Trip Planning

Getting Around Antalya

Trams, shared minibuses, taxis and boats — how locals and regular visitors actually get from A to B.

5 min read Updated August 2026

The short version

Central Antalya and Kaleiçi are made for walking. For anything further — Lara, Konyaaltı, the airport, day-trip sites — you'll use a mix of the tram, dolmuş minibuses, taxis and ride-hailing apps. Very few visitors need a car for the city itself.

Tram (AntRay & the nostalgic tram)

Antalya's modern tram line, AntRay, runs from the airport area through to the western districts, useful for a direct airport-to-centre run. Separately, a short heritage tram (Nostalji Tramvay) loops along the clifftop through Kaleiçi and past Karaalioğlu Park — more of a scenic ride than serious transport, but a pleasant one.

Dolmuş minibuses

Shared minibuses called dolmuş run fixed routes all over the city and out to Lara, Konyaaltı and nearby towns, and are the way most locals get around. They're cheap and frequent but route signage is in Turkish only, so they suit visitors who don't mind a bit of trial and error.

Taxis & ride-hailing

Taxis are widely available and metered; confirm the meter is running or agree a price for longer or airport journeys. Ride-hailing apps are increasingly used in Antalya and can be a more predictable option, particularly for airport transfers, since the fare is fixed before you book.

Boat trips

From the old harbour, boat operators run half-day coastal trips past the Lower Düden Falls — less a transport option, more an activity, but worth knowing it departs right from the old town.

Reaching day-trip sites without a car

Perge & Aspendos
Reachable by dolmuş with a bit of planning, but most visitors take an organised half-day tour or a taxi for the day, which is far simpler.
Termessos & the canyon
Best with a rental car, taxi-for-the-day, or organised tour — public transport doesn't reach these easily.
Pamukkale
A long day from Antalya (around 3–3.5 hrs each way); almost everyone does this as an organised tour or overnight trip rather than self-driving there and back in a day.
Lara & Konyaaltı beaches
Both reachable by tram, dolmuş or a short taxi ride from the centre — no car needed.
Our take: use your feet in Kaleiçi, the tram or a taxi for beaches and the airport, and book a driver or tour for the further-flung ruins and canyons. It's the combination most visitors end up settling on anyway.