya city, as it’s around a 4-hour drive away.
- Patara Beach: 18 km long, making it one of the longest sandy beaches in Turkey. Located near Kalkan, within a protected natural park and nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles. Best suited for clients combining Antalya with Turkey’s Lycian coast.
- Water sports: Jet-ski hire, parasailing, and boat trips are available along both Lara and Konyaaltı, while the harbour at Kaleiçi also runs regular sea excursions.
Photo by Yuriy Vinnicov on Unsplash
City breaks and culture
- Full-day Antalya cultural circuit: Kaleiçi old town, Hadrian’s Gate, Roman harbour, Yivli Minaret, and the Antalya Museum are all within easy reach of each other and can be visited in a single day. An ideal itinerary for a shorter weekend or 3-night getaway.
- Perge ancient city (half day) + Antalya Museum (half day): The best option for clients who are inspired to visit Antalya from their interest in Roman history and archaeology.
- Aspendos Theatre day trip: 47 km east of Antalya, and can be turned into a full day itinerary by adding a riverside lunch near the ancient bridge at Köprüçay.
- Turkish bath (hammam) experience: Several traditional hammams operate in and around Kaleiçi, offering genuine Turkish wellness rituals. One of the most memorable experiences that tourists can have in any Turkish city and attractive for wellness-focused tourists who want a hyper-personal itinerary.
- Antalya’s local restaurant scene: The old town and the harbour area have a rich assortment of restaurants serving Antalyan and broader Turkish cuisine. Regional staples and must-try cuisine include sea bass and sea bream caught locally, fresh meze, and the wood-fired Turkish flatbreads of pide and lahmacun, the country’s take on pizza.
Photo by Modern Pools on Unsplash
Nature and adventure trips
- White-water rafting on the Köprüçay River (Köprülü Canyon): One of the best rafting experiences in Turkey, and suitable for most fitness levels and widely available as a guided day trip. Set in a dramatic limestone canyon, approximately 70 km northeast of Antalya.
- Hiking in the Taurus Mountains: The mountains visible from Antalya’s coastline stand at over 3,000 metres and offer plenty of trekking routes for active clients. The Likya Yolu (Lycian Way) long-distance trail passes through the Antalya region and stretches over 335 miles, although most tourists opt to complete only a small portion of it.
- Düden Waterfalls day trip: Use our “top Antalya attractions” guide above to combine the Upper and Lower Düden into a day-long excursion.
- Jeep safari tours: Popular for half and full-day excursions with tourists taking a 4×4 jeep into the Taurus Mountains. These activities are available through most hotels and local tour operators and include tours of the nearby mountain villages, rivers, and local farms.
Photo by Mehmet Talha Onuk on Unsplash
Family holidays
- Düden Waterfalls: Easy, accessible, and genuinely spectacular; the path behind the upper falls is popular with children, making it a family-friendly activity.
- Land of Legends Theme Park (Belek): One of Turkey’s largest theme and water parks, located in the Belek resort corridor and particularly well-suited to families staying in the nearby area.
- Boat trip from Kaleiçi harbour: Glass-bottomed boats and multi-stop bay tours run throughout the day and are entertaining for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers.
- Perge ancient city: The sheer scale of the ruins and the accessible layout make it one of the more child-friendly archaeological sites in Turkey. The stadium and theatre sections should be a priority for families who only want to spend a few hours here.
Photo by Igor Sporynin on Unsplash
Luxury escapes
- Belek golf resort stay: Turkey’s premium golf destination, offering multiple championship courses and ultra-luxury, all-inclusive properties where spas, private beaches, and fine dining are available for resort guests.
- Private yacht charter from Antalya marina: Day charters and week-long blue voyages (gulet cruises) along the Turquoise Coast sail regularly from Antalya, offering a different perspective on the Turkish Mediterranean
- Helicopter scenic tour over the Taurus Mountains and coastline: available through specialist operators; a premium experience for high-end itineraries
- Fine dining in Kaleiçi: The restored Ottoman mansions in the old town are now home to several upscale restaurants that serve contemporary Turkish cuisine in historic courtyard settings. It’s an alternative experience that feels like a breakaway from the resort corridor and a must-do experience for luxury clients who want to build an itinerary around their taste buds.
Photo by Nadim Shaikh
Day trips from Antalya
Side
The ancient city of Side is located approximately 75 km east of Antalya and is one of Turkey’s most visited archaeological sites. Its two Roman temples — the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Athena — stand dramatically over the sea.
The adjacent modern resort town of Side has a long sandy beach and restaurants of diverse flavours. The diverse range of accommodation options makes it viable as either a day trip from Antalya or an alternative base for clients wanting a quieter resort experience.
Photo by Stefan Gogov on Unsplash
Kaş and the Lycian Coast
Driving west from Antalya along the D400 coastal road is an unforgettable scenic drive. The winding mountain road sits above cliffs and turquoise coves before eventually reaching the bohemian resort town of Kaş, approximately 200 km from the city.
Kaş is a relaxed town with plenty of personality and is popular with divers, sailors, and independent travellers. The Greek island of Meis (Kastellorizo) is visible just offshore and can be visited by taking a short ferry, while Kaputaş Beach lies on the road between the two. The driving distance from Antalya to Kaş makes it best suited for an overnight trip rather than a pure day trip.
Photo by Meriç Dağlı on Unsplash
Termessos
Termesso is an ancient city that is often overlooked by travel guides. It’s nestled within the Taurus Mountains, just 30 km north of Antalya. The city was never conquered — not even by Alexander the Great — and its mountain setting means it’s remained largely intact since being abandoned.
The ruined theatre, cisterns, and necropolis are perched high above the valley floor, offering extraordinary mountain views with a completely different atmosphere from the archeological sites along Antalya’s coastline.
The access road passes through the Güllük Dağı Termessos National Park. It’s a rewarding half-day trip for active clients and a great recommendation for returning visitors to Antalya who want an alternative to Perge and Aspendos.
Photo by Miraç Deniz Kaya
Turkish food in Antalya: What your clients should try
Antalyan cuisine sits within the broader tradition of Turkish Mediterranean cooking. The local cuisine is distinct with its generous use of fresh herbs, olive oil, grilled fish, and meat. Turkey’s coastal kitchen is synonymous with legume-based dishes. Here are a few key dishes to brief your foodie clients on:
- Piyaz: A white bean salad with tahini, vinegar, and hard-boiled egg. A defining dish of Antalya that’s become so embedded in the local identity that the city is sometimes nicknamed ‘the land of piyaz’. Best tries at a traditional lokanta (workers’ restaurants), which can be found throughout the city.
- Tirit: A slow-cooked lamb dish served over torn flatbread with butter and yoghurt. This traditional Antalyan specialty rarely appears on the menu in tourist areas but is worth seeking out.
- Freshly caught fish at the old harbour: Sea bass (levrek), sea bream (çipura), and bluefish (lüfer) are the most common catches on the Antalya coast. Most harbour restaurants grill them using only olive oil and lemon, which is also the best way to eat them.
- Lahmacun: A thin, crisp Turkish flatbread topped with spiced minced meat, onion, and parsley and rolled up with fresh lemon and parsley inside. This staple street food is available across Turkey, and the best versions can be found in the casual restaurants around Kaleiçi.
- Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı): A leisurely spread of white cheese, olives, honey, clotted cream (kaymak), tomatoes, and fresh bread. The garden restaurants in the old town offer the best versions of this dish.
- Turkish tea and coffee: Çay (black tea in a tulip-shaped glass) is the universal beverage of choice for everyday Turkish life. This Turkish coffee is thick and unfiltered, typically served after meals at most restaurants.
Photo by Ahmed
Insider tips
Souvenirs worth buying from Antalya
- Antalya olive oil and olive oil soaps: The Antalya region produces high-quality olive oil. Visitors can bring home a practical souvenir by searching for estate-bottled extra-virgin varieties at the old town market or shopping from specialist food shops.
- Hand-painted ceramic tiles and bowls: The Turkish ceramic tradition is still going strong, but the old town workshops in Kaleiçi offer the best locally-made pieces, along with imported varieties from urban manufacturers. The best souvenirs are hand-painted, rather than those with transfer-printed designs.
- Leather goods: Turkey has one of the world’s finest leather industries, and the old town market area has a good selection of handmade leather bags, belts, and wallets, priced well below comparable European goods.
- Handwoven kilim rugs and cushion covers: Available at carpet shops throughout Kaleiçi; for clients interested in genuine handwoven pieces, the smaller shops off the main tourist street tend to carry better quality pieces with better prices.
- Spices and dried goods: The local market near the old town entrance stocks sumac, dried figs and apricots, lokum (Turkish delight), and the dried herbs of the Taurus Mountains, offering more authentic and better quality than the gift shop versions.
Betul Culhacilar,
Head of Business Development Turkey, Egypt & Jordan
“One of my best personal memories in Istanbul is experiencing the contrast between the old and modern sides of the city in a single day — having breakfast by the Bosphorus, visiting historical sites such as Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar, and then ending the evening at modern rooftop restaurants overlooking the city.
What I find most captivating about Turkish culture is its hospitality. Visitors often feel genuinely welcomed, which creates a warm and memorable travel experience. Turkish cuisine, tea culture, local markets, and the balance between Eastern and Western influences also make the destination unique and unforgettable.”
Antalya as a “Destination Next” recommendation
Antalya is one of the strongest performers on the RateHawk Destination Next tool — particularly for clients seeking an alternative for Eastern Mediterranean, Aegean, or Red Sea destinations. Its exceptional connectivity, diverse range of all-inclusive resorts, and year-round sunshine make it a destination that leads to faster bookings with less disruption. Here are situations where Antalya will suit your clients:
- As an alternative to Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada when clients want Red Sea-style all-inclusive beach holidays with a richer cultural layer, Antalya’s resort corridor delivers comparable infrastructure with the added value of a genuine historic city and accessible ancient sites.
- As a substitute for Greek island resorts (Rhodes, Kos, Corfu) when pricing or transport creates barriers, Antalya offers a longer season with typically lower hotel rates and a stronger all-inclusive product than most Greek island competitors.
- For clients experiencing traveller indecision between Turkish destinations, Antalya’s combination of beach, culture, ancient history, and luxury resort supply covers more client interest profiles than Istanbul (no beach) or Bodrum (less history, less resort scale).
- As a gateway for a broader Turkey itinerary, Antalya, combined with Cappadocia (short domestic flight) and Istanbul, builds a compelling ten-to-fourteen-day programme; the Antalya end-point also works well for clients wanting to finish a Turkey trip by unwinding at the beach.
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This article is part of the Destination Next initiative by RateHawk — helping travel businesses find stronger destination alternatives when travel plans change.
