Antalya Airport to Kaleiçi: Getting to Your Old Town Hotel
Kaleiçi, Antalya’s walled old town, is full of boutique hotels in restored Ottoman houses. It is only about 14 km from the airport – but its narrow, mostly pedestrian lanes mean that “door to door” needs a little planning. Here is how the transfer works.
Route and time
From Antalya Airport, the drive takes about 25 minutes in normal traffic, along the D400 and down to the coast road around the old town. Allow longer in the evening rush hour.
Price
€35 per vehicle – a Mercedes Vito for up to 6 passengers and 6 large suitcases – including 60 minutes of free waiting after landing. There is no night supplement.
Drop-off in the old town
Vehicle access inside Kaleiçi is restricted, and many lanes are too narrow for a van. The driver stops at the nearest point the vehicle can reach – often near Hadrian’s Gate, the Kalekapısı square or the harbour road – and helps you with your luggage. Many boutique hotels send someone to meet guests with a trolley; tell your hotel your arrival time and add its phone number to the booking notes.
Meeting your driver
We follow your flight. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a sign showing your name. Child seats are free on request.
In Kaleiçi
Once you have checked in, the old town is best explored on foot: the Roman harbour, the Yivli Minaret, the Hıdırlık Tower and the lanes of shops and cafés. For the sights further out – the Antalya Museum, Düden waterfalls, Konyaaltı beach – see getting around Antalya with a driver.
Departure
For an international flight, leave Kaleiçi about two and a half hours before departure; the driver meets you at the same point where you were dropped off. Choosing “Return” on the booking form adds this journey to the same payment, with a discount on the return leg.
Evenings, food and shopping in and around Kaleiçi
Many visitors staying in Lara, Belek, Kemer or Side come into Kaleiçi for an evening, a meal, a class or a show. Book the outward journey on the booking form and choose “Return” with the time you want to be collected. The driver brings you back from the agreed point. Short trips within Antalya start from the €35 minimum fare per vehicle; trips from the resorts are priced by distance and shown before you pay.
Restaurants and nightlife
The old harbour below Kaleiçi fills with restaurants and bars in the evening, and live music spills out of the old town’s courtyards. Beach bars line Konyaaltı and Lara. After midnight, taxi queues form at the harbour; with a pre-booked car the price is fixed and the driver is waiting. Agree a pickup point the vehicle can reach, such as Hadrian’s Gate, Kalekapısı or the harbour road, and add a phone number to the booking.
Food to try and cooking classes
Antalya’s classic lunch is şiş köfte (grilled meatballs) with piyaz, a white bean salad dressed with tahini; hibeş, a tahini and chilli spread, is a local meze. Fresh fish is served around the old harbour. Cooking classes and food walks take place in Kaleiçi, in some restaurants and in village kitchens around Antalya, Kemer and Side. Book the class first, then the transport; for village addresses, add the host’s phone number and a map pin.
Shopping, carpets and souvenirs
Kaleiçi’s lanes have carpet and kilim shops, ceramics, jewellery and spices; the city centre and Lara have large malls; Manavgat and Kemer hold weekly markets. Our drivers take you only where you ask to go: there are no commission stops. When buying a carpet, compare more than one shop, ask whether it is hand-knotted and get a written receipt and any shipping terms in writing. A rolled carpet fits easily in the Vito; mention large items when you book your airport transfer.
Theatre, Aspendos and festivals
The city’s theatres and cultural centre host drama, opera, ballet and concerts. In summer, opera, ballet and concerts are staged in the Roman theatre at Aspendos, about 10 km from Belek. The Golden Orange (Altın Portakal) film festival is usually held in the autumn. Programmes change each season, so buy tickets first. Book the return for 15–30 minutes after the expected end, and agree a clear pickup point at Aspendos, where the car park is busy after performances.
Nearby
See day trips from Antalya by private car and Antalya airport transfers for other parts of the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Kaleiçi from Antalya Airport?
About 14 km, around 25 minutes.
How much is the transfer?
€35 per vehicle.
Can the car reach my hotel door?
Often not; the driver stops at the nearest accessible point.
Will someone help with our bags?
The driver helps, and many hotels send staff to meet guests.
When should I leave for my flight?
About two and a half hours before an international departure.
Can we be collected from Kaleiçi late at night?
Yes. Agree a pickup point the car can reach, such as Hadrian’s Gate or the harbour road, and book the return for that time.
