Antalya City Center→Kestel

Kestel is the calm eastern edge of Alanya. The coast road leaves the headland topped by the Red Tower behind you and runs on toward Mahmutlar. Its beaches are long and gently curved, and its seafront promenade is tidy. Citrus groves and banana plots cling to the slope behind the road. Apartment blocks fill the streets between the sea and the hills, and many of them belong to German, Scandinavian and Russian long-stayers rather than week-long visitors. The journey from Antalya City Center covers 126 km and takes about 133 minutes. Nearly all of it follows the D400 coastal highway, so the day is simple to plan once you know what the road does.

The D400 is Turkey's long Mediterranean coastal highway, and this journey follows its eastern run. Allow about 133 minutes of driving. The figure assumes ordinary traffic and does not include stops. Each stretch below has its own character, and knowing them helps you decide when to leave and when to ask for a break.

Your driver starts from wherever you are staying in the centre. That might be a boutique house in Kaleiçi, a hotel near Cumhuriyet Square, a flat close to Konyaaltı or one of the places along the Lara road. From there the car works its way east through the city. You pass the neighbourhoods behind Lara, the long boulevards, and the roundabouts near the airport turn-off. Antalya Airport lies to the east of the centre, so you pass its approaches early in the journey. Travellers who have just landed often recognise the road signs.

The first ten or fifteen minutes are the slowest part of the trip in busy hours. Morning and evening commuter traffic fills the city, and holiday traffic adds to it on summer weekends. Once the car clears the eastern suburbs it joins the main highway and the pace becomes steadier.

East of the city the road runs through the Aksu and Kundu districts. This is the hotel strip that sits on the coastal plain where Antalya's big resort hotels cluster. Large entrance gates, landscaped roundabouts and the occasional billboard for a beach club mark the stretch. Further on, a junction leads toward Belek, the golf and resort area on the coast to the south. Your car does not enter Belek. It stays on the main road toward Serik.

Most of the scenery here is flat. The Taurus mountains stand off to the north, often with snow on the highest tops in winter and early spring, while greenhouses and orchards line the roadside. In the early morning the light on the mountains is excellent. If you sit on the left-hand side of the car you will see them clearly for much of the first hour.

Past Serik the highway crosses the wide plain around Manavgat. This is farmland, and it is one of the most fertile stretches of the Turkish Riviera. The river that reaches the sea near Manavgat gives the town its character. Bridges, riverside tea gardens and the busy town centre make this the most congested part of the middle section of the drive. Traffic here slows noticeably on market days and in the middle of summer, when day-trippers head for the waterfall and the boat trips along the river.

The turn-off to Side branches south from the plain. Side is a well-known ancient harbour town with a Roman theatre and the Temple of Apollo on the seafront. Your car passes the junction without entering, but the signs make a good marker. When you see them you are about halfway to Kestel, or a little more than halfway in terms of time.

Past Side the landscape changes. The plain narrows, and the mountains come closer to the sea. The road enters a series of coastal resort villages, including Kızılot, Okurcalar and Avsallar. Hotel complexes, supermarkets and small restaurants crowd the highway. After Avsallar the road starts to curve and climb a little. This is the first real hint that Alanya is near, because the coast becomes more broken and the hills run down to the water.

If you travel in daylight, this is often the most enjoyable part of the ride. The sea appears between the buildings, and the shoreline gets more dramatic. Sit back and watch for it. Most drivers will happily point out landmarks if you ask.

The final approach brings you into Alanya. You see the castle rock rising above the harbour area, the old shipyard and the Red Tower at its foot. The road passes through the centre of the city, which is a busy, built-up area. Traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and local buses make this the slowest section of the highway. Past the centre the road leaves the castle behind, and a few minutes later you reach Kestel.

Kestel sits on the quieter eastern side. Road signs mention the district name, and after the busy centre it feels calmer straight away. Your driver leaves the main road at the junction closest to your accommodation and finishes the trip on local streets.

The duration given for this route is 133 minutes. That is the figure to use when you plan your day. Several things can add to it:

• Summer Saturdays and Sundays, when changeover traffic and day-trippers fill the D400.
• The Manavgat area on market days and during the hot afternoon hours in July and August.
• The stretch through central Alanya, where the highway becomes an ordinary city street.
• Morning and evening commuter periods on the Antalya side.

Several things keep the trip close to the stated time. Early morning departures help. So do midweek journeys outside the school holidays, and trips in spring and late autumn. If you can choose your departure time, leave Antalya early in the day. You reach Kestel in time for a relaxed lunch and a swim.

Antalya City Center is not one single address. The choice of pickup point affects how smooth the start of the journey is, so it is worth a short look at the main areas.

The old walled town is the most characterful place to stay in the city. It has Ottoman-era wooden houses, narrow cobbled lanes and hidden courtyards, with Hadrian's Gate at one edge and the old Roman harbour at the other. Many lanes are too narrow for a car, and some are closed to ordinary traffic. If you stay deep inside the old town, your driver will usually meet you at the nearest point a car can reach. Hadrian's Gate is a common meeting place. Send the exact hotel name and a phone number when you book, and the driver can coordinate the handover of your bags without delay.

Konyaaltı lies to the west of the centre and Lara lies to the east. Both are popular beach areas with large hotels and holiday apartments. A pickup in Lara is a little closer to the eastern road. A pickup in Konyaaltı adds a short drive across the centre. Tell us the exact hotel or apartment when you book, and the driver plans the route and timing for the start of the trip.

Kestel is a residential district, and the streets back from the sea are not all straightforward. Many apartment complexes sit on slopes, and small side roads climb away from the main avenue. A driver who knows the area takes you to the actual gate or entrance, not only to a landmark on the main road.

Give the driver the full name of your hotel, residence or apartment complex when you book. If you have the street address, include it. If you rent a private flat, share the owner's phone number so that the driver can call for directions if needed. Several residence blocks in the district look alike from the road. A phone number removes any doubt and saves time at the end of a long journey.

Kestel is a small district, but it has several different corners. Choosing the right part of it makes your stay more comfortable.

Hotels and apartments close to the promenade suit people who want to step out of the door and onto the beach. They are convenient for swimmers, for early-morning walkers and for couples who like sunsets by the water. The compromise is that this strip is the most active part of Kestel in summer.

Further back from the sea, the blocks are quieter and the apartments are often larger. This area suits families and long-stayers who plan to cook at home, shop at local markets and enjoy a slower pace. A short walk or a local minibus ride takes you to the shore.

The slopes behind the coast road have views over the bay and the water. Their apartments catch the breeze and have good outlooks, but they involve a climb or a drive from the sea. Guests who rent a car or who are comfortable with taxis find the hillside a pleasant place to stay. Visitors with limited mobility should check the gradient before they book.

Kestel's western side is closer to Alanya's centre, with more services and restaurants within reach. The eastern side is closer to Mahmutlar, where there is a long run of shops and daily-life amenities. Tell your driver which side you need, because it changes the final turn on the highway.

The coast here is a mix of pebble and sand, with water that stays warm into autumn. The beaches around Kestel are long and open rather than tiny and enclosed, and the promenade runs beside them. Early in the morning you will find locals swimming and walking. By midday in the high season the sun beds fill up.

Most visitors choose one of three patterns. Some stay at a hotel with its own beach area. Some use the public beach and rent a sun bed for the day. Others walk along the promenade and find a quiet stretch of shoreline. The water in the open bay is usually calm enough for children, but the sea can change after strong winds, so follow the local flag signals and ask at your hotel if you are unsure.

Alanya is the main sight within easy reach of Kestel. The castle rock rises above the harbour and the town, and its ramparts and viewpoints are among the most popular things to do in the area. The Red Tower, which stands at the foot of the castle near the harbour, is the symbol of the town. Close to it you find the old shipyard, a historic structure from the Seljuk period, and a waterfront lined with cafés and fish restaurants. Damlataş Cave and Cleopatra Beach are two more landmarks that visitors often add to a day out.

The simplest way to see the old town is to take a taxi or a local minibus from Kestel in the morning, walk up to the castle while the temperature is lower, and return for lunch by the sea. In the evening the harbour is lively, with boat trips and restaurants. The ride from Kestel to Alanya's centre is short, which makes the old town an easy day or evening outing.

Eating out in Kestel is relaxed. The district has a good number of family-run restaurants, bakeries and cafés. The influence of the long-stay community means that menus often include German, Russian and Scandinavian favourites next to Turkish dishes.

For breakfast, look for a Turkish spread with tomatoes, cucumber, olives, cheese, eggs and fresh bread, served with endless glasses of tea. For lunch, grilled meat, köfte, pide and lahmacun are all easy to find. Fresh fish is a good choice on the seafront and in Alanya's harbour area. Fruit is a highlight of the region. The narrow coastal strip around Alanya and Gazipaşa is known in Turkey for subtropical fruit such as bananas, and you will see local produce at markets and roadside stands.

Evenings in Kestel are calmer than in Alanya's centre. Many guests have dinner on the promenade, take a walk along the beach and go to bed at a reasonable hour. If you want bars and nightlife, the centre of Alanya is close enough for a short taxi ride. You can then return to a quiet bed in Kestel.

The district suits families well. The beaches are broad, the promenade is flat, and the neighbourhood is residential rather than loud. Many apartments have kitchens, which helps when children have fixed meal times.

For the transfer, plan around the age of your children. A journey of about 133 minutes is long for a toddler. Ask for a child seat when you book, and bring a small bag with snacks, water, a favourite toy and a tablet with downloaded films. Consider scheduling the drive around nap time. A morning departure often works well, because a child who falls asleep in the first hour sleeps through the Manavgat section.

Many flights reach Antalya in the evening or after midnight, and the drive east does not stop being a long one at that hour. If you start from the city centre late at night, expect a quieter road. Traffic through Manavgat and Alanya thins out, and the trip often feels smoother than it does in the day. Plan your arrival time with the 133-minute figure in mind. Allow extra time if you need to stop for a meal or a break.

Tell the hotel or apartment owner that you will arrive late. In Kestel, some small residences have no reception desk at night, so the key holder must be ready. Give your driver the contact number for that person.

For an early start in Antalya, for example a pickup before sunrise, prepare your luggage the night before. Ask the hotel for an early breakfast box if they offer one. A dawn departure on the D400 is peaceful. The sun rises behind the mountains, and the Mediterranean turns pink as you reach the Side plain.

The return leg matters more than the outward one, because a flight cannot wait. Build the schedule around the time of your flight, not around the time you would like to wake up.

Start with the departure time on your ticket. Subtract the time you want to spend at the airport for check-in, baggage drop, security and passport control. Then subtract the driving time. The drive from Kestel to Antalya Airport is long, and it passes the same sensitive stretches as the outward trip: Alanya's centre, Side and Manavgat, and the approach to Antalya. Because the airport sits on the eastern side of Antalya, the drive in this direction does not need to continue into the city centre. Even so, it is a long journey, so keep a generous margin.

As a rule, leave earlier in July and August, on weekends, and on changeover days when many hotels turn over guests at the same time. Leave earlier for an international flight than for a domestic one, because international check-in and passport control take longer.

Tell us your flight time and terminal when you book. We set the pickup so that you reach the airport with a comfortable margin. Your driver arrives at your Kestel address, helps with the bags and takes the D400 west. Check out and settle any bills the evening before if you can.

Kestel is a good base for several outings. Your transfer driver can drop you in Kestel, and you can then arrange the following trips on the days that suit you.

• Alanya Castle and the old harbour. A half-day trip. You walk the ramparts, see the Red Tower and have lunch near the water.
• Damlataş Cave and Cleopatra Beach. A short outing on the same side of Alanya. Combine it with a swim.
• The Dim River valley. Inland from this stretch of coast, the Dim River valley offers shaded riverside restaurants and a cave. It is a cool escape on a very hot afternoon.
• Gazipaşa. The town to the east has a quieter feel and a long beach. It is also where Gazipaşa-Alanya airport lies, about 40 minutes from Kestel.
• Side. The ancient harbour town you passed on the way, with its theatre and the Temple of Apollo on the seafront. It makes a lovely half-day or full-day trip.
• Aspendos and Perge. Two of the most famous ancient sites near Antalya. Aspendos is known for its very well-preserved Roman theatre. These sites lie in the direction of Antalya, so you can see them on the way back, before a late flight, if you plan the time carefully.

Distances in this part of Turkey are larger than they look on a map, so keep day trips realistic. A day out to Side or Manavgat takes most of a day once you count the road time in both directions.

The Turkish Riviera has a Mediterranean climate with long sunny periods, hot summers and mild winters. The sea season runs roughly from April to November. Each part of the year changes the feel of the journey and of Kestel.

April and May are green and fresh. The mountains still carry snow on their highest tops, and the fields along the road are bright. The sea is cool but swimmable by late May. Traffic is lighter than in summer. This is a lovely time to make the drive, and the views are the best of the year.

June to August is hot, often above 35 degrees in the afternoon. Beaches are full, the promenade is lively, and the highway carries its heaviest load. Air-conditioning in the car makes a big difference. Leave early in the day when you can, drink plenty of water, and expect delays near Manavgat and in Alanya's centre. Evenings are warm and long, which suits dinner outside.

September and October keep the warm water and lose some of the crowds. Many residents say this is the best time to be in Kestel. The light is softer, restaurants are calmer, and the traffic on the D400 eases. The sea stays warm well into November.

Winters are mild by northern European standards. Daytime temperatures often feel pleasant for walking, though the sea is too cold for most swimmers. Rain falls mainly in the colder months, and the mountains can be snowy. Long-stay residents make up most of the population in Kestel at this time, and the district feels like a normal town. If you travel in winter, check the weather before you set out, because heavy rain can slow the coastal road.

The road from Antalya City Center to Kestel is long, but it is one of the most scenic drives on the Turkish Riviera. Book your journey with Turkey Transfer, tell us your plans, and the rest of the day looks after itself.