Antalya City Center→Kumköy

Kumköy sits just west of Side on the Pamphylian coast. It is a low-key resort strip wrapped in pine forest, set between Çolaklı and the Roman ruins of Side's old town. Most guests who book this route are heading to one of the large all-inclusive hotels along the beach road. Others are leaving the bustle of central Antalya behind for a quieter stretch of sand.

The drive from Antalya city centre covers about 60 km and takes around 63 minutes. That is long enough to settle into your seat, watch the landscape change and let the city fall away. It is short enough that you arrive with the afternoon still ahead of you. This guide walks through the road, the pickup, the arrival, the neighbourhood and the practical details that make the trip easy, from your first morning in Antalya to the day you head home.

With Turkey Transfer, you travel in a private car with a driver who knows the coast. You do not wait for a bus to fill up, and you do not stop at other hotels first. The car goes from your door in Antalya to your door in Kumköy.

From Kaleiçi, Konyaaltı or the Lara hotel district, the journey runs east on the D400 coastal highway. This is the main road of the Turkish Riviera. It links Antalya with Side, Manavgat and Alanya, and every holiday transfer on this stretch of coast uses it.

The first part of the trip is urban. You leave the city centre through the eastern districts, past the Lara hotel strip and the retail parks on the edge of town. Then the buildings thin out and the plain opens. To the north, the Taurus mountains stand as a long blue wall. To the south, citrus groves and greenhouses fill the flat land between the road and the sea. In clear weather the snow on the high peaks can stay visible well into spring, a striking sight when you are in a T-shirt at sea level.

Around Aksu you pass the turnoff for Antalya Airport. Many guests on this route have flown in, so the junction is a useful landmark. Your driver continues east, and the road runs through the golf-resort country of Belek. Belek is easy to recognise even from the highway. Pines, manicured greens and large resort entrances line the roadside, and the brown tourist signs name the courses and hotels.

East of Belek the highway crosses the Köprüçay river. The valley here is wide, and the river brings a little green into the landscape. Aspendos, the famous Roman theatre site, is signposted from this part of the route. It is a landmark you may want to visit later in your stay. After the river, you pass Serik and the stretch of farmland that leads toward Manavgat. The Side and Manavgat exits come next. From the Side junction, a short run through pine and holiday villages brings you to the Kumköy beach road.

The road is wide and well surfaced for most of the way. It is a multi-lane highway with service roads and junctions. A private driver is calm on these. Your driver reads the traffic, chooses the lane early and takes the correct exit without last-second braking. You can sit back, look out of the window or rest after the flight.

The planning figure is 63 minutes for the 60 km. This is the time to use when you schedule a pickup, a lunch or a check-in. In practice, the trip varies a little with the time of day and the season.

• Early morning and late evening: the highway is at its calmest, and the trip usually runs close to the planning time.
• Mid-morning and late afternoon in summer: the stretch between Lara and Aksu can slow down. Day-trippers head toward the waterfalls and resorts in the morning, and many return in the late afternoon. Allow 15 to 20 extra minutes.
• Summer weekends: traffic builds around Aksu and Belek, where several roads meet the highway. A longer margin is wise if you have a fixed commitment at the other end.
• Shoulder season and winter: traffic is lighter, and the drive is often a relaxed, easy run.

A private car absorbs these changes better than a shared bus. If the road is slow, the driver can still reach your hotel directly. There is no timetable to protect and no other passengers waiting for another stop.

Antalya city centre covers several different areas. The pickup point matters for the time of day and the exact route out of town.

Kaleiçi is the old walled town. Its lanes are narrow and some are closed to normal traffic, so your driver may meet you at the nearest point where a car can stop. In some cases that is at a gate or a road at the edge of the old quarter. If your guesthouse is deep inside, ask the owner for the best meeting point and send us the address with your booking. A short walk with your luggage along the old stone streets is part of the Kaleiçi experience, but it helps to plan it.

Konyaaltı lies west of the centre along a long pebble beach. From there the drive starts with a run through the city before you reach the eastern highway. Allow the time for crossing town, especially at rush hour.

Lara lies east of the centre and is the closest area to the D400 junction. Guests who stay in Lara often have the fastest start, because they are already on the eastern side.

Cumhuriyet Square, the Tünektepe cable car area and the central hotels all have an easy road link to the east. The driver will choose the main road that suits the traffic at your pickup time.

Whatever the area, you give us the hotel name and address in advance. Your driver then arrives at the agreed time, helps with the bags and sets off. If you are leaving a hotel in the centre after a late breakfast, the car can wait a few minutes while you finish checkout. Tell us the exact time you want to depart, and we build the pickup around it.

Kumköy hotels are clustered along the beach road, and many of them sit close together. Your driver knows the access roads behind the main strip. This matters because a satnav often leads travellers to the wrong gate. A resort may have a main entrance, a service entrance and a separate road for guest cars. Your driver knows which one to use, so you reach the reception desk and not a delivery yard.

At the hotel, the driver helps with the luggage and makes sure you reach the entrance. If you arrive before the standard check-in time, which is common after a morning pickup, most large resorts will hold your bags. Many will let you use the pool and beach while the room is prepared. Check the arrangements with your hotel before you travel. The all-inclusive bracelet and the lunch buffet are often easier to arrange once you reach reception.

If your accommodation is a private villa, an apartment or a small pension, send us the address and any phone contact for the host. Smaller properties in the pine-forest lanes can be harder to find than the big resorts, and a quick call from the driver saves time.

Kumköy is part of a connected resort belt, and your choice of base shapes your holiday. A short guide to the area:

• Kumköy: The beach is the main attraction here. Hotels stand behind a wide strip of sand with pine forest at their back. It suits guests who want a beach holiday with an easy link to Side. The atmosphere is calm.
• Çolaklı: This lies just to the west. It has its own beach and a mix of large hotels. It is a good choice for guests who want a resort feel with a little more variety nearby.
• Side: The old town sits on a small peninsula a few kilometres east. It has the ruins, the harbour, the restaurants and the shops. Guests who want evenings out choose to stay near here or visit often.

Kumköy works well for guests who want a long beach, forest shade and a quick ride to Side.

The sand on this part of the coast is the soft, golden Side variety. It is fine underfoot and it slopes gently into the sea. The water is shallow for some distance from the shore, which makes the beach comfortable for swimming and relaxed for children. Pine forest runs close behind the sand. On a hot afternoon the shade and the smell of resin give the beach a pleasant, calm feel.

Most hotels in Kumköy have their own stretch of beach, with sunbeds, umbrellas and a bar. Check what your hotel offers before you travel. Stretches of public beach also exist, and they are easy to reach on foot along the sand. Water sports are available in the resort belt in summer, from pedal boats to banana rides, depending on the hotel and the season.

Side is the main attraction near Kumköy, and it is only a short ride away. The old town stands on a small peninsula, and the Roman and Hellenistic remains sit among cafés, shops and guesthouses. It is one of the best-known ancient sites on the Turkish coast.

Highlights include:

• The Roman theatre, a large structure that dominates the skyline of the old town. The seating faces the town and the sea.
• The Temple of Apollo, set right on the water's edge. Its columns, standing against the sea, are among the most photographed sights in Side. They look best at sunset.
• The harbour, where fishing boats and small excursion boats lie along the quay and restaurants face the water.
• The city walls and the main street, lined with market stalls, leather goods, textiles and souvenir shops.
• The Side Museum, which holds finds from the site and is a good rainy-day idea.

Kumköy to the centre of Side is a short ride. Many guests go in the evening and return after dinner.

Manavgat is the larger town just inland and east of Side, and it is easy to visit from Kumköy. The Manavgat Waterfall is a broad, low cascade on the Manavgat river. It is a popular stop for day-trippers, with tea gardens and picnic spots near the water. Boat trips run along the river toward the sea, and many visitors combine a river cruise with lunch. The weekly market in Manavgat is large and lively. Ask your hotel for the market day, and go early before the heat builds.

Most guests in Kumköy eat at their hotel, especially if they have chosen an all-inclusive package. Buffets, grill stations, à la carte restaurants and evening shows are part of daily life in this area. Turkish dishes appear alongside international food. If you want a change, you can look for local options nearby.

In Side, the harbour-front restaurants serve grilled fish, meze and Turkish classics. A table with a view of the water and the lit-up Temple of Apollo makes a pleasant evening. Prices and menus vary, so check before you sit down. Small family-run places in the lanes serve simple dishes, such as gözleme, kebab, salads and fresh bread. Turkish tea and coffee are available everywhere.

Kumköy itself is quiet at night. Hotels run their own entertainment, and the beach road has a few small shops and cafés. If you want bars and a livelier evening, Side is the nearest choice. If you prefer silence, Kumköy gives you an early night and a calm sea breeze.

The long, gently sloping beach makes Kumköy a good choice for families. Shallow water, soft sand and shade from the pine trees give parents a relaxed setting. Many hotels in the area have children's pools, kids' clubs and play areas. Some also have water slides.

For the transfer itself, a 63-minute drive is manageable for most children, especially in a private car where you can stop if needed. We can arrange child seats when you book. Tell us the number and age of children so that the right seats are ready at pickup. If you have a pushchair, tell us as well, so that the driver can plan the luggage space.

The Side ruins give children space to run and climb safely, and the river cruise at Manavgat is a gentle outing.

Not every trip begins at a sensible hour. Some guests land in Antalya late at night and need to reach Kumköy after midnight. Others leave the resort before sunrise for an early excursion or a morning flight. This route works for both.

For a late arrival, your driver tracks the flight and waits at the airport. If the flight is delayed, the driver adjusts. The road is quiet at night, and the 60 km often passes in a little over the planning time. Tell your hotel that you will arrive late, so the night reception expects you. Many resorts keep a night desk, but it is worth confirming.

If you start from Antalya city centre at night or very early, the pickup time is set in advance. Your driver is ready at the agreed time. The streets in the centre are empty at that hour, and the highway is open.

When your holiday ends, you may travel from Kumköy back to Antalya. The airport lies on the same D400 corridor, near Aksu, before you reach the city. The journey from Kumköy to the airport is therefore along the same road you used on arrival. Plan on a similar hour, and add time for the season and the day.

A good rule is to leave earlier than you think you need to:

• International flights: Arrive at the terminal comfortably ahead of check-in closing. Passport control, security and queues can be long in summer. Many guests aim to reach the airport about three hours before departure.
• Summer departures: Add extra time for traffic on the D400 and for busy check-in desks.
• Early flights: If your flight is in the morning, the roads are quiet and the trip runs smoothly, but you will need an early start. Book your pickup the evening before so that the time is agreed.
• Late flights: You have more time in the day. You can enjoy a final swim and a late checkout if your hotel allows it. Then leave with enough margin.

If your route ends in Antalya city centre instead, for example for a night in Kaleiçi before a flight, the same approach works. Tell us the time of your flight and your hotel in the centre.

Send us your flight number when you book the return. Your driver can then follow the flight status and adjust if there is a change.

Kumköy is a good base for day trips along the Pamphylian coast. Some are near and some are further, and a private car with a driver can combine several places in one day.

• Side: The closest and easiest. A half-day is enough for the ruins, the harbour and lunch.
• Manavgat waterfall and river cruise: A relaxed outing, often combined with the market.
• Aspendos: The Roman theatre near the Köprüçay river is one of the best-preserved in the region. It lies on the road back toward Antalya, so it fits well on a return day.
• Perge: Another ancient city near Antalya, with a long colonnaded street and a stadium. It is a short distance from the airport area.
• Antalya Kaleiçi and the Archaeological Museum: The old town, Hadrian's Gate, the harbour and the museum are a good day in the city. The museum holds finds from Perge, Side and Aspendos, so it links well with the other trips.
• Alanya: A larger coastal town to the east, with a hilltop castle and a long beach. It makes a full day out.
• Köprülü Canyon: A river canyon in the Taurus mountains, known for rafting and mountain scenery. It is a full-day excursion.

For longer trips, a private transfer is more flexible than a group coach. You choose the start time, the stops and the pace. Tell us your plan and we help arrange the day.

The Mediterranean climate gives this coast many sunny days. The sea season runs from about April to November, with the warmest water in late summer and early autumn.

• Spring (April and May): The air is warm but not heavy, the countryside is green and the sea is still cool. It is a good time for sightseeing in Side and Aspendos, with fewer crowds. Swimming is possible, but the water is fresh.
• Summer (June to August): Hot and sunny. Beaches and resorts are at their busiest, and the roads see more traffic. Plan outings in the morning or late afternoon, and use the middle of the day for shade and the pool. Keep water with you in the car.
• Early autumn (September and October): Often the best time on the coast. The sea is warm, the heat is softer and the crowds are smaller. Evenings on the harbour at Side are at their most pleasant.
• Late autumn and winter (November to March): Mild, with some rain. Many seasonal hotels, beach bars and boat trips close or reduce their hours. The ruins remain open and quiet, and the roads are easy. Check that your hotel is open before you book.

In every season, the transfer works the same way. Your driver meets you, loads the bags and takes the D400 east. The only things that change are the traffic and the light.

Plan on about 63 minutes for the 60 km along the D400. Early mornings and summer weekends can add 15 to 20 minutes around Aksu and Belek, so we build a sensible buffer into pickups that are timed to flights or excursions.

The fare is for the entire vehicle, not per seat. Whether you are a couple or a family of four with cases, the vehicle price is the same. We confirm it when you book.

Yes. Transfers suit flight times and early excursion starts. Your driver tracks the schedule and is ready at the agreed time, day or night.

Yes. Our drivers know the access roads behind the beach strip, so you reach the reception entrance and not a service gate. Send the hotel name and address with your booking.

Your holiday starts when the car leaves the city. A relaxed hour on the D400 takes you from Antalya's streets to the pines and golden sand of Kumköy, with Side, Manavgat and the Pamphylian coast right on your doorstep.