Lara Beach: sand, and the closest option to the airport
Lara is the beach most visitors see first, and for good reason — it's about 12 km from Antalya Airport, with fine golden sand and a long resort strip that includes some of the region's best-known hotels. It's family-friendly, well set up with sunbeds and facilities, and close enough that a transfer from the airport rarely takes more than 20-25 minutes. If you want to be swimming within the hour of landing, Lara is usually the answer.
Konyaaltı: pebble beach, mountain backdrop, right in the city
Konyaaltı sits on the western edge of Antalya city itself, backed by the dramatic peaks of the Beydağları mountains — one of the most photographed views on this coast. The beach is pebble rather than sand (water shoes are worth packing), but it's lined by the Beach Park promenade: cafés, restaurants, play areas and shade, all walkable. It suits travellers who want to combine a beach day with being in the city, rather than an isolated resort strip.
| Beach | Distance from AYT | Sand type | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lara | ~12 km | Sandy | Resort strip, family-friendly |
| Konyaaltı | ~15 km (into the city) | Pebble | City beach, mountain views, promenade |
| Side / Manavgat / Belek | 45-70 km east | Mostly sandy | Spread-out resort hotels, quieter coves |
| Kaputaş / Ölüdeniz area | 3+ hrs west (Kaş / Fethiye) | Sand & turquoise coves | Postcard scenery, day-trip only |
The resort strip further east: Side, Manavgat and Belek
Head east along the coast and you reach Belek, Side and Manavgat — a stretch of mostly sandy beach lined with large resort hotels rather than a single town beach. These are typically private or hotel-adjacent beaches, quieter and more spread out than Lara, and popular with travellers who've booked an all-inclusive stay rather than day-tripping from a base elsewhere. They're 45-70 km from the airport depending on the exact resort — a private transfer of roughly an hour is the easiest way to reach them directly.
Kaputaş and Ölüdeniz: beautiful, but not an airport-transfer distance
Photos of Kaputaş's turquoise cove or Ölüdeniz's lagoon show up in every "best beaches in Turkey" list, and they are genuinely stunning — but they're near Kaş and Fethiye, three-plus hours west of Antalya Airport by road. That's not a realistic transfer distance; think of them instead as a long day trip or overnight excursion once you're already settled at your hotel, not somewhere to head straight from arrivals.
Staying near Lara? See transfer prices for the ~12 km run from the airport.
View Lara transfer prices →Choosing your beach
- Want sand and easy airport access? Lara is hard to beat for a short transfer and a proper beach day.
- Prefer pebble, mountain views and city life nearby? Konyaaltı and its promenade fit that brief.
- Booked an all-inclusive resort in Belek, Side or Manavgat? Your beach is likely right at the hotel — check with your resort.
- Save Kaputaş, Ölüdeniz or similar hidden coves for a planned day trip later in your stay, not your first day.