Antalya City Center→Avsallar

Avsallar lies about 97 km east of Antalya city center. It is a resort strip between Konaklı and Alanya, on the Mediterranean side of the D400 coast road. The drive takes around 102 minutes, and the Manavgat and Side junctions decide whether it takes a little less or a little more. Turkey Transfer collects you from your hotel, apartment or meeting point in the city center and takes you to your door in Avsallar. You do not change vehicles, you do not wait for other passengers, and you do not carry your own luggage through a bus station.

This page describes the journey from start to finish. It covers the road, the places you pass, the practical side of the pickup and the arrival, and what to do once you are in Avsallar. It also covers the trip back and the day trips that suit a stay on this part of the coast.

Ninety-seven kilometres is a long way for a local taxi ride and a short way for a holiday. The distance sits in the middle, and that is why the choice of transport matters.

Public transport works, but it is slow. You take a city bus or a taxi to the main bus station, then a coach along the coast, then another short ride from the highway to your hotel. Each change adds waiting time, and each change means you handle your bags again.

A shared resort shuttle is another option. It usually makes several hotel stops before yours, so the 102-minute drive can become a much longer morning.

A private car is different. It leaves when you are ready, goes straight to Avsallar and stops only where you ask. For a family with suitcases, a pushchair and children, this is the main benefit.

The journey starts in the city center, whether you stay in the old town of Kaleiçi, near Cumhuriyet Square, along Konyaaltı beach or in one of the districts around the harbour. Your driver leaves the dense central streets and joins the main eastern road out of Antalya.

This road runs along the edge of the city and past the airport side of town. Antalya Airport lies about 13 km from the center, and the road to it is one of the busiest in the region. You will see signs for the terminals, the airport hotels and the large retail areas that grow along the highway.

East of the city you pass Aksu. After Aksu the landscape opens up. The road crosses a flat, green plain with greenhouses, citrus groves and open fields, and the Taurus Mountains stand on your left as a long blue wall for most of the trip. In clear weather the snow on the high peaks can still be visible in spring.

Serik and the Belek area follow. Belek is known for its golf resorts and large hotels set among pine woods. The pines come close to the road in places and break up the flat farmland. Many of the guests staying in this belt arrive on the same coast road, so on busy transfer days you share the highway with minibuses and coaches heading in the same direction.

Past Belek the road reaches the Manavgat area. Manavgat is a river town, and the Manavgat River gives the plain around it a lush look. The famous waterfall on the river is a short detour from the main road. The ancient town of Side lies on the coast just off the highway, and signs for it appear as you approach.

This is the stretch where the drive can slow down. Junctions, roundabouts, farm vehicles and tourist traffic meet here. If your schedule is tight, the stretch between Manavgat and Side is the place where a few minutes can become fifteen. Your driver watches this part of the road and chooses the cleanest line on the day.

After Side the road continues past Kızılağaç and other small settlements. The mountains move closer to the sea. The coast becomes more dramatic, with the hills pressing toward the shore and the road threading between them and the water.

Near the end of the drive you pass Konaklı, a busy resort area with shops, restaurants and hotels along the highway. A little further on you arrive in Avsallar. The sign for İncekum is the clearest landmark. İncekum is the cove with the fine sand that gave this area its reputation, and many of the large beach hotels stand behind it.

Your driver knows the turnings to the main resort clusters around İncekum and the center of Avsallar. You do not need to give directions in a language that is not yours, and you do not need to search for the entrance in the dark. If your hotel is in a quiet side street, a short message with the hotel name and a map pin helps the driver find the exact entrance.

The figure of 102 minutes is the typical duration for the 97 km. Several things move it in either direction.

• Early morning and late evening are usually the smoothest. The road has fewer coaches and fewer local vehicles.
• Midday in high season brings more traffic around Manavgat and Side, especially on days when many flights land together.
• Summer weekends and change-over days, when many holidaymakers arrive and leave on the same day, make the highway busier.
• A rainy winter day can slow the road, but heavy congestion is less common in the cooler months.

When you book, give your real pickup time and your real address. Your driver then plans the departure with some margin, so that you are not racing the clock.

Antalya city center has several different pickup situations, and each one works a little differently.

• Hotels with a lobby. The driver meets you at the front of the hotel at the agreed time. Check-out first, then walk out with your bags.
• Kaleiçi. The old town has narrow, partly pedestrian streets, and cars cannot always reach the door of a small guesthouse. In this case the driver waits at the nearest access point and you walk the last stretch. Tell your host in advance and ask where the closest car access is.
• Konyaaltı and the beachfront. These areas have wider roads and more direct access. Meeting at the hotel entrance is simple.
• Apartment rentals. Share the full address and a map pin. Many apartment blocks in the center look alike, and a pin saves time.
• Other meeting points. If you want to be collected from a square, a mall or the bus station, give the exact spot so that the driver does not wait on the wrong side of a large building.

The drive is 102 minutes, so choose a pickup time that works with your plans at the other end. If your hotel in Avsallar has a check-in time, arriving early only means waiting in the lobby. If you have a transfer, a restaurant booking or a family event, work backward from that time and add a margin for the Manavgat and Side stretch.

Avsallar is a compact destination. The main road runs parallel to the sea, and the hotels sit on one side of it or on the other. Large all-inclusive resorts stand near the beach, close to İncekum, and smaller hotels and apartment blocks fill the streets behind them. Your driver takes you to the reception door or the main gate, as the property allows.

Some resorts have long private driveways and a gate with a security desk. The driver follows the instructions of the staff at the gate. If the property does not allow vehicles into the grounds, you walk the last short distance with the help of the driver.

Avsallar has apartment blocks and holiday homes behind the beach, and many owners and renters stay for weeks or months. If you are collecting keys from an agent, arrange the handover time with the agent before you leave Antalya. Share the contact details with the driver so that someone can ring the agent if the entrance is hard to find.

Avsallar is not large, but it has different parts, and they suit different kinds of stay.

The beach side is the heart of the holiday. The fine sand gives the cove its name, and the area behind it is built around large hotels. This part suits families and groups who want to arrive, unpack and stay inside a resort for the week. The beach is close, the pool areas are large and meals are on site.

The setting also has a green side. There are pine woods near the shore, and the area has a calmer feel than the busier resort towns further east. Guests who like a walk in shaded surroundings often enjoy it.

The center of Avsallar is where you find shops, small restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries and services. It suits guests who like to step out of their hotel and walk to dinner or buy something simple for the room. The center is also the practical base for people who rent apartments and cook for themselves.

İncekum is the main reason many people choose Avsallar. The sand is fine, the entry into the sea is gentle and the water is shallow near the shore. This makes it practical for small children. The pine woods behind the beach give some shade and a different look from many coastal strips that are lined only with buildings.

In summer the beach is lively. Sun beds, umbrellas and water sports are available at many points. If you want more space, walk further along the shore, away from the busiest access points.

The sea here is typical of the Turkish Riviera. It warms through the early summer and stays comfortable well into autumn. The sea season runs from April to November, according to the regional guide, though the swimming is best from late spring through early autumn. In the hottest weeks, summer temperatures can pass 35°C, so plan your beach time for the morning and the late afternoon and use the middle of the day for shade and lunch.

Avsallar is a beach destination rather than a sightseeing destination, but the coast around it has a lot to see. Alanya, to the east, is the largest town nearby and the base for most day trips. Its castle on the rocky headland is one of the best-known sights of the Turkish Riviera. The harbour, the old shipyard and the tower at the water's edge give the old part of the town a distinctive look.

The mountains stay in view to the north all along this coast.

Most visitors eat at their resort, especially on all-inclusive terms. The pleasure of an evening out comes from stepping away from the buffet for a night.

Look for small restaurants in the center of Avsallar. Grilled fish, grilled meat, meze plates, fresh salads and Turkish pide are the dishes to try. Turkish tea after dinner is part of the experience. A walk along the shore after dinner is a gentle way to end the day.

Families make up a large share of the guests. The reasons are simple.

• The beach has gentle sand and shallow water.
• Large resorts have kids' clubs, pools with slides and family rooms.
• Everything is close. A short walk takes you from the room to the beach to the restaurant.
• The atmosphere is relaxed and suits children of different ages.

The drive of 102 minutes is the longest part of the day for small children. A few simple steps make it easier.

• Request child seats when you book.
• Pack snacks, water, a tablet or a book in a small bag that stays with you.
• Choose a departure time that fits the children's routine. A midday nap in the car is common on this trip.
• Tell the driver if the children need a stop. The coast road has places to pull over safely.

If you arrive in Antalya in the evening and your hotel is in the center, you may transfer to Avsallar afterwards, or you may leave the center late on your last day. For a night drive, expect a calmer highway. The D400 carries less traffic after dark, but the drive still takes about 102 minutes. Tell us your plans in advance so that we can schedule the trip properly.

An early start from the center to Avsallar means a quiet road. You may see the sunrise over the Taurus Mountains as you drive east. The advantage is a smooth journey. The disadvantage is a short night for you. Prepare your bags the evening before, so that the morning is calm.

The return to Antalya needs more planning than the outbound trip, because it is often tied to a flight. The D400 between Alanya and Antalya can become heavy near Manavgat and in the eastern approaches to Antalya at busy hours. For this reason we plan the pickup earlier than the bare drive time suggests.

The airport lies on the eastern side of Antalya. When you travel from Avsallar to the terminal, you reach the airport area before the center of the city, so you do not need to cross town.

Work backward from your flight.

1. Start with the departure time of your flight.
2. Subtract the time you need at the airport. For an international flight, many travellers prefer to arrive well ahead of departure for check-in, baggage drop and security.
3. Subtract the drive time from Avsallar. It is 102 minutes for the 97 km to the city center, and the airport is a little closer on the way.
4. Add a margin for traffic around Manavgat and Side.
5. Tell us your flight number and time, and we set the pickup with you.

This is the best way to avoid clock-watching on the motorway.

Avsallar is a good base for day trips along the coast. Because you travel by private car at the start and end of the stay, you can also ask your driver about further transfers.

Alanya is the main day trip. Visit the castle on the headland, walk around the harbour, see the old shipyard and the tower, and enjoy the beach promenade. A day in Alanya is easy by bus, taxi or private car.

Side is an ancient town on a small peninsula. It has Roman and Hellenistic remains, including the temple of Apollo by the sea. It also has shops, cafés and a small harbour. You pass it on the drive from Antalya, so it is a good stop on the way back at the end of your stay.

The Manavgat waterfall is a short drive from Side. It is popular with visitors who want a cool, shaded stop. River boat trips run on the Manavgat River, and many include lunch.

The ancient city of Perge and the amphitheatre of Aspendos are both near Antalya, and the regional guide names them among the best sights. Aspendos is known for its theatre. They are a long day trip from Avsallar. They are easier to combine with a stay in Antalya.

If you stay in Antalya city center before your transfer, you can enjoy Kaleiçi, Hadrian's Gate, the Yivli Minaret and the old harbour. Karaalioğlu Park gives a view over the bay. The Antalya Archaeological Museum holds statues and mosaics from Perge, Side and Aspendos.

Spring is mild and green. The sea is still cool at the start but warms by May. Prices and crowds are lower than in summer. The road is quiet, and the mountains may still carry snow.

Summer is hot, with temperatures that pass 35°C. The beach is at its liveliest, and the highway is busy. Book your transfer early and plan the pickup time with care. Air conditioning in the car is a real comfort on a 102-minute drive.

Autumn is warm. The sea keeps its summer heat, the crowds thin and the light is soft. Many visitors regard this as the best time on the coast.

Winter is mild, with daytime temperatures around 15°C, according to the regional guide. The sea is too cool for most swimmers, and many seasonal places close. The coast is quiet. Rain can affect the road, and your driver adjusts the speed.

Every transfer is a private vehicle for your group only. You do not share the car and you do not make extra stops. A professional driver, child seats on request and a fare for the whole vehicle make up the service. If you also travel with us from the airport, the driver tracks your flight.

Plan on about 102 minutes for the 97 km along the D400. Midday traffic around Manavgat and Side can add time. Your driver chooses the cleanest line on the day.

The driver meets you at the address you give at booking. In a hotel this is the entrance. In Kaleiçi, where narrow streets limit car access, the driver waits at the nearest point and you walk the last part.

Yes. Child seats are available on request. Tell us how many you need and the ages of the children when you book.

Contact us as soon as you can. Check the terms in your booking confirmation, and tell us the new time or address.

The trip from Antalya city center to Avsallar is a long, scenic coast drive. You leave a historic city, cross a green plain with the Taurus Mountains on one side and the sea on the other, pass the Belek pines and the Manavgat river country, and arrive at a calm beach with fine sand. A private car with a driver who knows the turnings turns that 97 km and 102 minutes into a comfortable start to your stay. Book early in the season, give accurate addresses and plan your return pickup with a margin. Then the road becomes part of the holiday.