Millions of tourists head to Antalya each year for its sunshine, beaches and affordable prices — so it’s best to stay away from the large all-inclusive resorts and seek out the cooler, more authentic spots. Antalya’s ancient city centre, Kaleici (literally “inside the castle”), is a warren of ateliers, cafés, bars and boutique hotels in renovated historic buildings. Further afield, there are plenty of modish small hotels in villages a short drive from the city, many serving up excellent local cuisine.
You can find a few smaller hotels and B&Bs in the package-holiday hotspots such as Lara beach too, offering the convenience of a finely tuned tourism behemoth on your doorstep and the flexibility to get out and explore. Antalya’s nature is unrivalled in Turkey, but most visitors never make it further than the overcrowded beaches and strips, so hire a car and tour the hidden coves, national parks and mountain villages on your doorstep. Here’s our pick of the best affordable hotels in Antalya, all with starting rates under £130 a night — in some cases well under.
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1. Tuvana Hotel, Antalya centre
POOL | Best for ambience
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The old centre of Antalya has undergone a revival in recent years and new boutique hotels deliver something different to the all-inclusive resorts that the area is known for. The Tuvana is the one to aim for and is built around an impressive 18th-century mansion and its lush gardens, full of oranges, bananas and pomegranates that you can pick and enjoy while basking beside the pool. It features four restaurants and regular art exhibitions, while the rooms range from a comfortable economy option to the sumptuous Pascha Room.
2. Golden Orange, Konyaalti
POOL | Best for families
There is a retro vibe at the Golden Orange, from its classic white exterior and palm trees to the brightly decorated rooms. This place ticks an impressive number of boxes for its ultra-low prices: it’s close to the beach, has a children’s pool, and, although it is a bed and breakfast, it has a restaurant with plenty well-priced plates to pick from. It’s also close to the airport and Antalya’s holiday attractions, including water and theme parks, making it the perfect choice for families with young children.
3. Kiana Kaleici, Antalya centre
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POOL | Best for city-centre location
This tiny hotel in the old city makes the perfect hideaway, located on a tiny backstreet in the winding heart of the old city with bars, restaurants and shops just seconds away. The chic, cosy rooms are themed around the four elements — earth, air, fire and water — and each promises to transport you to deep relaxation with calming colour schemes and luxury bedding. Breakfast is served on the sunny outdoor terrace, where you can also enjoy snacks during the day and a wine and cheese plate in the evening. The staff can help you to arrange excursions, including yacht trips around Antalya’s stunning coastline.
4. Afflon Sea Hill Concept, Konyaalti
Best for fun rooms for kids — and adults
The Afflon’s clifftop location means that there are striking views everywhere you turn, from the rooms (the pricier have a full sea view, in the cheaper options you’ll get a glimpse from the balcony) to the panorama from the roof terrace. But it’s the rooms that are the real draw, themed in a way that both kids and adults will love. Try the Lego room, the Space room or the Red room for small children (they’ll love the bright colours and murals), or the sleek Black room for teenagers who want more of a nightlife vibe. If you’re looking for something sophisticated and laid-back, try Bali or Marrakesh — both have sumptuous four-poster beds and rattan furniture. There’s no pool, but the hotel is right next to one of Antalya’s most famous beaches, the long, sandy Konyaalti.
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5. L’ancora Beach Hotel, Kemer
POOL | Best for a stress-free break
The L’ancora has a pool, sauna and fitness suite, as well as a private beach, a kids’ club and bars and restaurants, so you could easily spend your whole holiday within the hotel and its grounds. All meals are included on a buffet basis, but you’ll find exciting options just outside the gates, including the riverside Ulupinar Havuzbasi, where you can eat grilled trout fresh from the adjoining farm. The hotel is in Kemer, one of the less crowded parts of the Antalya coast, and it’s likely to feel peaceful even during the high season.
6. Azur Hotel, Cirali
POOL | Best for nature lovers
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Cirali is an oasis, a village at the end of a road that winds through an idyllic valley in one of the most unspoilt parts of Antalya. You can thank the turtles: they nest on the beach here, meaning that development is strictly controlled and so, unlike most resorts, Cirali’s buildings are all low-rise and there is no music booming out on its beach. Instead, you’ll find some of the most impressive nature and ancient ruins in Turkey, alongside a cool, bohemian vibe. Almost all accommodation here is in wooden bungalows, but the Azur gives the concept an upgrade with its mix of well fitted-out wooden and stone villas.
7. Melisa Boutique Hotel and Spa, Kas
SPA | Best for romance
Kas has been a holiday hotspot for young Turks for several years and tourists are just starting to catch on too. This small fishing village is a charming warren of stone buildings with a lively centre filled with bars and restaurants — and although the seafront cliffs may be a bit too dramatic for some, there are plenty of other excellent beaches within a small radius (although you should definitely hire a car). Popularity brings high prices, but the Melisa manages to stay cheap by cutting out all unnecessary frills while keeping the comfort factor, including its spa, where you can relax in the traditional Turkish hammam after a day of exploring.
• Best things to do in Antalya
• Best hotels in Antalya
8. Likya Yolu Palas, Kapakli
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POOL | Best for hikers
The Lycian Way (Likya Yolu in Turkish) is Turkey’s best-known hiking trail, a coastal path from Antalya to Fethiye that takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery the country has to offer. This charming stone hotel is located right on the route, meaning that it is perfectly positioned for day hikes, as well as providing spectacular views over the Mediterranean. The facilities are basic but include everything you need: there’s a bar and restaurant and free sunloungers on the beach — and with this kind of nature on your doorstep you’ll be itching to get out and about as soon as the sun comes up.
9. Ozgur Bey Spa Hotel, Alanya
SPA | POOL | Best for couples
Alanya is one of the most popular resorts in Antalya thanks to Kleopatra beach, its long, pristine stretch of sand with the ancient castle towering over it. While finding a beachfront place on a budget can be challenging, the Ozgur Bey fits the bill. Although it is set one street back from the water, guests can use its private beach, just a couple of minutes’ stroll away, which has its own bar and restaurant as well as sunloungers. Back at the hotel you’ll find a pool, comfortable minimalist rooms and a spa, a new addition for 2024. And as a bonus, it’s pet-friendly — a rarity in Turkey.
10. Maison Green Hill Boutique Hotel, Manavgat
POOL | Best for older kids
Kids will love the “hobbit rooms” — dinky houses built into the ground — at the Maison Green Hill, a traditional hotel in one of the most popular parts of Antalya. The emphasis is on nature here, and staff can help you arrange excursions to make the best of the surroundings, including rafting, quad biking and trekking. The local area is packed with ancient cities, waterfalls and canyons, ensuring that there’s plenty to fill a holiday for any restless teenagers. While they’re out exploring, adults can relax in the infinity pool and look out over the turquoise sea, or sip a drink on the terrace overlooking the verdant landscape.
11. Raw Beach Hotel, Lara beach
Best for location
Lara beach is one of the rowdiest parts of Antalya, yet Raw Beach manages to pull off a boutique-style holiday. This small hotel offers chic accommodation in relaxing surroundings — think minimalist interiors, luxury four-poster sunloungers, organic breakfasts and fresh juices served on the seafront terrace, and regular yoga sessions and sunset beach parties. Right next door you’ll find Sandland, a sand sculpture park where artists make towering tributes to world-famous monuments and icons (the sculptures are illuminated at night, giving them an otherworldly feel).
12. Pearly Hotel, Konyaalti
SPA | Best for beaches
Konyaalti is Antalya’s city beach: an impressive straight stretch of nearly three miles, with neat gardens directly behind, and restaurants, cafés and bars lining the corniche. At the Pearly, which sits almost right on the sand, you’ll find a laid-back, beachy vibe: the rooms are spacious and the top-end options include Jacuzzis with views out over the water. There are dozens of private and public beaches within walking distance, and areas of both sand and pebbles, meaning you’ll find something for your taste and budget. You’ll also have the buzz of the big city at your door: Antalya is Turkey’s fifth-largest urban centre, with a thriving arts and culture scene, and a huge community of expats.
13. Solo Boutique Hotel, Antalya centre
Best for escaping the city
The Solo is tucked between some of Antalya’s best-known sights, including the clock tower, Hadrian’s Gate and the Roman harbour. The emphasis here is on the natural materials found in this part of the Mediterranean, including furniture crafted from untreated cedar wood and exposed limestone walls. The rooms are small but have views over the old town; the roof terrace is the showstopper — guests can relax here and gaze right out across the old city to the sea.
14. Sunprime Dogan Side Beach, Manavgat
SPA | POOL | Best for dining options
The beauty of the Sunprime is that it has a flexible range of packages, from full all-inclusive to a basic rate for bed and breakfast. You will sacrifice a few extras for the excellent prices: meals are all served on a buffet basis and the spa is simple with two options, hammam or massage. But nothing about the ambience here suggests cheapness: it caters mainly to Scandinavian tourists and that shows in its functional, solid service. It’s also well placed on the beach in one of the most popular (and generally expensive) parts of the region.
• Best all-inclusive hotels in Antalya
• Best family hotels in Turkey
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