Antalya, Turkey: holidays on the Turkish Riviera | Top 10 Potovanja
Antalya, Turkey
Antalya is the heart of the Turkish Riviera: long sandy and pebble beaches, warm sea from May to October, mild winters, all-inclusive hotels and ancient cities at every turn. At Top 10 Potovanja you can choose from more than 60 hotels from Kemer to Side, and you book the flight and hotel in one package. Below you will find which area to choose, what to do nearby, which hotels we recommend for families with children, and our favourite hotels.
Why holiday in Antalya
Holidays all year round: from May to October the sea is 21 to 28 °C, and in winter daytime temperatures are around 15 to 17 °C, which is pleasant for excursions, golf and wellness.
A short flight: the flight from Vienna to Antalya takes about two hours and 40 minutes, and direct flights are available almost all winter.
All inclusive: most of our hotels in Antalya offer all inclusive, so you don’t have to worry about meals and drinks on holiday.
Great for families: hotels with water parks and kids’ clubs, and nearby The Land of Legends theme park, an aquarium and Dinopark.
Golf and history: Belek has more than 20 golf courses, and the ancient theatres of Aspendos and Side are nearby.
All in one package: flight, hotel and transfer from the airport to the hotel, without putting together separate bookings.
Weather in Antalya throughout the year
Average daily maximum air temperatures and sea temperature:
Month
Air
Sea
January
15 °C
18 °C
February
16 °C
17 °C
March
19 °C
17 °C
April
22 °C
18 °C
May
26 °C
21 °C
June
32 °C
24 °C
July
35 °C
27 °C
August
35 °C
28 °C
September
32 °C
27 °C
October
27 °C
24 °C
November
22 °C
21 °C
December
17 °C
19 °C
July and August are hot, with 40 °C or more during heatwaves. In winter it is around 15 to 17 °C during the day, the sea is 17 to 19 °C and there are more rainy days, around 12 in December and January. The sea is too cold for swimming in winter, so winter holidays in Antalya are for excursions, golf, wellness and hotels with indoor pools.
Flights and transfer to the hotel
Packages to Antalya depart from Graz, Vienna and Budapest, and direct flights are available almost all winter. The flight from Vienna takes about two hours and 40 minutes. You can see which departures are available for your dates in the search for each offer.
Antalya airport is close to all the resorts. The transfer to the hotel takes about 15 to 25 minutes to Lara, 30 to 40 minutes to Belek, 45 to 60 minutes to Kemer and 60 to 75 minutes to Side.
Which area to choose
Antalya and Konyaaltı: for those who want the city, the Kaleiçi old town and the 13 km Blue Flag pebble beach of Konyaaltı.
Lara: a sandy beach right next to the city, the shortest airport transfer and large all-inclusive hotels.
Belek: sandy beaches, pine forests, golf courses and large resorts with plenty of space for families.
Side: an ancient city with a theatre and the Temple of Apollo, and sandy beaches in Sorgun and Çolaklı.
Kemer: mountains that drop down to the sea, clear water and excursions to Tahtalı, Phaselis and Olympos.
Antalya with children
The Turkish Riviera is a very rewarding choice with children. Many hotels have kids’ clubs, pools with slides and entertainment, and there are enough excursions nearby for a whole week.
Where to go with children
The Land of Legends in Kadriye near Belek: a theme and water park with rides, slides, a Nickelodeon world, Masha and the Bear land and a dolphin show. In the evening there is a light and laser show.
Antalya Aquarium by Konyaaltı beach: a 131-metre tunnel where sharks and rays swim above you. The same complex also has a snow centre.
Dinopark in Göynük near Kemer: life-size dinosaurs in 30 hectares of pine forest, a small zoo, pony rides and a climbing wall.
Tahtalı cable car: in about ten minutes you ride up to 2,365 metres, and children up to six ride free.
Düden waterfalls: the lower waterfall drops 40 metres straight into the sea and is best seen from a boat sailing from the old harbour in Antalya.
Manavgat river near Side: a boat trip on the river takes three to four hours, and Manavgat has a market on Mondays and Thursdays.
Hotels we recommend for families
We have chosen hotels with kids’ clubs, water parks or slides and plenty of space to play.
Sealife Family Resort (Antalya): a slide and a children’s pool, and the Blue Flag pebble beach is across the road. See the offer
Sherwood Exclusive Lara (Lara): a water park with slides, a kids’ club and a 450-metre beach. See the offer
Ela Excellence Resort Belek (Belek): an aquapark, an indoor pool heated in winter and the Everland kids’ club, divided by age. See the offer
Papillon Zeugma Relaxury (Belek): a kids’ club, a playground and two pools with children’s pools, right on the beach. See the offer
Selectum Family Resort (Belek): rooms and bungalows among the pines, entertainment and seven restaurants. See the offer
Crystal Tat Beach Golf Resort (Belek): around 300 metres of sandy beach, pools and entertainment for children. See the offer
Innvista Hotels Belek (Belek): a children’s pool with a play castle, a mini club, and The Land of Legends is 500 metres away. See the offer
Voyage Sorgun (Side): a mini club, an indoor playground and a water park in the pine forest. See the offer
Barut Hemera (Side): entertainment for all ages and a beach in front of the hotel, three kilometres from Side. See the offer
Tip: in July and August it is around 35 °C. With small children, choose May, June, September or October instead, when the sea is still warm.
Antalya: the city, Konyaaltı and Lara
What to do in Antalya
Kaleiçi old town: enter through Hadrian’s Gate, which has stood for around 1,900 years, and walk down the narrow streets to the old harbour.
Yivli Minare and Hıdırlık Tower: the 38-metre 13th-century minaret is one of the first Islamic buildings in Antalya, and the round Hıdırlık Tower dates from Roman times.
Düden waterfalls: the lower waterfall drops 40 metres into the sea. A boat trip from the old harbour takes about an hour.
Konyaaltı beach: a 13 km Blue Flag beach of fine pebbles with views of the Beydağları mountains.
Antalya Aquarium: a 131-metre tunnel with sharks, only about 3 km from the city centre.
In Antalya we recommend these hotels:
Porto Bello Hotel ★★★★★
A hotel right on Konyaaltı beach, linked to it by an underpass, so you don’t have to cross the road to reach the sea. It has an indoor and outdoor pool, a children’s pool and a wellness area with a sauna and hammam; the centre of Antalya is about 8 km away. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: the beach on the doorstep and the city within reach by public transport, which stops in front of the hotel.
A multi-award-winning hotel on 40,000 m² right next to a 200-metre sandy beach. The interior is styled after Ottoman palaces, guests have seven bars, wellness and outdoor pools, and the airport is only 9 km away. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: a very short airport transfer and luxury loved by couples and honeymooners.
A hotel with eight restaurants, three outdoor pools, a private beach and a spa. The TerraCity shopping centre and the Kaya Eagles golf course are nearby. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.8/5)Why book: one of the highest guest ratings in Lara and a choice of restaurants for the whole week.
A beachfront resort in Lara with its own 450-metre beach and pier, seven outdoor pools, a heated indoor pool and a water park with slides. For children there are Robin’s Kids Club (ages 4 to 12) and the Yoo Teenage Club, and the airport is about 10 km away. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.7/5)Why book: a short airport transfer, a long beach and ultra all inclusive for the whole family.
The hotel is about 15 minutes’ drive from the airport and 25 minutes from the centre of Antalya, and the sandy beach is a short walk away. Some rooms are in the Aska River Suites annex, and there is an outdoor pool and wellness. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: a short airport transfer and a good base for trips to Antalya.
Golf: Belek has more than 20 international-class golf courses, one of which hosts the Turkish Airlines Open.
The Land of Legends: a theme and water park in Kadriye that you can also visit in the evening, when there is a light and laser show.
Aspendos: the 2nd-century Roman theatre is one of the best preserved in the world, and in June it hosts an international opera and ballet festival. It is about 40 km from Belek.
Köprülü Canyon: rafting on 12 kilometres of ice-cold spring water, about 60 km from Belek.
Sea turtles: Belek’s beaches are the most important nesting site of the loggerhead turtle in Turkey. In summer, volunteers watch over the nests at dawn and dusk.
In Belek we recommend these hotels:
Rixos Premium Belek ★★★★★
A resort in a pine and walnut forest by a sandy beach, with 700 rooms with balconies, three outdoor pools, a private beach and wellness. The Cornelia and Carya golf courses are nearby. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.8/5)Why book: all inclusive in a natural setting and one of the highest guest ratings in Belek.
A beachfront hotel about 5 km from the centre of Belek. It has a kids’ club and playground, two pools with children’s pools, a sauna, hammam and gym, and water sports and archery for the active. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.8/5)Why book: the beach on the doorstep and a varied programme for the whole family.
Fully renovated in 2022, the resort has 583 rooms and a 270-metre private sandy beach with a pier, about 2 km from the centre of Belek. It has an aquapark with slides, an indoor pool heated in winter, the 4,500 m² Elazen spa and the Everland kids’ club, divided by age. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: ultra all inclusive, a large spa and a programme for children of all ages.
A resort on a private sandy beach in Kadriye, just 300 metres from the 18-hole Kaya Palazzo Golf Club. Children have an aquapark with seven slides and a mini club, adults the 3,500 m² Vit’Italy spa, and you can walk to The Land of Legends. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.7/5)Why book: golf, beach and aquapark in one place.
A resort in a pine forest with rooms overlooking the pool or sea and bungalows among the trees. It has seven restaurants, nine bars, wellness and entertainment, and golfers get a free practice range. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: peace in the middle of the forest, plenty of space and family accommodation.
A hotel with 315 rooms, just 500 metres from The Land of Legends. The beach is about 900 metres away, and a free hotel bus takes guests there. It has a heated indoor pool, a children’s pool with a play castle, a mini club and the Turquaise spa. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: a good-value choice for families, with the theme park almost on the doorstep.
Ancient city of Side: the 2nd-century theatre held up to 15,000 spectators, and the ruins intertwine with shops and restaurants in the old part of town.
Temple of Apollo: marble columns by the sea, most beautiful at sunset.
Side Museum: statues, sarcophagi and coins from the ancient city are displayed in a former Roman bath house.
Manavgat river: a boat trip on the river takes three to four hours, and the town of Manavgat has a market on Mondays and Thursdays.
Lake Oymapınar (Green Canyon): a boat trip on the lake behind the dam, about 12 km from Manavgat.
In and around Side we recommend these hotels:
Barut Hemera ★★★★★
A beachfront hotel 3 km from the centre of Side, with a large outdoor pool, its own beach and entertainment for all ages. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.8/5)Why book: a carefree beach holiday for families with children.
A resort in the Sorgun pine forest with the Degusto restaurant, a beach disco and summer pool parties. For children there is a mini club, an indoor playground and a water park, and for parents the Sense spa. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.8/5)Why book: fun for all generations and the shade of the pines.
A hotel with 266 rooms on its own Blue Flag sandy beach. The old town of Side is a ten-minute walk away, and Aspendos about 30 km. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: the beach and the ancient city within walking distance.
A resort with 509 rooms, a private beach, pools and a spa. Side West beach and the water park are a few minutes’ drive away, and old Side about 13 km. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: plenty of space and a spa for those who want to be pampered.
Olympos cable car to Tahtalı: the 4.35 km cable car takes you up to 2,365 metres in ten minutes. The lower station is in Tekirova, and it runs all year round.
Phaselis: an ancient city with three harbours, now beaches, in a national park near Tekirova.
Olympos and the Chimaera flames: ruins in a valley near the village of Çıralı, and the flames burning from the rocks are 1.5 km from the village along the Lycian Way hiking trail.
Göynük Canyon: rafting, canyoning and hikes for all levels.
Moonlight beach: a 300-metre sandy beach with palm trees, a ten-minute walk from the centre of Kemer.
Boat trip: pirate ships sail to Phaselis and Paradise Island bay.
In and around Kemer we recommend these hotels:
Crystal De Luxe Resort & Spa ★★★★★
The hotel, now called Crystal De Luxe Comfort Collection, has 356 rooms and stands about 300 metres from the centre of Kemer, with the pebble beach about 75 metres away across a side street. It has an aquapark with three slides, a children’s aquapark, an indoor pool from November to March and the Crispy Kids World mini club for children aged 4 to 12. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: the centre of Kemer within walking distance and ultra all inclusive for families.
A resort on a long beach below Mount Tahtalı, known for family holidays with pools, entertainment and water sports. The lower station of the Tahtalı cable car is right in Tekirova. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: luxurious family holidays, with the mountains within reach.
A resort with eleven outdoor pools and a private beach, between the mountains and the sea. Rooms have a balcony and a free stocked minibar, and the wellness centre offers massages and treatments. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.6/5)Why book: plenty of water fun for children and an active holiday near Kemer.
When is the best time to visit Antalya?
Antalya is open all year round. The swimming season runs from May to October, and July and August are the hottest, around 35 °C. May, June, September and October are more pleasant for excursions and for families with small children, while in winter it is around 15 to 17 °C, which is good for city breaks, golf and wellness.
Do I need a passport?
Yes. Turkey is not on the list of countries Slovenian citizens can travel to with an ID card, so take a valid passport. No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Check the current requirements on the eUprava portal before you travel.
Which area is best for families?
Belek and Side have long sandy beaches and many family resorts, while Lara has the shortest airport transfer. Near Kemer there are Dinopark and the Tahtalı cable car.
Is the airport transfer included?
With our packages to Antalya, the transfer from the airport to the hotel is included. You can see exactly what each offer includes in the search before you book.
What is the currency?
In Turkey you pay in Turkish lira. With all-inclusive packages, meals and drinks are already included in the price.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Payment in instalments is interest-free and without extra costs.
Don’t book the flight and hotel separately. At Top 10 Potovanja you will find the flight and hotel in one package.
Crystal De Luxe Resort & Spa (Kemer): a children’s aquapark, a mini club for children aged 4 to 12 and the centre of Kemer within walking distance. See the offer
Rixos Premium Tekirova (Kemer): pools, entertainment and a long beach; the hotel is known for family holidays. See the offer
