Antalya All-Inclusive: Which Resort Area Is Right for You?

Antalya is the all-inclusive capital of the Mediterranean, with hundreds of resorts where your food, drinks, pool and entertainment are all covered by one price. But "Antalya" stretches across more than a hundred kilometres of coast, and the resort area you choose shapes your whole holiday: the beach, the atmosphere, the day trips, and how far you are from the airport. Here is an honest guide to the main all-inclusive areas and who each one suits. Getting the area right is the single biggest decision in an Antalya holiday, because it sets your beach, your budget, your day trips and your transfer time, so it is worth a few minutes to match the resort zone to the holiday you actually want.

Lara and Kundu: big themed resorts, closest to the airport

The Lara and Kundu hotel zone, just 12 to 15 km east of the airport, is where you find Antalya's famous themed mega-resorts, hotels built to look like the Kremlin, a Venetian palace or an ancient temple, with huge pools, waterparks and long sandy beaches. It is ideal for families who want maximum facilities and the shortest transfer, and you are close to the city and its old town for a day out. Transfers start from just €22, and you can be by the pool within half an hour of landing.

Belek: golf, luxury and Blue Flag beaches

Belek, about 35 km east, is Turkey's premier golf destination and home to some of its most luxurious all-inclusive resorts, set in pine forest along Blue Flag beaches. It is polished, spacious and popular with couples, families and golfers, and the Land of Legends theme park is right here. Belek is a little more upmarket and calmer than the livelier eastern resorts, with fixed transfers from €32.

Side: all-inclusive plus ancient history

Side, around 65 km east, combines resort comfort with genuine history: the town is built around Greco-Roman ruins, including the seafront Temple of Apollo, and most all-inclusive hotels line the long sandy beaches of nearby Kumköy, Sorgun and Titreyengöl. It suits travellers who want beach and buffet but also a real town to wander, atmospheric ruins and a good choice of restaurants. Transfers from €45, and we break down the journey in how long the Antalya to Side transfer takes.

Kemer: mountains, pine coast and scenery

West of the city, Kemer sits where the Taurus mountains meet the sea, about 55 km from the airport. The beaches here are more pebbly than sandy, but the scenery is stunning, the water is clear, and the pine-clad mountains give it a fresher, more natural feel. It is popular with families and nature lovers, with the Tahtalı cable car, Göynük Canyon and the ruins of Phaselis close by. Transfers from €38.

Alanya: lively beaches and nightlife on a budget

Alanya, the furthest of the main all-inclusive areas at 125 km east (about 2 hours 15 minutes), is known for long sandy beaches like Cleopatra Beach, a dramatic castle headland, and the coast's liveliest nightlife. All-inclusive here tends to be better value, which draws a younger, more budget-conscious crowd alongside families. If you want buzz and beaches and do not mind the longer transfer, Alanya delivers, from €75.

Konyaaltı and the city: beach plus culture

On the western side of the city, Konyaaltı has a long pebble beach beneath the mountains and a mix of city hotels rather than sprawling themed resorts. It suits travellers who want to combine a beach holiday with easy access to Antalya's old town, museum, restaurants and nightlife, all a tram ride away. It is 20 km from the airport, transfers from €28.

All-inclusive resort areas compared

How to choose: what to check before you book

Beyond the area, a few practical details separate a great resort choice from a disappointing one:

• Beach type. The eastern resorts around Lara, Belek, Side and Alanya are mostly sandy, while Kemer and the western coast are more pebbly. If soft sand matters to you, check before booking, as some hotels have a jetty or a small imported-sand beach rather than a natural one.
• Distance to a town. A resort in the middle of a hotel strip can be several kilometres from the nearest walkable town or shops. If you like to stroll out for dinner or a wander, factor that in.
• Board basis. Confirm exactly what your all-inclusive covers, and whether the à la carte restaurants need booking or cost extra.
• Airport distance. A closer resort means a shorter transfer with tired children. Lara and Belek are quick, Alanya is a two-hour-plus drive.
• Guest mix. Some resorts are couples-focused or adults-only, others are firmly family. Check the vibe matches your group.

Adults-only and couples resorts

If you are travelling as a couple or want a quieter holiday, look specifically for adults-only resorts, which are increasingly common in Belek and Side. They tend to be calmer, with a focus on spa, fine dining and relaxation rather than kids' clubs and waterslides. Families, on the other hand, are spoiled for choice across Lara, Kundu, Belek and Side, where the biggest resorts build their whole offer around children.

When to book and best time to go

All-inclusive resorts are busiest and priciest in July and August, the school-holiday peak, when the weather is hottest. For better value and more comfortable sightseeing weather, the shoulder months of May, June, September and October are excellent, and October still has a warm sea. We break the seasons down in our guide to the best time to visit Antalya. Booking earlier generally secures better rooms and rates, especially for the popular family resorts in peak weeks.

What "all-inclusive" really covers

Standards vary. Most all-inclusive packages cover buffet meals, local drinks, snacks and non-motorised activities. Higher tiers ("ultra all-inclusive") add à la carte restaurants, premium and imported drinks, room service and more. Always check what is included before booking, particularly around imported spirits, à la carte dining and spa treatments, which are often extra. Tipping is never required in an all-inclusive since everything is paid for, though a small tip to staff who look after you all week is always welcome, as we explain in our guide to tipping in Turkey.

Food and dining at an all-inclusive resort

Dining is a big part of the all-inclusive appeal, and standards have risen a lot. Expect generous buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner with international and Turkish dishes, poolside snacks through the day, and, at better resorts, à la carte restaurants specialising in cuisines like Turkish, Italian or seafood, often needing a reservation and sometimes carrying a small extra charge. Turkish breakfast alone, with its cheeses, olives, eggs and pastries, is worth getting up for. Do try to venture out for at least one meal in a local restaurant during your stay, though, because eating where the locals eat, whether fresh fish at a harbour or gözleme at a market, is one of the pleasures of a Turkish holiday that no buffet quite replaces.

Easy day trips from each area

Where you stay shapes which excursions are on your doorstep. From Side and Belek, the eastern ancient sites of Aspendos, Perge and the Manavgat waterfall are close, and Alanya is an easy run further east. From Kemer, the Tahtalı cable car, Göynük Canyon and the ruins of Phaselis are minutes away, along with the pretty Olympos and Çıralı coast. From Lara and the city, you have the old town, the museum and the Düden waterfalls on hand. The big inland trips, Pamukkale and Cappadocia, are longer from anywhere, so plan those separately. Our guide to what to do in Antalya covers the highlights in full.

Getting the most from an all-inclusive stay

All-inclusive is brilliant value if you use it, but it is easy to never leave the resort and miss the real Turkey. A good balance is to enjoy the pool, beach and buffet for most of your stay, then take one or two day trips out to the ancient sites, the old town or a boat trip, so you come home having actually seen Antalya rather than only your hotel. Booking a private day trip or transfer for those outings keeps them relaxed, and because your meals and drinks are already covered back at the resort, you only need to plan the sightseeing itself.

Getting to your resort

Whichever area you choose, the one thing worth arranging before you fly is your transfer, because the distances range from a 15-minute hop to a 2-hour drive, and airport taxis are the most common source of holiday frustration. A fixed-price private transfer means your driver is waiting when you land, the price is agreed in advance, and child seats are free. Compare every resort side by side on the destinations page, see the vehicle on our fleet page, or read the full airport transfer guide.