Antalya for COP31 visitors: airport, transport, areas and weather

Getting your bearings

Antalya stretches along the coast with the airport and the ANFAŞ Antalya Expo Center on its eastern edge, in Aksu. The resort hotel strip of Lara and Kundu lies between the venue and the city centre; the walled old town, Kaleiçi, and the harbour are in the middle; Konyaaltı with its long pebble beach is to the west; and the golf resorts of Belek are further east along the coast. Most delegations stay in Lara, Kundu and Belek because of hotel capacity, while journalists and smaller organisations often prefer the city centre.

Typical daytime road times to the Expo Center: airport 10–15 minutes, Lara and Kundu 20–30 minutes, Kaleiçi 30–40 minutes, Konyaaltı 35–45 minutes, Belek 35–45 minutes. Morning and late-afternoon traffic on the D400 coastal road adds to these.

Arriving at Antalya Airport

Antalya Airport (AYT) has two international terminals and a domestic terminal, with direct flights from most European hubs and frequent Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and AJet connections through Istanbul. Passport control usually moves quickly outside the summer charter season; have your printed COP31 e-Visa or exemption certificate and your UNFCCC letter to hand.

Licensed yellow taxis wait outside each terminal and run on the meter; a ride to Lara is short, to the old town or Konyaaltı longer. Shared airport shuttles and car-hire desks are in the arrivals halls. The Presidency has said that accredited participants will have free transport and dedicated COP31 shuttles; details come with your badge information.

Getting around the city

Antalya's public transport runs on the AntalyaKart smart card, sold and topped up at kiosks and machines at major stops. The AntRay tram connects the airport side of the city with the centre and runs on to the west; the heritage tram loops the old town and the harbour. Buses cover the rest. Allow extra time at peak hours.

Taxis are plentiful and metered; ask for the meter ("taksimetre") to be on and prefer hotel-called or rank taxis late at night. Ride-hailing apps are limited in Türkiye, so licensed taxis and the official conference shuttles are the practical options. Driving yourself is not recommended on conference days because of road closures around the venue and the Leaders' Summit.

Where to stay

Official accommodation for registered participants is handled by the Presidency's partner portal; book early, because the resort hotels near the venue fill up with delegations. Lara and Kundu offer large five-star resorts close to the venue; Belek has golf resorts a little further east; Kaleiçi has boutique hotels in restored Ottoman houses for those who prefer a walkable centre; Konyaaltı is the quieter, residential, seaside west.

November weather

November is mild on this coast: daytime temperatures typically sit around 18–22 °C with evenings of 10–13 °C, and the sea is still warm enough for a swim on calm days. It is also one of the wetter months, so pack a light rain jacket and a layer for the evenings. The Turkish State Meteorological Service publishes a dedicated forecast for the conference period.

Money, phones, power, water

• Currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis; ATMs are plentiful. Many hotels and shops also quote in euros or dollars.
• Local SIM cards and eSIMs are sold at the airport and in city shops (Turkcell, Vodafone, Türk Telekom); a passport is required to register a SIM. Free Wi-Fi is announced for the venue.
• Electricity is 230 V, 50 Hz, type C and F sockets (the European two-pin). UK and US devices need an adapter.
• Drink bottled water; tap water is fine for washing but not recommended for drinking.
• Tipping around 5–10% in restaurants is customary but not obligatory; taxi fares are usually rounded up.

Health and emergencies

The single emergency number for ambulance, police and fire is 112, with English-speaking operators. Pharmacies ("eczane") are everywhere and well stocked; outside opening hours each neighbourhood has an on-duty pharmacy ("nöbetçi eczane") listed on the door of every other pharmacy. Antalya's private hospitals have international patient desks with English-speaking staff, and Turkish regulations require COP31 participants to carry travel medical insurance.

For a toothache, a broken tooth or a lost crown during the conference, Tantalya Dental Clinic in Konyaaltı offers same-day appointments with hotel pick-up; our dental-emergency page explains what to do first.

If you have a free afternoon

• Kaleiçi, the old town: Hadrian's Gate, the Yivli Minaret, the harbour and the clock tower, all on foot.
• Antalya Museum in Konyaaltı, one of Türkiye's best archaeological collections, with the sculptures from Perge.
• The Lower Düden Waterfalls, where the river drops straight into the sea east of Lara.
• Perge and Aspendos, Roman cities with an almost intact theatre, 20–45 minutes east of the venue.
• Konyaaltı beach and the Beach Park promenade for a run at sunrise before the first session.