Where Is Antalya? Location, Map, Time Difference & Quick Facts

“Where actually is Antalya?” is one of the most common questions we hear from people who have just booked a package, often after seeing names like Lara, Belek, Side or Alanya on the paperwork and wondering how they all fit together. Here is the simple local’s explanation: where Antalya sits, what belongs to it, what time it is there, and a few facts that save confusion before you fly.

Where Is Antalya on the Map?

Look at a map of Turkey and find the big bay on the southern coast, roughly halfway between the Aegean in the west and Syria in the east. That bay is the Gulf of Antalya, and the city sits at the top of it, with the Taurus Mountains rising straight behind. To the west the coast runs past Kemer towards Kaş and Fethiye; to the east it runs past Belek, Side and Alanya towards Mersin.

You can see it on Google Maps here. Rough distances by road: Istanbul about 700 km (1 hour 15 minutes by plane), Ankara about 480 km, Cappadocia about 540 km, Pamukkale about 240 km and Fethiye about 200 km.

Is Antalya in Europe or Asia?

Asia. Turkey straddles two continents, but only a small corner around Istanbul and Edirne (Thrace) is in Europe. Everything south and east of the Bosphorus, including Antalya, is Anatolia, the Asian part of the country. Antalya is also not in the European Union, because Turkey is not an EU member, although it sits much closer to the rest of Europe in feel than many visitors expect.

Antalya City vs Antalya Province

This is the part that confuses most people. Antalya city is the large modern city around Kaleiçi, the old town, with Konyaaltı beach to the west and Lara to the east. Antalya province is the much bigger region around it, stretching over 600 km of coastline, and it includes almost every resort a UK holiday company sells under “Antalya”.

Typical drive times outside rush hour; summer traffic adds time.

So yes, Alanya is in Antalya, Belek is in Antalya and Side is in Antalya, but they are separate towns, not neighbourhoods of the city. If you are trying to decide between them, our guide to where to stay in Antalya compares each area honestly.

What Time Is It in Antalya? The Time Difference Explained

Turkey uses one time zone, Turkey Time (TRT), which is UTC+3 all year round. Turkey stopped changing its clocks in 2016, so there is no summer or winter time in Antalya. Because the UK does change its clocks, the gap moves twice a year:

For most of continental Europe (Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and so on) Antalya is 1 hour ahead in summer and 2 hours ahead in winter. Flight times on your booking are always shown in local time at each airport, which is why a four-hour flight can look like it takes six on the ticket.

Sunrise and sunset: because Turkey keeps “summer” time all year, winter mornings are dark. In December and January the sun rises around 07:30 to 07:45 and sets around 17:30; in June it rises around 05:30 and sets after 20:00. Handy to know if you are booking an early tour or a sunset cruise.

A Few More Things People Ask

How do you pronounce Antalya? Locals say it with fairly even stress, roughly “AN-tahl-yah”. The English “an-TAL-ya” is understood everywhere, so do not worry about it.

How old is Antalya? The city was founded around 150 BC by King Attalos II of Pergamon and named Attaleia after him. Hadrian’s Gate in Kaleiçi dates from the Roman emperor’s visit in AD 130. Our Roman and Ottoman heritage guide walks through the layers.

Is Antalya a big city? Yes. It is one of Turkey’s largest cities and its biggest holiday destination, with a busy modern centre, trams, malls and universities. The province covers around 20,000 square kilometres, a little smaller than Wales.

Can you see Cyprus from Antalya? No. Northern Cyprus is a couple of hundred kilometres south across open sea, well beyond the horizon from the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Antalya located?
On the south-west coast of Turkey, on the Mediterranean Sea at the top of the Gulf of Antalya, about 700 km south of Istanbul by road.

Is Antalya in Europe or Asia?
Asia. Antalya is in Anatolia, the Asian part of Turkey. Only the area around Istanbul and Edirne is in Europe.

Is Antalya in Istanbul?
No. They are different cities about 700 km apart. The flight between them takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, and the drive takes 9 to 10 hours.

Is Alanya in Antalya?
Yes. Alanya is a separate town in Antalya province, about 2 hours east of Antalya Airport. Side and Belek are also in Antalya province.

Is Fethiye in Antalya?
No. Fethiye, Ölüdeniz and Dalaman are in Muğla province, west of Antalya. Fethiye is about 3.5 hours from Antalya Airport.

What time is it in Antalya compared to the UK?
Antalya is 2 hours ahead of the UK from late March to late October, and 3 hours ahead from late October to late March. Turkey does not change its clocks.

Do the clocks change in Antalya?
No. Turkey has stayed on UTC+3 all year since 2016.

Which sea is Antalya on?
The Mediterranean. The city sits on the Gulf of Antalya; the Aegean starts further west, beyond Fethiye and Marmaris.

How many airports does Antalya have?
Two in the province: Antalya Airport (AYT), which handles almost all international flights, and the much smaller Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP), handy for Alanya.

Page last updated: October 2026.