How to Travel Antalya on a Tight Budget
The Honest Budget Breakdown
Antalya is one of the best-value Mediterranean destinations for UK travellers, but only if you step slightly outside the tourist bubble. Here’s what you’re actually looking at per day for a solo traveller or couple splitting costs.
Realistic daily budget (per person):
- Accommodation: £10–20 (hostel or budget hotel)
- Food: £8–15 (eating where locals eat)
- Transport: £2–3 (tram and bus)
- Activities: £0–10 (many things are free)
- Total: £25–45 per day
Perfectly doable, and you won’t feel like you’re roughing it.
Cheap Flights: Timing Is Everything
The flight is usually the biggest expense, but it doesn’t have to be.
Cheapest months to fly from the UK are November, March, and April. Returns under £80 are common with easyJet, Pegasus, or SunExpress if you book 6–8 weeks ahead and fly midweek. Avoid school half-terms, Easter, and July–August — prices triple.
One thing worth checking: Pegasus and SunExpress often include 20kg checked luggage in the base fare, where budget UK carriers charge extra. Compare the total cost rather than the headline price, because it changes the maths pretty quickly.
Use Google Flights with flexible dates and check both London airports and regional ones — Manchester and Birmingham sometimes undercut Gatwick.
Where to Stay Cheap
Antalya has a small but decent hostel scene, mainly in the old town. Dorm beds run from £8–12/night; private rooms in the same hostels are around £20–30 for a double.
Move away from Kaleiçi and Lara Beach and prices drop sharply. Konyaaltı has clean 2-star hotels and apart-hotels for £15–25/night for a double — still on the tram line, still close to the beach.
In shoulder season, it’s worth walking into smaller hotels and asking for a rate rather than booking online. They save the booking.com commission and sometimes pass part of it to you. Works more often than you’d expect.
For longer stays — a month or more, which is popular with remote workers and retirees — monthly apartment rentals in Konyaaltı or Muratpaşa start from around £250–400/month including bills.
Eating Cheaply (and Well)
The local food is where your money really goes far. A full lunch at a lokanta (a self-service local restaurant) costs 80–150 TL (£2–4): you point at what you want behind the glass — stews, rice, grilled meat, salads — and leave stuffed. These places are everywhere once you walk off the tourist streets.
For street food, tantuni (spiced meat wrap), balık ekmek (fish sandwich), lahmacun (Turkish flatbread pizza), and simit (sesame bread rings) are all under 50 TL. Fresh orange juice from a street cart is about 20 TL.
If you’re self-catering, Migros, BİM, and A101 are the main supermarket chains. Fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, cheese, and olives are all cheap. A week’s groceries won’t hurt.
The one place to avoid is the harbourfront in Kaleiçi. Restaurants there charge 3–5x local prices. Walk two streets back from the water and you’re in a different world.
If your hotel includes breakfast, great. If not, a simit and a glass of fresh orange juice from a street vendor costs under 30 TL.
Free and Cheap Things to Do
There’s a surprising amount here that costs nothing.
Free:
- Walking the old town (Kaleiçi) and harbour
- Hadrian’s Gate — Roman arch, right in the city, no entry fee
- Düden Waterfalls (Lower) — small parking fee, otherwise free
- Konyaaltı Beach and Lara Beach — public access sections are free
- Walking the clifftop path between the old town and Konyaaltı
- Exploring the old bazaar streets
- Karaalioğlu Park — clifftop park near the old town, good views
Very cheap (under £5):
- Antalya Museum (one of the best in Turkey, entry around 200 TL)
- Upper Düden Waterfalls (small entry fee)
- Dolmuş to nearby towns like Side or Olympos
- Boat trips from the harbour — basic trips start from about 150 TL
On organised excursions: day trips to Pamukkale or Cappadocia from tour operators cost £50–80 per person. If those are on your list, book through a pansiyona or a street travel agent rather than your hotel — same trip, typically 30–50% cheaper.
Transport Savings
Get an AntalyaKart from machines at tram stops. Load credit, tap for tram and bus rides at a flat rate — much cheaper than paying cash, and transfers are discounted.
The Antray tram covers the main tourist corridor and is the cheapest way to get between Konyaaltı, the museum, the city centre, and the old town area. Kaleiçi itself is compact — everything is within 15 minutes on foot.
For day trips, dolmuş (shared minibuses) run regularly to Side, Kemer, and Olympos at a fraction of what organised tours charge.
One thing people often get wrong: from the airport, the Havaş bus to the city centre costs 130–150 TL. A taxi is 500+ TL. Take the bus.
Money-Saving Tips
- Pay in Lira, not pounds or euros. Dynamic currency conversion at card machines always gives you a worse rate. When the terminal asks “pay in GBP?” select NO and pay in TRY.
- Withdraw cash from Halkbank or Ziraat ATMs. They tend to have lower fees than airport or tourist-area machines.
- Haggle at the bazaar. Tourist prices are inflated by 30–50%. Polite negotiation is normal and expected. Walk away if the price doesn’t move — they’ll often call you back.
- Drink çay, not coffee. Turkish tea costs 10–20 TL in a café. A coffee-shop latte is 80–120 TL.
- Buy water from supermarkets. A 1.5L bottle costs 10–15 TL in a shop vs 40–60 TL at a restaurant.
Frequently asked questions
Is Antalya cheap for UK tourists?
Yes, significantly cheaper than Spain, Greece, or Italy. The Turkish Lira’s decline against the pound means your money goes noticeably further — meals, transport, and accommodation all come in well below what you’d pay at comparable European destinations.
How much spending money do I need for a week in Antalya?
For a mid-range trip with meals out, a couple of excursions, and some shopping, budget around £250–350 per person for the week (excluding flights and accommodation). Budget travellers can manage on £150–200.
Is all-inclusive worth it in Antalya?
It depends on your travel style. All-inclusive removes financial stress and works well for families. But Antalya’s local restaurants are so cheap and good that half-board or self-catering often gives you a better overall experience for similar or less money.
Read our complete Antalya Turkey Travel Guide for more.
