Antalya Airport to Side: Transfers, Taxis and Buses Explained
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Quick answer: Side is roughly 65–75 km from Antalya Airport (AYT). By car, taxi or private transfer it usually takes around 60–75 minutes, and more at busy times. A shared coach transfer that drops off at several hotels can take a lot longer. There is no direct public bus. The public transport route takes three hours or more.
Route map: Antalya Airport (AYT) to Side
International Terminal 2
UK package airlines generally use Terminal 2. Jet2 says all its Antalya departures leave from Terminal 2, and the airport's departures board shows Jet2, TUI and easyJet flights at T2. Arrival terminals can differ, so check your booking or boarding pass.
International Terminal 1
Some airlines use Terminal 1, which is about 2.5 km from Terminal 2 (airport website). If your flight uses T1, your driver's meeting point will differ.
Approximate route: 66 km by road from Antalya Airport, International Terminal 2 to Side (old town / resort centre). The calculated free-flow drive time is about 56 minutes. That is an estimate with no traffic, so allow longer. Published guides put the drive at about 60 to 75 minutes in normal traffic, and longer in peak summer. Shared coach transfers add time for hotel drop-offs.
Towns along the way: Aksu (~8 km, on the route), Kadriye (Belek area) (~22 km, near the route), Serik (~31 km, on the route), Gündoğdu (~50 km, on the route), Manavgat (~65 km, near the route). There are fuel stations and roadside services along the main road, but we have not mapped individual stops.
Drop your hotel on the map: click or tap the map, or search by hotel name.
| Option | Time | Stops | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package coach transfer | Drive time plus hotel drop-offs. Often noticeably longer than a direct car. | Usually several hotel stops (general guidance; varies by flight and resort) | Often included (e.g. Jet2holidays, TUI packages) or an add-on (e.g. loveholidays, On the Beach). Check your booking. | – |
| Private transfer | About the drive time (direct) | None, direct to your hotel | Check today's price (per vehicle) | Compare private transfers affiliate |
| Shared shuttle / other providers | Varies | Varies | Check today's price | Compare shuttles and cars affiliate |
| Taxi from the rank | About the drive time (direct) | None | Metered or as shown on the airport fare board. A long journey, so a large fare. Not quoted here. | – |
- Money: Turkey uses the Turkish lira. Keep some cash in lira for minibuses, small purchases and optional tips. If a card machine offers to charge you in pounds, choose lira.
- Data on arrival: Turkey is outside UK networks' EU roaming zones, so check your network's rates or install an eSIM at home before you fly.
- Transfer didn't show? Call the number on your voucher and your operator's 24-hour line, keep evidence and receipts. See our step-by-step guide.
- Emergency number in Turkey: 112 (ambulance, fire, police). Source: GOV.UK and Turkey's 112 service.
- Health cover: the UK GHIC is not valid in Turkey, so make sure your travel insurance includes medical cover.
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Know your terminal
Antalya Airport has two international terminals (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) and a domestic terminal. The two international terminals are about 2.5 km apart. UK package airlines generally use Terminal 2: Jet2 says all its Antalya departures leave from Terminal 2, and the airport's departures board shows Jet2, TUI and easyJet at T2. Arrival terminals can differ, so check your booking or boarding pass before you arrange to meet a driver. Most transfer desks and taxi ranks are just outside the arrivals exits.
Option 1: your package holiday transfer
Whether a transfer is included depends on who you booked with. Jet2holidays packages generally include return coach transfers, with private transfers available as an upgrade. loveholidays and On the Beach usually sell transfers as an optional extra, which you can add when you book or later through your booking account. Your confirmation will say what you have.
How it works: after collecting your luggage, look for your operator's desk or rep outside arrivals. You'll be directed to a coach, which may wait for passengers from other flights and will usually stop at several hotels.
Good for: anyone whose transfer is already included, solo travellers and couples on a budget, and hotels on the main resort routes.
Option 2: a pre-booked private transfer
A private transfer is priced per vehicle rather than per person. The driver usually tracks your flight and meets you at arrivals with a name board, then drives you straight to your hotel. Larger vehicles are available for groups, and child seats can often be requested, but confirm this when you book.
Good for: families, groups of four or more, late-night arrivals, travellers with mobility needs, and anyone whose hotel would be near the end of a long coach route.
Option 3: a taxi from the rank
Taxis wait outside the arrivals exits, and the airport displays a fare board next to the taxi rank. It's a long journey, so the fare is considerably higher than a trip into Antalya city. Before you set off, check the fare board (see taxi fares below), confirm the meter is running or agree the price, and have some cash available. A standard taxi suits up to four passengers with normal luggage.
Good for: when your transfer hasn't turned up, or you didn't pre-book and want to leave straight away.
Option 4: public transport
It can be done, but it isn't quick. Take the AntRay tram or bus 600 from the airport to Antalya's intercity bus station (otogar), then a bus to Manavgat, then a local minibus (dolmuş) to Side. With connections, allow three hours or more. It's only practical with light luggage and in daylight.
Which option should you choose?
| Your situation | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| Transfer included in your package | Use it, unless you are landing very late with young children |
| Family of four or more, transfer not included | Compare a private transfer with your operator's add-on price |
| Couple, transfer not included | Compare the operator's shuttle, a shared shuttle and a private car |
| Late-night or early-morning flight | Pre-book, so you are not relying on taxi availability |
| Backpack only, plenty of time | Public transport is possible but slow |
For a general comparison across resorts, see shared coach vs private transfer vs taxi: which is best for you?
The return journey
- Package coach pick-up times are set by the operator, usually shared a day or two before you leave via your rep, the hotel noticeboard or the app, and they can be early. Check them as soon as they're published.
- With a private transfer, book a pick-up time that leaves a generous margin for check-in and security, especially on peak summer days.
- Ask the hotel about late check-out or a day room if your flight is late in the day.
Heading to Side? Read our honest Side resort companion for day trips, a pre-trip checklist and the hotel checks to do before you go.
Fair taxi fares from Antalya Airport (AYT)
Official or published taxi fares only. Where there's no published fare we say so, rather than guess. See all four airports on our airport taxi fares page.
| Airport to | Road distance (approx.) | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Side | about 65–75 km | Check the official tariff board at the rank |
- Fraport TAV Antalya Airport: taxis
- Antalya Airport Taxi Cooperative (named by the airport)
- Antalya Körfez, report on airport taxi fares (Turkish, anecdotal)
How to avoid being overcharged
- Use the official rank outside arrivals, never someone who approaches you inside the terminal.
- Meter or fixed fare: agree which before you set off. In Majorca and Tenerife taxis are metered, so check the meter starts at the flag-fall amount. At Dalaman the cooperative publishes fixed fares, so confirm the fare for your resort with the driver. At Antalya, photograph the fare board and insist on the meter or the board price.
- Know the supplements. Airport and night/holiday rates, and extra passengers, are legitimate. Luggage is free in Majorca under the official tariff.
- Ask for a receipt (recibo in Spain, fiş in Turkey) with the licence or plate number. In Majorca the tariff says a receipt must be given free.
- Card vs cash. Majorca's tariff says card payment can't be charged extra. Elsewhere card acceptance isn't guaranteed: carry some euros or lira, and pay in the local currency rather than pounds if offered a conversion.
- Note the licence number and keep the receipt if you want to complain. Complain to the local town hall (Spain) or the airport and cooperative (Turkey).
FAQs
How far is Side from Antalya Airport?
Around 65 to 75 km by road, depending on where your hotel is.
How long does a taxi take from Antalya Airport to Side?
Usually around 60 to 75 minutes in normal traffic, and longer at busy times in peak summer.
Can I get a bus from Antalya Airport to Side?
Not directly. Take the AntRay tram or bus 600 to Antalya bus station, then a bus to Manavgat and a minibus to Side. Allow three hours or more.
Where do I find my transfer rep or driver at Antalya Airport?
Tour operator transfer desks are outside the terminal after arrivals. Private transfer drivers usually meet you at the arrivals exit, and your booking confirmation should give the exact meeting point. Check which terminal your flight uses, because the two international terminals are about 2.5 km apart.
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