Alanya→Antalya City Center

This is one of the most scenic stretches of the Turkish Riviera. The distance is 121 kilometres, and the planning figure is 127 minutes, so allow a little over two hours from your front door in Alanya to your door in central Antalya. The road follows the Mediterranean for much of the way. Pine ridges, citrus groves, river deltas and the long sandy crescents of the resort coast pass by the window, and the Taurus mountains stand behind them for almost the whole journey.

Turkey Transfer runs this corridor every day, in both directions. Your driver collects you at your Alanya hotel or apartment, drives the whole way without a change of vehicle, and sets you down at your address in the city. There is no bus station, no queue for a taxi and no suitcase to carry across a car park. The sections below describe the drive, the arrival, the districts of the city centre and how to plan your last day.

There is essentially one road, and it is a good one. The D400 is the coastal highway of this part of Turkey. It links Alanya, Manavgat, Side, Serik and Antalya in a single line, so you will not be zigzagging through side streets or guessing at junctions. The drive has five distinct stages.

Alanya is built around a limestone headland. Alanya Castle crowns the peninsula, and the octagonal Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) stands beside the old harbour. As you leave, the town thins out into a ribbon of apartment blocks, supermarkets and hotels, and then the coast opens up. Your driver heads west, away from the castle, with the sea on your left and the mountains on your right.

If you are staying in Mahmutlar, Kestel or Oba, the first twenty minutes include some town driving before you reach the open road. Pickups from the western resorts start the highway section almost immediately.

West of Alanya the road passes through the long run of holiday districts: Konaklı, Avsallar, Türkler, Okurcalar and İncekum. These are the places where the package-holiday resorts were built, and the beaches here are wide, sandy and backed by pine. İncekum in particular is known for its pine-fringed sands. In the warmer months you will see sunbeds, water parks and hotel entrances lining the road, and traffic lights and slow-moving shuttle buses are part of the scene.

This is a good stretch to sit back and watch the coastline. Between the built-up patches there are open views of the sea, and the mountains are close enough to feel dramatic.

Next comes Manavgat, the market town beside the river of the same name and its famous waterfall. Manavgat is a working town, so the road here is busier with local traffic, delivery vehicles and tour coaches than anywhere else on the route. A little further on is the turn for Side, where Roman ruins stand beside the sea and the columns of the Temple of Apollo catch the evening light. The Side district, with its long beaches and large hotels, produces plenty of holiday traffic in the high season.

The Manavgat to Side belt is the section where an experienced driver earns his keep. Choosing the right lane at the right moment and reading the traffic ahead can save real minutes in July and August.

After Side the highway turns slightly inland. The landscape changes from beach resorts to farmland. Greenhouses and orchards cover the flat Aksu plain, and in places the plastic glints in the sun for kilometres. This is where Turkey grows much of its winter produce, and the oranges and other citrus fruit are part of the scenery. You pass Serik, the district centre. The Aspendos amphitheatre lies inland from here and Perge lies near the Aksu side of the plain, and both are a short detour from the highway for anyone who wants history on the way.

The Belek area, known for its golf courses and large resort hotels, sits close to the road in this stretch. The road is generally wider and calmer here than in Manavgat.

As you approach Antalya the traffic thickens, the road widens and the city appears: apartment blocks climbing the hills, cranes, shopping centres and the mountains standing high behind everything. Your driver then threads through the city to your exact address. Antalya Airport lies on the east side of the city, and the coast road reaches the eastern districts before it reaches the centre. We aim for the city centre itself: Kaleiçi, the walled old town, with Hadrian's Gate, the fluted Yivli Minare and the marina tucked below the cliffs.

Plan for 127 minutes as the normal figure for the 121 km. That number is a sensible starting point for working out when to leave and when you will arrive. In practice the drive feels different depending on the hour and the season.

• Early morning. The coast is calm and the driver can keep a steady pace. This is the most relaxed time to travel, and the light on the sea and mountains is lovely.
• Midday. Traffic builds in the holiday districts, around Manavgat and in the approach to Antalya. Tour coaches and local deliveries mix with private cars.
• Late afternoon in high summer. The Manavgat to Side belt and the entry to Antalya are the slowest sections. Holidaymakers return from the beaches and excursions, and cars queue at junctions.
• Evening and night. The road is quieter, though the entry to Antalya can still be busy on summer evenings when the city is out for dinner.

The busiest weeks are July and August. Roadworks on the D400 can also add time. Neither is a cause for concern, but if you have a firm commitment at the other end, such as a dinner reservation, a check-in deadline or a boat trip, leave a margin of half an hour and tell the driver what time matters. A private car can adapt: the driver chooses lanes and timing, and you do not depend on a timetable.

We collect from any address in Alanya, including Mahmutlar, Kestel, Oba, Konaklı, Avsallar, Türkler, Okurcalar and the surrounding resorts. When you book, give the full pickup address, the hotel or apartment name, a mobile number you will carry on the day and your preferred pickup time.

For a hotel pickup, the driver meets you at reception or at the entrance, helps with your bags and takes you straight to the car. For an apartment, a villa or a rented flat, send a map pin if the street name is hard to find. Many Alanya streets are steep and narrow, and a pin saves confusion.

If you are leaving a large all-inclusive resort, bring your room key card to reception on time and check out before the driver arrives. Hotels get busy around departure time in the morning, and a few minutes of queuing at reception is normal.

Child seats are available on request. Tell us the ages of your children when you book so the right seat is in the car. Large suitcases, golf bags and pushchairs are no problem if you mention them in advance, because they affect the choice of vehicle.

Central Antalya is not one single point, and the right drop-off depends on where you sleep. Give us the exact hotel name and address when you book.

Kaleiçi. The old town is a maze of narrow lanes with Ottoman houses turned into small hotels and guesthouses. Vehicle access inside is limited, and some lanes are too tight for a full-size car. The driver will take you as close as the lanes allow, often to a gate or a corner near the hotel, and you may walk the last few minutes with your bags. Ask your hotel in advance for the best drop-off point and, if they offer help with luggage, tell them your arrival time.

The wider centre. Hotels on the main streets of the Muratpaşa district, around Atatürk Boulevard, near the Clock Tower and by the marina approach, are straightforward. The driver stops at the door.

Beach-side areas. Konyaaltı to the west and Lara to the east are separate districts with their own hotel clusters. They sit on opposite sides of the city, so name your hotel exactly.

Check-in times vary. Many hotels allow check-in in the afternoon, so if you arrive before noon you may need to leave your luggage at reception. That is an ordinary arrangement, and a good reason to start your first morning with a coffee in the old town.

Antalya is a real city of more than a million people, not just a resort. That gives you choices.

Kaleiçi suits couples, history lovers and anyone who wants to walk to everything. The lanes hold small hotels in restored Ottoman houses, restaurants with terraces, craft shops and the old harbour. It is atmospheric and a little noisy in the evenings. The compromise is access: you cannot drive a car to every doorstep, and some rooms involve steps.

The old harbour sits below the cliffs. It is the place to start boat trips, to watch the sun set and to eat fish. Hotels on the cliff above have sea views over the harbour and the mountains beyond. Visitors who want views and an easy walk to the old town pick this area.

This is the modern centre with shops, banks, cafés and the Clock Tower square. The area suits business visitors, shoppers and travellers who want a plain city hotel with good transport links and an easy base for exploring. Traffic and street noise are part of the deal.

Konyaaltı is the long pebble beach on the west side of the city, with the Taurus mountains rising straight out of the sea in the background. It suits families and beach-lovers who want city services within reach. A tram line and bus routes connect it to the centre.

Lara is the eastern beach district, with sandy beaches and large resort-style hotels. It suits travellers who want a beach holiday with Antalya's shops and restaurants close by. It also sits on the airport side of the city, which is useful for early flights.

Alanya's beaches may be fresh in your memory, and Antalya has its own character. The city beaches are less like resort sands and more like a city waterfront: Konyaaltı is a long, pebbly stretch with a promenade; Lara is sandier. In Kaleiçi there is a small beach below the old walls, reached by steps from the harbour area, and it is an easy swim for anyone staying in the old town.

Landmarks cluster in and around Kaleiçi. Hadrian's Gate is the triple-arched Roman gateway at the entrance to the old town, built for a visit by the emperor Hadrian. Yivli Minare, the fluted minaret, is the symbol of Antalya. The nearby Clock Tower marks the square at the top of the old town. Hıdırlık Tower stands near the cliff, and Karaalioğlu Park runs along the cliff-top with views across the bay to the mountains. The Antalya Museum is in Konyaaltı and holds finds from Perge and other ancient cities.

If you have time for only one walk, start at Hadrian's Gate, follow the lane down toward the harbour, then return along the cliff-top park at sunset.

Antalya is a good food city. In Kaleiçi and around the harbour you will find terrace restaurants serving grilled fish, meze, lamb and Turkish breakfasts. The inland districts have simple restaurants with grilled meat and regional dishes, and the markets sell fresh fruit, olives and spices. Mornings call for tea, simit and white cheese, and evenings suit a long dinner.

Evenings in the old town are lively. Lanterns hang over the lanes, musicians play, and the harbour lights reflect on the water. For a quieter night, the cliff-top park and the marina promenade are good places for a walk after dinner. The vibrant nightlife of the city, from bars to music venues, is concentrated in and around the old town and the modern centre.

If you arrive in the late afternoon after the drive from Alanya, a simple plan works well: check in, shower, walk to Hadrian's Gate and have dinner by the harbour.

The drive is long enough for children to get restless, so prepare. Bring water, snacks, a tablet or a book and let them stretch before you leave. Tell us the number and ages of your children when you book so we can arrange child seats on request.

In the city, Karaalioğlu Park is a good place for children to run, and Konyaaltı beach has a promenade for strollers and scooters. Kaleiçi involves cobbles and steps, so a lightweight pushchair works better than a large one. The city beaches can be pebbly, so water shoes help.

Many people use this transfer on the last day of a holiday. The usual pattern is a few nights in Alanya, a final night or two in the city, then a flight home from Antalya Airport.

For a late-evening arrival into the city, tell us your pickup time and the hotel's reception hours. A hotel with a night reception makes arrival simple. If your hotel has no night staff, ask about key collection before you travel.

For an early morning flight, the transfer from the city centre to the airport is short, but the transfer from Alanya is not. If you leave Alanya at night to reach Antalya before a morning flight, allow for the full 127 minutes plus a margin. A very early start suits the road, which is calm in the dark, though nothing in the scenery is visible.

If your journey continues to the airport, plan from the flight time backwards. Most airlines ask passengers on international flights to check in about two to three hours before departure, but your ticket or airline sets the real figure. Add the time for the drive from your hotel, the traffic at the time of day and a margin for baggage drop and security queues.

From the city centre the airport is on the east side, so you travel across the city rather than along the whole coast. Morning and afternoon peaks can slow the city roads, and in July and August the airport itself is busy. If your hotel is in Lara, you are already on the airport side. If it is in Konyaaltı, allow more time to cross the city.

If you are returning to Alanya from the city, the route is the same road in reverse. The same advice applies about the Manavgat to Side belt in summer.

Staying in the city centre gives you a base for excursions.

• Perge. The ancient city lies near the Aksu side of the plain, close to the highway you drove along. Visitors see colonnaded streets, a stadium and the gates.
• Aspendos. The amphitheatre lies inland from the Serik area and is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres around.
• Düden Waterfalls. The Lower Düden Falls drop into the sea near Lara. The Upper Düden Falls are in a park on the northern side of the city.
• Kaleiçi on foot. You do not need a car to explore the old town, so use a free day for walking.
• Termessos and the mountains. The ruins of Termessos sit in the mountains behind the city, a popular choice for walkers and history lovers.
• Kemer, Olympos and Phaselis. Pine forests, ancient ruins and beaches west of the city offer a full day.

Going back toward Alanya, the town has its own list: Damlataş Cave, Cleopatra Beach, Dim Cave and the Dim River, and Sapadere Canyon. If you will return to Alanya for a few days, ask your driver about the best day to see them.

Antalya has a Mediterranean climate with more than 300 sunny days a year. Summers are hot, often 35°C or more, and winters are mild. The sea season runs from April to November.

• Spring (April to May). Mild days, flowers and green hills. Good for walking in the old town and visiting ruins.
• Summer (June to September). Hot, busy and bright. Plan beach time for the morning and late afternoon, and do sightseeing early. Roads and beaches are at their busiest in July and August.
• Autumn (October to November). Warm sea and gentler light. Many travellers find this the most comfortable time for sightseeing.
• Winter (December to March). Mild but cooler, with some rain. The city is quiet, and the mountains behind may hold snow in the coldest months. Bring a light jacket for the coast road.

The Alanya bay tends to stay a touch warmer than central Antalya because it is sheltered from the wind. Keep a sweater handy for evenings.

The distance is 121 km and the planning figure is 127 minutes, so just over two hours. Summer afternoons around Manavgat and Side, or roadworks on the D400, can add time. A private car saves the transfer to and from the bus station at both ends.

Yes. We collect from any address in Alanya, Mahmutlar, Kestel, Avsallar or the surrounding resorts and drive you to your hotel or apartment in central Antalya. Give us the pickup address and your preferred time when you book.

The fare is per vehicle, not per passenger. It covers the whole car, so you see one total for your group before you confirm.

Buses run between Alanya and Antalya, and they are cheap. They stop along the coast and arrive at the main bus station on the northern edge of the city, a tram or taxi ride from Kaleiçi. A private transfer is door to door and runs to your schedule, which helps with luggage, children and hot afternoons.