Getting to Antalya

The province of Antalya is an important tourist destination, both internationally and domestically. Antalya has a 630km shoreline that is like a magnet for tourists wanting to spend time on beautiful beaches, exploring ruins and enjoying the weather. The city is also an important business and trading centre for the province.

There are several travel options to get to Antalya including air, road, train and ferry. Antalya is on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey and has an international airport and a large port.

By car

The main highways to Turkey from Europe have been improved by the Istanbul bypass and the two Bosphorus bridges leading to the Istanbul Ankara expressway. There are three main routes to take when driving to Turkey from Europe; the Trans European motorway, the E80 and the E90. The best route to take when driving to Antalya would be the E80. All the roads have good signposts, and it is easy to find your way to a destination.

By rail

The Turkish State Railways provides good rail services that link to most major cities in Turkey. The fares are reasonable and the trains are comfortable, with restaurants, lounges, sleeping cars and couchettes. Although there is a choice of first or second class travel, there are no air conditioned services available. Trains from Austria, France, Switzerland, Jordan, Kuwait, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Yugoslavia, the UK and several other cities all arrive at Istanbul. From here, passengers will have to connect to Antalya via train, bus, flight or car.

By bus

Several bus companies offer services from Austria, France, Germany, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Syria to Turkey, using luxury buses that ensure comfort on the long drive. These buses arrive at Istanbul, where passengers can connect to Antalya by bus, car, flight or train. Bus services run every 30 minutes to Antalya.

By air

One of the easiest ways to get to Antalya is to fly directly to Antalya International Airport, which is not far from the city. The modern airport handles domestic and international flights from Budapest, Moscow, Amsterdam, Zurich, Helsinki, Brussels, Stockholm, Venice, London and other cities. Alternatively, fly to Istanbul and from here get a connecting flight to Antalya, which takes about an hour. There are several flights per day from Istanbul to Antalya. Many of the major airlines, including Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines, have linked with Turkish airlines to provide a service where passengers can check their luggage straight through to Antlaya, despite needing to change flights at Istanbul.

Facilities at Antalya International Airport are superb and include excellent duty-free shopping at the Departures and Arrivals halls. There are also several restaurants and cafs serving international and local cuisine. Other facilities include baby-change rooms, public phones, welcome and information counters, car rental services, more than 10 travel agent counters to assist travellers, banking and postal services. There are also facilities for the passengers who have reduced mobility.

Just outside the airport is the taxi stand and there are always taxis waiting to take you into town. The drivers speak English and the fares are fixed by the municipality. You can also choose to arrive in town by hiring a limousine from the airport, but this is far more expensive than using a taxi. Several hotels will arrange a transfer service for an extra fee. You can also reach the city by taking one of the frequent shuttle buses that run from the airport to the major hotels and landmarks within the city. The fares have all been fixed and the drivers are pleasant and helpful.

By ferry

Travellers can get to Antalya by ferry. In many cases, this would involve getting a ferry to Istanbul and then connecting to Antalya. There are services from Greece, Italy and many other places in Europe to Istanbul. Travelling by ferry is very comfortable, but depending on the destination port, journeys can be quite long. There are ferries which carry vehicles, but travellers are advised to book early for these services. Several cruise ships also sail the Mediterranean and dock at Istanbul, Antalya, Bandirma and other major ports in Turkey. These include services operated by the CTC Epirotiki, Costa Shipping, Norwegian Line, Golden Sun Cruises and several other cruise companies.

Taxis

Taxis are easily available in all Turkish cities and towns, and are recognisable by their chequered black and yellow bands. Although most taxis are metered, it is advisable to negotiate a price for longer journeys. Travellers can pre-book taxis by telephone or hail them as and when needed.