Where to stay in Antalya
Antalya is a big modern city with a small old town on a cliff above the sea, and the two are not the same trip. Only Kaleiçi, the old town, and the streets just outside its walls are walkable for a city break: the long beaches, the resort hotels and the new center are a tram or taxi ride away. Stay in Kaleiçi for lanes, stone houses and the harbor, in Konyaaltı for a pebble beach with mountains behind, and in Lara if you want a big hotel and a sandy beach and will take taxis to the old town. The all-inclusive resort strips far out along the coast are the thing to think twice about if you came to see a city.
The short answer
- First trip
- The old town, Kaleiçi: stone lanes, the harbor and most of the sights on foot.
- Couples
- A restored Ottoman house in Kaleiçi, or Işıklar and Güllük just outside the walls.
- Families
- Konyaaltı for the beach and a promenade, or Lara for a large hotel with a pool.
- Tight budget
- The Muratpaşa center: city-center hotels with the tram close by.
- Beach first
- Konyaaltı for pebbles, Lara for sand.
How we judge an area of Antalya: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Antalya's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Hadrian's Gate | the old harbor | Konyaaltı Beach | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaleiçi (the old town) | Atmosphere, first visits | Loud in summer | 10 min | 5 min | over an hour | On foot; heritage tram at the edge | €€€ |
| Işıklar and Güllük | Near the old town, for less | Traffic noise | 10 min | 10 min | over an hour | On foot; tram nearby | €€ |
| Muratpaşa center | Budget, practicality | Traffic noise | 20 min | 20 min | over an hour | Tram and buses | €€ |
| Konyaaltı | Beach, views, families | Quiet | over an hour | over an hour | 10 min | Tram, buses and taxis | €€ |
| Lara | Resort stays, families | Quiet | over an hour | over an hour | over an hour | Taxi, bus | €€€ |
| Kundu and the resort strip | Beach holidays | Quiet | over an hour | over an hour | over an hour | Hotel shuttles, taxi | €€€ |
| Kepez | Very tight budgets | Quiet to busy | over an hour | over an hour | over an hour | Buses | € |
Walking only works in and around Kaleiçi. Everywhere else the beaches and sights are a tram or taxi ride apart, so the walking times to Konyaaltı Beach are there to show the distance, not to suggest you walk it. Walking times are the straight line between two points plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. They are measured from the middle of each area, so a hotel at its edge will be a few minutes either way. Kaleiçi's lanes are uneven stone and slope down to the harbor. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
Kaleiçi, for the old town
Stone lanes, Ottoman houses and the Roman harbor, with most sights on foot. Pretty, loud on summer nights, and no real beach.
Kaleiçi is the walled old town above the harbor: narrow cobbled lanes, restored Ottoman houses turned into small hotels with courtyards, Hadrian's Gate, the fluted Yivli Minaret and a row of restaurants looking over the old harbor. Everything of interest in the old city is within ten minutes, and many of the small hotels have a pool or a garden.
It is the busiest part of Antalya for visitors, and the lanes fill with tour groups by day and diners by night. Bars and restaurants run late in summer, and the call to prayer carries across the rooftops at dawn. The lanes are uneven stone, steep toward the harbor, and cars are limited, so you will drag luggage the last stretch. There is only a tiny beach below the cliffs; for a proper swim you take a tram or a taxi to Konyaaltı.
Good for
- Sights, restaurants and the harbor on foot
- Small hotels in restored houses, some with a pool
- A first visit of two or three nights
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly: ask for a room away from the harbor restaurants
- Uneven stone and steps are hard for you, or you travel with heavy luggage
- You want a beach at the door: the sea is a short ride away
Staying in Kaleiçi (the old town): nearby sights, food and getting around
Işıklar and Güllük, just outside the walls
The streets and avenues north of Kaleiçi: a five to ten minute walk into the old town, with more ordinary hotels and shops.
Just north of the old town walls, around Işıklar Avenue and Güllük Street, the city turns into shops, cafés, small hotels and apartments. Kaleiçi is a short walk, the park above the cliffs is close, and the heritage tram line is nearby. Hotels here are more conventional than the Ottoman houses inside the walls.
It is livelier than quiet, with traffic on the avenues and some bars on the side streets, but the noise is less trapped than in the old lanes. It is a sensible choice if the Kaleiçi rooms you wanted are full, or too small and too dear, and you still want to walk to the harbor in the evening.
Good for
- Walking to Kaleiçi in under ten minutes
- More room and plainer prices than the old town
- Shops, cafés and the tram close by
Think twice if
- You want the old-town atmosphere around the hotel itself
- You want a very quiet street: the avenues carry traffic
Staying in Işıklar and Güllük: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Muratpaşa center, for budget and the tram
The modern city center around the main avenues: mid-range hotels, malls and tram stops, and little charm.
Muratpaşa is the district that holds the old town and the modern center. The part most visitors mean is the commercial core north and west of Kaleiçi, with the main avenues, shopping streets, malls, mid-range business hotels, and the tram and bus routes. It is a working city, not a postcard.
Kaleiçi is a twenty to thirty minute walk or a short tram or taxi ride, and the beach at Konyaaltı is a tram ride away. You trade charm for space and price, and in summer the pavements are hot and the traffic is heavy. Check the exact street and recent reviews, rather than choosing by the label "city center".
Good for
- Lower prices and larger rooms
- Tram and bus connections across the city
- Shops, supermarkets and ordinary restaurants
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the old town in ten minutes
- You want charm or a view outside the door
Staying in Muratpaşa center: nearby sights, food and getting around
Konyaaltı, for the beach
A long pebble beach and promenade with the Taurus mountains behind, about 15 minutes from the old town by tram or taxi.
Konyaaltı is the western side of Antalya's bay: a long, mostly pebble beach with a promenade, cafés, beach clubs and the Taurus mountains in the background, snow-capped in early spring. The water is clear and the views are better here than at Lara. Hotels range from small mid-range places to large beach hotels along the front.
It is a beach district, not a historic one, so evenings are quieter and less characterful than in Kaleiçi. You will take the tram, a bus or a taxi to the old town, usually about fifteen minutes, and in July and August the beach is crowded and the heat is heavy. Beach clubs may charge for loungers, so check before you commit.
Good for
- A swim and a promenade walk without leaving the area
- Mountain views and clearer water than Lara
- Families and anyone who wants the sea
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the sights: the old town is a ride away
- You want pale sand: the beach here is pebbles
Staying in Konyaaltı: nearby sights, food and getting around
Lara, for large hotels and a sandy beach
Big beach hotels east of the center, with sand and pools, and a taxi or bus ride from the old town.
Lara is the long strip of large hotels east of the center, along a sandy beach below the cliffs, with the Lower Düden Falls dropping into the sea at its western end. Many hotels here have several pools, kids' clubs and a half-board or all-inclusive plan, so it suits families and people who want to switch off.
It is a resort district, not a city one. The old town is a taxi or bus ride, often twenty to thirty minutes in traffic, and the streets between the hotels are wide roads with few places to eat outside the hotels. If you choose Lara for a city break, plan to leave the hotel each day, and price the taxis into the budget.
Good for
- A sandy beach and pools in one place
- Families who want food and entertainment on site
- A mix of beach days and one or two trips into town
Think twice if
- You want to see the old town on foot
- You want local restaurants: many guests eat at the hotel
- You are on a short city break: you will spend a lot of it in taxis
Kundu and the far resort strips
Huge all-inclusive resorts east along the coast, 25 minutes or more from the old town, and a holiday rather than a city break.
East of Lara, the coast fills with large all-inclusive resorts, around Kundu and further on at Belek. The hotels have their own pools, beach areas, restaurants, shows and sometimes golf. The rooms and facilities are good value for a week by the sea, and you can book everything in one price.
That is the point and the problem. You are 25 to 40 minutes by taxi from the old town, the hotel is designed to keep you inside it, and a day in Kaleiçi means a long ride each way. If your trip is mainly a beach holiday, this is a good choice. If you came to see Antalya, a base in Kaleiçi or Konyaaltı will give you more of the city.
Good for
- A week by the sea with everything included
- Families who never want to plan a meal
- Golf and large pools
Think twice if
- You want to see Kaleiçi and the city
- You are on a two- or three-night break
- You want local restaurants and evenings out
Staying in Kundu and the resort strip: nearby sights, food and getting around
Kepez, a residential district
A large residential district north of the center: very cheap, far from the sea, and not a visitor area.
Kepez lies north of the city center, a large district of apartment blocks, markets and local shops. It has little for visitors, but it is where many locals live, and a few cheap hotels and guesthouses are scattered through it. Prices here are the lowest in the city.
The sea and the old town are a bus ride away, often thirty minutes or more, and the streets have little for visitors to do in the evening. It makes sense only if the budget is very tight, or you have a reason to be near family or a specific address. For most visitors, the savings are small once you add the transport.
Good for
- The lowest prices in the city
- Seeing everyday Antalya, away from tourists
Think twice if
- You want to see the sights: they are a long ride away
- You want an easy evening out or a beach
Where not to stay in Antalya, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Antalya. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- An all-inclusive resort at Kundu or Belek, for a city break
Good for a beach week and 25 to 40 minutes from the old town by taxi. Stay in Kaleiçi or Konyaaltı if you came to see the city.
- A cheap Kaleiçi room right above a harbor restaurant or a bar
The terraces and music run late in summer, and the lanes carry sound. Ask for a room on a quieter lane or a courtyard, or stay one street back.
- Lara, if you plan to spend your days in the old town
Sand and big hotels, and a long taxi ride each way. Choose Konyaaltı if you want a beach and an easier trip into town.
- Kepez, to save a few euros
Cheap and far from everything visitors come for. Stay in the Muratpaşa center for a similar price and a tram stop.
- Any hotel that says "city center" without a street address
Antalya is a wide city and "center" can mean a long way from the old town. Check the map position and the distance to Kaleiçi before you book.
Which neighborhood suits you
A tight budget
The Muratpaşa center, or Işıklar if you want to walk to the old town.
Food
Kaleiçi for harbor views and the old lanes, though the city center has more local places.
A beach week with a day in town
Lara, and a taxi into the old town for a day.
Arriving from the airport
The airport tram runs into the center, and from there it is a short ride to Kaleiçi.
Before you book a room in Antalya
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Antalya makes a good stay.
- The accommodation taxTurkey charges an accommodation tax of 1 percent of the room price, temporarily cut from 2 percent from 1 May 2026 until 31 December 2026. It applies to hotels, guesthouses, holiday villages and similar, and is added to the bill by the hotel. From 1 January 2027 the rate is due to return to 2 percent unless it is extended, so check the date of your stay.
- From Antalya airportThe airport is about 13 kilometers from the old town. The AntRay tram runs from the airport into the city center in about 45 to 50 minutes. The Havaş airport shuttle takes about 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, and a taxi takes 20 to 30 minutes, longer at rush hour. Fares changed in 2026, so check the current price on the day before you travel.
- Getting aroundKaleiçi is walkable, and a heritage tram runs along the edge of the old town. For Konyaaltı and Lara, use buses and the tram with an Antalyakart, or taxis. Ask your hotel to order a taxi, or use a metered cab, to avoid disputes.
- SummerJuly and August are very hot, often above 35 degrees, and rooms cost the most. Check that the room has working air conditioning, and plan sightseeing for early morning or evening.
- Kaleiçi and luggageCars are limited in the old town and the last stretch to many hotels is a cobbled lane. Ask the hotel about pick-up from the nearest road, and where a taxi can drop you.
- Lifts and stairsMany Kaleiçi hotels are in restored houses with steps and no lift. If stairs are hard for you, check the room's floor and the lift before you book.
Where to stay in Antalya: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Antalya for a first visit?
Kaleiçi, the old town, for stone lanes, the harbor and most sights on foot. Işıklar, just outside the walls, gives you a quieter street and a short walk in.
Is it better to stay in Kaleiçi or Konyaaltı?
Kaleiçi for atmosphere and walking, with noise and no real beach. Konyaaltı for the sea and mountain views, with a tram or taxi ride of about fifteen minutes to the old town.
Can you walk around Antalya?
Only in and around Kaleiçi. The old town, the harbor and Hadrian's Gate are close together, but the beaches, the museum and the resort hotels are a tram or taxi ride apart.
Is Lara or Konyaaltı better for the beach?
Lara has sand and large resort hotels, and is further from the old town. Konyaaltı has pebbles, mountain views and an easier ride into town. Families with young children often prefer sand.
How do I get from Antalya airport to the center?
By the AntRay tram in about 45 to 50 minutes, by the Havaş shuttle in about 35 to 45, or by taxi in 20 to 30 minutes outside rush hour. Check current fares on the day, as they changed in 2026.
Are all-inclusive resorts a good idea for a city break?
Not usually. The big resorts at Kundu and Belek are 25 to 40 minutes from the old town, and they are built to keep you inside. They suit a beach week better than two or three nights of sightseeing.
What is the best area for nightlife in Antalya?
Kaleiçi, around the harbor, and the streets around Güllük just outside the walls. Expect music until late in summer.
Is there an accommodation tax in Antalya?
Yes. Turkey's accommodation tax is 1 percent of the room price until 31 December 2026, after a temporary cut from 2 percent. The hotel adds it to the bill.
