Nestled along the sparkling Turkish Riviera, Antalya is a sun-drenched coastal paradise that beckons travelers from around the globe. While its ancient ruins, turquoise beaches, and mouthwatering cuisine are obvious lures, getting around this sprawling city can feel like an adventure in itself – especially when it comes to ground transportation. As someone who’s lived and traveled extensively in Antalya, allow me to be your local guide to mastering the taxi scene. From airport arrivals to city touring, I’ll ensure you travel like a pro without getting taken for a ride (pun very much intended).
Arriving at Antalya Airport For most, the introduction to Antalya happens at its international airport, a busy hub that funnels millions of vacationers and digital nomads into the region annually. Amidst the sea of taxi drivers vying for your business outside arrivals, it’s essential to have a game plan to avoid overpaying or worse – inadvertently hiring an unlicensed operator.
My advice? Bypass the aggressive crowd entirely and make a beeline for the official airport taxi stand. Sure, you might have to queue for a few minutes, but the fares are standardized and the vehicles regularly inspected to meet quality and safety standards. English is commonly spoken, the taxis are all metered, and you can even pre-book online or through your hotel for extra peace of mind.
Prefer taking things off the grid from the get-go? I’m a fan of using the Bitaksi (or BiTaksi) app, which is essentially the Uber of Antalya. Input your destination, see the fare upfront with no surge pricing, track your driver’s arrival, and even pay digitally without the hassle of ensuring you have enough Turkish Lira on hand. While I’ve had great experiences using the app from the airport and throughout the city, do ensure you meet your driver curbside at the official pickup area, not out amidst the travel chaos.
Transportation for the Ladies While Antalya is considered quite safe overall, I always remind my fellow females to take extra precautions when hopping in a ride – especially at night or if you’re traveling solo. Want to feel extra secure? Look for taxis and transportation services that are operated by women for women.
The bright pink “Lady Truck” cabs put me at ease from the get-go, with over half of their fleet of drivers being Turkish ladies themselves. Beyond appealing to safety-conscious solo female travelers, they can also be a culturally-appropriate option for conservative families. Just order ahead through their website or mobile app.
Similarly, Alo 0850 is a transportation company founded by local women that prides themselves on trustworthy transit tailored to female needs, whether that’s operating drivers or offering vehicles stocked with free hygiene products. Maybe not everyone’s priority, but a thoughtful inclusive touch I adore.
Getting Around Antalya on a Budget Once you’ve settled into your hotel, hostel, or rental, it’s time to explore! While walking is often a pleasant option with Antalya’s charming old town and scenic marina areas, you’ll likely want to grab a ride to farther-flung attractions like the sublime Düden Waterfalls or ancient cities of Termessos and Perge.
Unlike major hubs like Istanbul where Ubers are abundant, Antalya is still primarily a taxi town. Luckily, there are some great local apps like Bim Taxis that can secure you trustworthy rides at rates far more affordable than what most hotels quote. Pricing is upfront with no surge charges, making it easy to budget for transportation between sights.
Of course, negotiating with traditional taxis is an option too if you want to put your haggling skills to work. Just insist they use the meter rather than quoting inflated flat rates based on your touristic appearance!
For multi-stop sightseeing days, a great money-saving move is to hire a taxi to serve as your personal driver for a half or full day. You can pre-arrange this through your hotel for upwards of 500-700 Turkish Lira for 8 hours of private transit. Or, do as the locals do and negotiate directly with taxi drivers for even better “off-the-books” rates as low as 300 Lira.
Get Acquainted with the Dolmus While Antalya has metered taxis and some rideshare options, the transit scene wouldn’t be complete without giving a nod to the humble dolmus. These shared taxi-bus hybrids follow semi-fixed routes around town, allowing you to hop on and off while paying just a few Lira per ride once you get the hang of their organized chaos!
Dolmus travel isn’t for the faint of heart or those trying to reach an exact address. But for sightseeing around places like Kaleici old town or beach-hopping along Lara’s coastal resorts, it’s an economical and cultural immersion that gives you a true sense of the local Turkish cadence of life.
Dolmus drivers appreciate exact change and may have limited English, so I’d recommend getting a basic tutoring on routes and fares from your hotel staff. Always pay attention to where you’re going, sit near the front if you can to better monitor stops, and ask the “muavin” (para-transit staff) for help disembarking at your desired location.
Getting Oriented to the Transport Mindset At the end of the day, having an insider’s understanding of how transit works in Antalya is just as important as knowing what app to download or which taxi company to call. In Turkey’s laid-back coastal culture, transportation often moves at a more relaxed pace than the Western world is accustomed to. Patience, negotiating skills, and a willingness to read between the lines and adjust as needed are all part of the game.
But embrace the process, negotiate fairly, keep your wits about you, and I’m confident you’ll not only reach your destination safely and in good spirit – you’ll leave having experienced a slice of authentic Turkey along the way. From the hair-raising dolmus rides weaving through backstreets to the endless banter with warm-hearted cabbies, it’s all part of the vibrant journey that is Antalya!