Arriving at Antalya Airport in the middle of summer is an experience. As soon as the sliding glass doors of the arrivals hall open, two things hit you simultaneously: a wall of humid, 35°C air, and a wall of noise.
Location: Antalya Airport (AYT) to City Center
Transport: Antray (T1A Line) Cost: Less than a cup of coffee
Mood: Sweaty but Victorious
Hundreds of people are holding up signs with names of tourists and massive all-inclusive resorts. The taxi line stretches around the corner. Drivers are shouting, luggage wheels are clacking, and everyone looks slightly panicked about how to actually get to their hotel.
I didn’t want to haggle for a taxi. I just wanted a cold breeze and a smooth ride. So, I looked up and followed the signs for the Tramvay (Tram).
The Walk to the Station
The Antray station is located just outside Terminal 1 and the Domestic Terminal. (If you land at Terminal 2, you have to take a quick airport shuttle bus or a taxi to T1 first, but thankfully, I was right there). I walked up the pedestrian ramp. Below me, the traffic was already gridlocked with tour buses trying to leave the airport.
I reached the turnstiles. I didn’t even have to buy a specific transit card immediately; I just tapped my regular contactless credit card on the reader. The gates opened. It cost me peanuts compared to the taxi quotes I had overheard downstairs.
The Air-Conditioned Sanctuary
The tram arrived silently. I stepped inside. The air conditioning was cranked up to a glorious, freezing level. It felt like stepping into a refrigerator after walking through a desert. I found a window seat, placed my suitcase next to me, and watched the chaos of the airport slowly shrink as we glided away on the elevated tracks.
Gliding Past the Traffic
This is where the Antray feels like a cheat code. As we moved towards the city, I looked out the window at the main highway. It was packed. Cars were bumper-to-bumper, baking in the Mediterranean sun. But the tram has its own dedicated track. We flew right past the traffic jams.
Slowly, the landscape changed. The dusty outskirts of the city gave way to wide boulevards lined with massive palm trees and bright pink bougainvillea flowers spilling over garden walls.
Arrival at the Gates of History
About 40 minutes later, the automated voice announced: “İsmetpaşa.” This was my stop. I stepped off the tram right into the heart of the city. I was standing on a beautiful, modern pedestrian street. Just a three-minute walk away was the ancient Hadrian’s Gate, the entrance to the Old Town (Kaleiçi).
I had made it from the chaotic baggage claim to the Roman walls without breaking a sweat (mostly thanks to the tram’s AC).
The Verdict
If your hotel is in the city center or Kaleiçi, do not bother with taxis or private transfers from the airport. The Antray is clean, cheap, and immune to Antalya’s notorious traffic. It is the smartest way to start your Mediterranean escape.
My “Eat Walk Repeat” Note for Today:
Eat: Grab an ice-cold bottle of water from the kiosks near the luggage claim before you head up to the tram station. You will need it for the walk.
Walk: The tram drops you right in the center, but the streets inside Kaleiçi are cobbled. Roll your suitcase slowly.
Repeat: You can use the same Antray line later to visit the massive Antalya Museum or go to the EXPO area.
Explore More of My Antalya Diaries:
If you enjoyed this diary, check out the rest of my Antalya series to see the Mediterranean through a local lens:
🍽️ Eat & Drink
- Food Diaries: Why I Put Tahini on My Meatballs (Tahinli Piyaz)
- Food Diaries: The Strange Magic of “Burnt” Ice Cream (Yanık Dondurma)
🎟️ Things To Do
- The 7 AM Swim Ritual: Jumping into the Mediterranean at Konyaaltı
- Climbing Termessos: Feeling Like Indiana Jones in the Taurus Mountains
🗺️ Itineraries
- Lost in Kaleiçi: A Full Day Behind the Roman Walls of the Old Town
- The Turquoise Coast: A Day Trip to the Sunken City of Kekova
🚇 Essentials
- The Midday Siesta Diaries: How I Survived the 40°C Mediterranean Heat
- Escaping the Airport Chaos: Riding the Antray Tram to the Sea
🏘️ Neighborhoods
- Kaleiçi Diaries: Roman Harbors and Hidden Courtyard Bars
- The Cliffs of Lara: Chasing Waterfalls and High-End Cafes
🌦️ Seasonal
- Summer Diaries: Midnight Swims and the Wall of Humidity
- Winter Diaries: Snow on the Mountains, Oranges on the Trees
