Which airport to fly into: Antalya, Dalaman or Gazipaşa?

The Turkish Riviera has three airports: Antalya (AYT) in the middle, Dalaman (DLM) in the west near Fethiye, and the small Gazipaşa-Alanya (GZP) in the east. Picking the right one can save you three hours in a transfer van, or cost you a lot more if you choose an airport with no suitable flight. Find your resort in the table below, then read the tips on searching both airports together.

The best airport for each resort

From west to east. The last column shows the transfer time from the airport we recommend; the alternative column tells you what the other option would mean.

Times are daytime drives in normal traffic; summer weekend traffic and the evening rush around Antalya can add time. Gazipaşa times are estimates. More detail on the hub pages: Antalya transfers, Dalaman transfers, Gazipaşa transfers.

The three airports in short

Antalya (AYT): the big one

Antalya is one of the busiest airports in Türkiye and by far the main gateway to the coast. In summer there are direct flights from almost every larger city in Europe, many of them daily, plus charter flights for package holidays. In winter the choice shrinks but stays reasonable, which is not true of the other two airports.

Because it has the most flights, it is often the cheapest and most flexible choice, even when the transfer is longer. It covers everything from Kemer to Side easily, and Alanya at a pinch.

Dalaman (DLM): the west

Dalaman is the airport for Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Göcek and Dalyan, and the best choice for Kalkan and usually Kaş. It is mid-sized and very seasonal: busy from about April to October with leisure and charter flights, especially from the UK, and much quieter in winter, when most connections run via Istanbul or Ankara.

Gazipaşa-Alanya (GZP): small and seasonal

Gazipaşa is a small airport about 40 minutes east of Alanya. It has domestic flights and a short list of international routes, most of them seasonal or charter, and the line-up changes from year to year. Do not plan around it until you have found an actual flight on your dates.

When a flight fits, it is the fastest way to Alanya, Mahmutlar and Gazipaşa. Facilities are basic, and there is little public transport, so arrange your transfer before you land.

Via Istanbul

If there is no direct flight from your home airport, a connection via Istanbul works for all three airports. Domestic flights from Istanbul to Antalya run many times a day all year; to Dalaman and Gazipaşa less often. Leave enough time for the change: on arrival you usually go through passport control and customs in Istanbul, not at the final airport.

Choosing by resort

Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Göcek, Dalyan: Dalaman

For the Turquoise Coast the choice is easy: Dalaman is 25 minutes to an hour away, Antalya more than three hours. Only fly to Antalya if there is truly no usable Dalaman flight, and count the long transfer (and its cost) before you book. This also applies to Çalış and Hisarönü.

Kalkan and Kaş: the border zone

Kalkan is clearly a Dalaman resort: about 1 h 45 min from Dalaman against about 3 h 35 min from Antalya. Kaş is the real border case: about 2 h 15 min from Dalaman, about 3 h 15 min from Antalya. Dalaman is still an hour shorter, but if Antalya has a direct flight at a good time and Dalaman does not, Antalya is a perfectly reasonable choice for Kaş, and the coast road from Antalya is beautiful in daylight.

Compare both transfer pages before deciding: Dalaman to Kaş and Antalya to Kaş, Dalaman to Kalkan and Antalya to Kalkan.

Demre to Side: Antalya

From Demre and Kekova eastwards Antalya is the natural airport. Olympos and Çıralı are about 1 h 35 min away, Kemer about an hour, Belek about 35 minutes and Side about 1 h 10 min. Dalaman and Gazipaşa offer no real advantage here.

Alanya and the east: Gazipaşa if possible

From Avsallar eastwards Gazipaşa is closer: Alanya is about 40 minutes from Gazipaşa against about 2 h 10 min from Antalya, Mahmutlar about 30 minutes against 2 h 20 min. The catch is the small number of flights. Many visitors to Alanya still fly to Antalya because it has the flights they need.

A good rule: check Gazipaşa first. If you find a flight at a similar price and time, take it. If not, Antalya is fine; the transfer runs along the coast and is straightforward.

Tips when searching for flights

Search two airports at once

Most flight search engines let you enter several destination airports. For Kaş and Kalkan search Dalaman and Antalya together, for Alanya and the east Gazipaşa and Antalya. Then compare the total: flight price plus transfer plus the time you lose.

Count the transfer cost

A cheaper flight to the wrong airport can end up costing more. A private transfer or taxi to Kalkan, for example, starts from about €130 from Dalaman but from about €200 from Antalya, and that is each way. Check the hub pages for typical prices: from Antalya, from Dalaman, from Gazipaşa. Our holiday budget calculator adds the transfer to the total for you.

Open-jaw: in at one, out at the other

If you want to see more of the coast, book an open-jaw trip: fly into Dalaman and home from Antalya, or the other way round. A week in Fethiye followed by a few days in Kaş or Antalya works well this way, and you never drive the same road twice. It is also a natural fit for the Lycian Way.

If you rent a car, check the one-way fee for returning it at a different airport; it can be high. Buses between the towns are a cheap alternative, see getting around.

Watch the arrival time

Many charter flights land late at night. After a long transfer that means arriving at your hotel in the small hours, so with a 3-hour drive a midday flight is worth more than a small saving. At Dalaman and Gazipaşa, public transport at night is limited: book your transfer in advance.

In winter

From roughly November to March direct flights to Dalaman and Gazipaşa are scarce. Antalya is then the realistic choice for the whole coast, or a connection via Istanbul. See our Turkish Riviera in winter guide.

After you land

Antalya

Antalya has several terminals and a long walk from some gates. Our arrival guide covers passport control, money, SIM cards, taxis and the classic hassles step by step.

Dalaman and Gazipaşa

Both are much smaller: you are usually outside within half an hour of landing. Taxis wait outside, but prices to resorts are high for the distance, so a pre-booked transfer is usually better value. If your package includes a transfer, look for your tour operator's desk in the arrivals hall.

Rules change

Entry and visa rules for Türkiye depend on your passport. Check the current requirements with an official source, such as your foreign ministry, before you travel.