This beautiful coastal city has flourished in recent years, attracting visitors who previously passed through en route to the Turkish Riviera. Antalya has preserved its historic district, Kaleiçi, whose backstreets are lined with magnificent Ottoman-era mansions and remains dating back to the Emperor Hadrian. Its Roman harbour has been modernised over the years, with a well-balanced mix of the old and new.

Climate & best time to visit Turkey

Turkey is a huge country, and its climate varies widely from region to region as well as seasonally. For sightseeing holidays to Istanbul and the most important ancient and medieval sights, and for active walking holidays, the best times to visit are spring (April-May) and autumn (October-early November) when days are generally warm and sunny but not uncomfortably hot. Rainy spells and cloudy days are possible, however, in spring and autumn, so the best months for a sun-and-sea holiday on the Aegean or Mediterranean coast are June to end September. Resort areas are most crowded from June until the end of August.

Telephone/Mobile phones

International dialling code: +90

Telephone

The cheapest way to make calls is from PTT telephone booths, which are found in all areas. These operate using phone cards, which can be bought from kiosks, or by using major credit cards.

Mobile Phone

Mobile phone coverage is generally good, but can be patchy in some rural areas in eastern Turkey. As Turkey is outside the EU, roaming charges are very much more expensive than for mobile phone use in the UK and the rest of the EU.

Key Areas

The Old Town, Kaleiçi, has a plethora of shops along its narrow streets, selling everything from jewellery to electronic goods. The old harbour, Ataturk Boulevard and Konyaaltı Beach are other key areas, with souvenir shops, department stores and modern malls.

Markets

Antalya has several local fruit and vegetable markets. The best traditional bazaar is İki Kapılar Hanı, in old Kaleiçi; mainly aimed at tourists nowadays, it’s still brimming with atmosphere and worth browsing the crowded archways. It’s open daily until late.

Social conventions

Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting a stranger;  kissing on the cheek is reserved for meeting friends and family. Hospitality is very important and visitors should respect Islamic customs. Informal wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. Smoking is widely acceptable but prohibited in cinemas, theatres, buses, coaches and dolmuş (collective taxis).

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

Mains water is chlorinated in towns and cities, but it is advisable to drink the widely available bottled mineral water. If a water source bears the words içilmez, it is not potable; sources labelled içilir or içme suyu are safe to drink. Milk is pasteurised. Eat only well-cooked meat and fish. When it comes to street food, common sense is advised; eat food that is freshly cooked and ideally, has been prepared in front of you. During the summer Turkey can experience temperatures up to 40°C so carry a bottle of water to avoid dehydration.

IATA Travel Centre

The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.

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