Antalya for Digital Nomads and Long-Stay Winter Sun
Why Antalya Works for Long Stays
Antalya has quietly become one of the better long-stay winter sun options for UK remote workers and retirees. Mild winters (12–18°C, mostly sunny), low costs, decent internet, and direct flights home. It doesn’t get the same attention as Lisbon or Tenerife, which is partly why it still makes financial sense.
The city also has a life beyond tourism. There’s a university, real neighbourhoods, shops where locals actually buy things. After a month here you don’t feel like a prop in someone else’s holiday.
Monthly Costs: What to Actually Budget
Here’s a realistic monthly breakdown for a comfortable lifestyle — not luxury, not backpacker:
| Expense | Monthly Cost (approx) |
|---|---|
| Furnished apartment (1-bed, Konyaaltı) | £250–450 |
| Utilities (electric, water, gas, internet) | £40–80 |
| Groceries (cooking at home mostly) | £100–180 |
| Eating out (2–3 times per week) | £60–120 |
| Transport (tram, occasional taxi) | £20–40 |
| Mobile data (local SIM, 20GB+) | £8–15 |
| Gym membership | £15–30 |
| Coworking space (optional) | £50–120 |
| Total | £550–1,000 |
That’s a full, comfortable month including socialising. Lisbon runs £1,500+ now, Barcelona more like £1,800+, and even Tenerife will set you back £1,200+ most months. Antalya is in a different bracket.
Finding an Apartment
Konyaaltı is where most long-stayers end up, and for good reason. Tram access, shops, a beach, restaurants — it functions as an actual neighbourhood rather than a tourist strip. The Hurma and Uncalı areas slightly inland are cheaper still if you don’t mind walking a bit further.
Kaleiçi (the old town) is atmospheric, but noisy in summer and dominated by tourists. Fine for a week, less appealing after a month.
Lara Beach is mostly hotels. Not well suited to independent long-stay life.
For finding places, Sahibinden.com is Turkey’s main property listing site. It’s in Turkish, but Google Translate gets you through it. Filter by “kiralık” (rental) and “eşyalı” (furnished). Facebook groups — search “Antalya expats” or “Antalya digital nomads” — are also worth checking. Landlords post directly, and other expats share leads. In shoulder and winter season it’s also worth just walking around Konyaaltı looking for “Kiralık” signs in windows. Asking in person often turns up better rates than anything listed online.
Furnished apartments in Konyaaltı typically come with a kitchen, washing machine, wifi router, and basic furniture. Quality varies a lot, so view before you commit. Short-term winter rentals (3–6 months) are common and landlords expect negotiation.
Deposits are usually one month’s rent. Get a receipt. Some landlords prefer informal arrangements for winter lets — a simple written agreement in English is better than nothing.
Internet and Wifi
This is the question most people ask first, and the short answer is: it’s good enough.
Türk Telekom fibre is available in most Konyaaltı apartments. Speeds of 50–100 Mbps are standard. Setup takes a few days and requires your passport. Monthly cost is around 200–400 TL (£5–10).
For mobile data, Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom all do tourist SIM packages. A 30-day plan with 20GB+ runs 300–600 TL (£8–15). Coverage across the city is solid.
A few coworking spaces have opened in Konyaaltı, though this isn’t Bali-level infrastructure. They tend to be small and community-oriented, priced around 1,500–4,000 TL (£40–100) per month. Most digital nomads here just work from cafés. Several spots in Konyaaltı have fast, reliable wifi and don’t mind you sitting for a few hours with a laptop.
Keep mobile data as a hotspot backup regardless. Turkish broadband is generally reliable but the odd outage happens.
The Expat and Nomad Community
The digital nomad scene in Antalya is growing but still small. Nothing like Lisbon or Chiang Mai in scale, which will either suit you perfectly or bother you depending on what you’re after.
You’ll find British retirees who’ve been coming for years, Russian and Ukrainian expats (particularly since 2022), German long-stayers, and a younger wave of remote workers from across Europe. People tend to be approachable, and the community is easy enough to break into.
Facebook groups are the main social hub. Meetups, language exchanges, hiking groups, and the occasional pub quiz happen regularly. The café culture in Konyaaltı makes bumping into people fairly natural.
English gets you through most of daily life, but picking up basic Turkish changes the experience noticeably. Locals appreciate the effort, and simple things like shopping and taking taxis become a lot smoother. Duolingo for the basics, a weekly conversation class if you want to push further.
Winter Weather: What to Actually Expect
Antalya’s winter is mild by UK standards but it’s not the Canary Islands.
November and December sit at 15–20°C during the day, with occasional rain. Still perfectly pleasant for outdoor café life. Most people stop swimming around mid-November.
January and February are cooler: 10–15°C in the day, 5–8°C at night. Rain picks up. You’ll need a jacket, and possibly a small heater in your apartment — many places don’t have central heating, so check before you sign anything.
March warms up quickly. Temperatures reach 15–20°C, the flowers come out, and outdoor life starts up again.
Even in the wettest months, Antalya gets far more sunshine than the UK. A rainy day rarely lasts more than a day or two before it clears.
Practical Tips for Long Stays
Visa: UK citizens get 90 days within a 180-day period on a standard e-Visa. For longer stays you’ll need a residence permit (ikamet), applied for at the local immigration office. Start the process early — it can take several weeks.
Banking: Wise is the standard for GBP-to-TRY transfers. If you’re staying three months or more, opening a Turkish bank account simplifies rent and bill payments considerably.
Healthcare: Private health insurance covering Turkey is essential. Local private healthcare is affordable — a GP visit might cost £15–25 without insurance. Pharmacies are excellent and pharmacists are often willing to advise.
Gym: There are several options in Konyaaltı, from budget chains at around £15/month to well-equipped independent gyms at £25–40/month. Most offer month-to-month membership.
Frequently asked questions
Is Antalya good for remote working?
Yes, if you value low costs and decent weather over a large nomad community. Internet is reliable, apartments are affordable, and the day-to-day lifestyle works well. It suits independent workers better than people who need a busy coworking scene.
How long can I stay in Antalya as a UK citizen?
90 days within any 180-day period on a standard e-Visa. For longer stays, apply for a residence permit (ikamet) through the Turkish immigration system.
Is Antalya warm enough in winter?
Warmer than the UK, but cooler than you might expect — 10–18°C most days. You won’t be sunbathing in January, but outdoor café life, hiking, and daily walks are comfortable enough. Pack layers.
Read our complete Antalya Turkey Travel Guide for more.
