How do I get from the airport to Antalya?

Antalya Airport sits 13 km east of Kaleiçi, the old walled district where most first-timers stay. You'll walk out of the terminal into dry heat, even at night in summer, with the smell of jet fuel giving way to pine as you move toward the coast road. The Havaş shuttle is the right default. It departs from outside both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, timed to flight arrivals rather than a fixed schedule. Fare is around 150 TRY ($3.25 at 46 TRY to the dollar). The ride takes 35-45 minutes depending on traffic to the Otogar, Antalya's central bus terminal on the D400 highway. From there, the AntRay T1 tram runs south toward Müze (Antalya Museum) and İsmetpaşa, which puts you a 10-minute walk from Kaleiçi's Hadrian's Gate.

Taxis queue outside both terminals with meters. Expect 800-1,200 TRY ($17-26) to Kaleiçi or Konyaaltı beach depending on traffic and time of day. The meter is mandatory by law in Antalya. Worth noting, BiTaksi (Turkey's ride-hailing app) works at AYT and shows the fare estimate before you confirm, which removes the negotiation anxiety. Drivers tend to be honest here compared to Istanbul, but you might still get the long-route treatment on your first night. If your hotel is along Lara beach, the fare drops to 400-600 TRY ($9-13) since Lara is closer to the airport than the city center. That said, Lara is a resort strip, not really Antalya proper.

The 600 bus is the cheapest option at roughly 35 TRY ($0.75) with an AntalyaKart transit card, which you can buy from the kiosk inside the terminal for about 50 TRY including initial credit. Route 600 runs from the airport through Konyaaltı and onward toward Kaleiçi, taking 60-75 minutes with all stops. It runs from around 6:00am to midnight. The seats fill up in peak season, July and August, so you might stand with your luggage. For a first arrival after a long flight, this is the budget pick but not the comfort pick. Mind you, the bus has air conditioning and follows a predictable route along the coast road, so it is not stressful, only slow.

After midnight, your options narrow to taxis and pre-booked private transfers. The Havaş shuttle runs its last departure about 30 minutes after the last scheduled arrival, but delays can leave you stranded. If your flight lands after 11pm, pre-book a BiTaksi or arrange a hotel shuttle. Most 4-star hotels in Kaleiçi and Konyaaltı offer airport pickup for 1,000-1,500 TRY ($22-33), which is a slight premium over hailing your own taxi but removes the 1am guesswork. The terminal at night is quiet, warm even in September, with a few cafes open on the upper floor serving strong Turkish çay for 25 TRY while you wait.