Most people landing at Antalya Airport are heading straight to a resort somewhere along the coast, from Kemer to Side. If you are staying in Antalya itself, though, you have a cheap and direct rail option that many visitors overlook: the AntRay tram runs from the airport straight through the city centre to the intercity bus station.
The short answer: take the AntRay tram if you are staying in or near Kaleiçi, the old town, or need the intercity bus terminal, and you are travelling light enough to manage a tram. Take a taxi if you land late, have heavy bags or are heading to a hotel far from the tram line. If you booked a package holiday, use the tour-operator transfer that is already included.
The quick comparison
| Option | Best for | Main trade-off | Time to the centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| AntRay tram (T1A) | Kaleiçi and city-centre stays, the intercity bus terminal, budget trips | Hand luggage only, up to 25 kg; finding the platform from your terminal | About 31–33 minutes to İsmetpaşa (scheduled) |
| City bus | Destinations away from the tram line | Routes and times change, so you need the Antalyakart app | Depends on route and traffic |
| Taxi | Late arrivals, families, heavy luggage, door-to-door trips | The most expensive option for one or two travellers | Depends on traffic |
| Tour-operator or airline transfer | Package holidays and resort stays | Tied to your booking; shared vehicles may make several stops | Varies by resort |
AntRay tram: the best-value way into the city
The airport is on AntRay line T1A, which runs from the airport through the city centre to Fatih. In the official timetable, trams leave the Havalimanı Gelen Yolcu (airport arrivals) stop and call at Meydan, Doğu Garajı and İsmetpaşa in the centre before continuing to Otogar, the intercity bus terminal, and on to Fatih. You do not need to change trams for any of these stops.
How long it takes and how often it runs
The timetable published by the operator, checked on 18 October 2026, shows:
- Journey time: about 31–33 minutes from the airport to İsmetpaşa and about 52 minutes to Otogar.
- Hours: the first daytime departure from the airport is at 06:31 and the last evening departure at 23:39, with a single late departure at 00:05.
- Frequency: roughly every 12–23 minutes through the day, falling to about every half hour late in the evening. Sunday timetables are slightly different.
A late flight can easily miss the last tram, so check the AntRay timetable for your arrival day before you rely on it.
Luggage rules
AntRay’s passenger rules allow hand luggage that you can easily carry, up to 25 kg. Large boxes or items that block other passengers are not allowed, and security staff may check bags at stations. A single suitcase you can lift yourself fits within that rule, but if you are travelling with several large cases or bulky sports equipment, a taxi or transfer is the safer choice.
Paying for the tram and bus
Antalya’s buses and trams use the Antalyakart fare system. The official fares listed on 18 October 2026 are:
| Payment method | Fare per boarding | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antalyakart (full fare) | 42.00 TL | Plastic card costs 100.00 TL; one card can be shared by several people; transfer discounts apply |
| Contactless bank or credit card | 50.00 TL | Tap on the reader; one card can pay for more than one person; no transfer discount |
| Single-use ticket | 46.00 TL | Sold as 2-ride (112.00 TL) or 5-ride (250.00 TL) tickets from machines and dealers |
For one trip into town, a contactless card is the simplest choice. If you will use public transport several times during your stay, an Antalyakart usually works out cheaper. Card readers are set up for contactless bank cards, but foreign card acceptance can vary, so carry some Turkish lira or a back-up card in case yours is declined.
Which terminal are you arriving at?
Antalya Airport has two international terminals and a domestic terminal. International Terminal 1 and the Domestic Terminal are connected, so you can walk between them. International Terminal 2 is about 2.5 km away, roughly five minutes by car, and the airport says a public bus or taxi links the terminals.
Once you are through arrivals, follow the AntRay signs. If your terminal has no direct walkway to the tram, factor in the connecting bus or a short taxi ride, or go straight to the taxi rank outside arrivals if you have a lot of luggage.
City buses: useful when the tram doesn’t go your way
According to the airport, city buses run from the terminals to the intercity bus terminal and the city centre. Routes and departure times are listed in the Antalyakart mobile app, and the city’s transport information line is 0242 606 07 07. Buses are most useful if your hotel is well away from the tram line, but the tram is easier for a first arrival in the centre.
Taxis: door to door, at a price
There are taxi ranks outside the arrivals exits of every terminal. The airport says drivers carry special airport ID tags, a fare board is posted near the taxi rank, and the airport’s cooperative taxi company also takes online bookings. Check the fare board and confirm your destination before you set off. A taxi is the practical choice after the last tram, with small children, or for hotels well away from the tram line.
Resort transfers and airline shuttles
If you booked a package, your tour operator’s welcome counter is just outside the terminal, and its coaches take arriving passengers to their resorts. Some airlines also run shuttle buses timed to their arrivals; contact your airline directly for details. For onward coaches, take the tram to Otogar: the intercity bus terminal, about 4 km north of the city centre, is the hub for buses along the Mediterranean coast and to other Turkish cities. Antalya Ulaşım also runs a separate Kemer bus terminal for services towards Kemer.
Arriving in Kaleiçi
For the old town, get off at İsmetpaşa, the city-centre stop closest to Kaleiçi. From there, check the walk to your hotel on a map before you set off: Kaleiçi slopes down to the old harbour, and many of its streets are narrow, so a hotel near the water can mean a longer walk with luggage than the map suggests.
What to do next
- Check your arrival time against the AntRay timetable. If you land after about 23:30, plan on a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
- Decide how to pay: a contactless card for a single trip, or an Antalyakart if you will ride several times.
- Look up the walk from İsmetpaşa or your nearest stop to your accommodation.
- Travelling on within Turkey? Our Istanbul Airport and İzmir Airport guides cover the same decision for those cities.
Official sources
- Fraport TAV Antalya Airport: buses and mass transport
- Fraport TAV Antalya Airport: taxis
- Antalya Ulaşım: AntRay departure times
- Antalya Ulaşım: AntRay passenger rules
- Antalyakart: frequently asked questions and fares
- Antalyakart: card types
Featured image: AntRay trams pass at İsmetpaşa, the city-centre stop on the airport line closest to Kaleiçi. Photo: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Sources accessed 18 October 2026; fares and timetables change, so check the operators before travelling.
