Antalya, a vibrant metropolis in Turkey, is much more than just the capital of the province of the same name. It is considered the jewel of the Turkish Riviera, surrounded by impressive mountain ranges and the azure Mediterranean Sea.
The city of Antalya, with its picturesque location and rich historical heritage, has experienced an unprecedented construction boom in recent decades. Luxurious hotel complexes, modern shopping centers and towering residential buildings have expanded and modernized the cityscape. They now stand in stark contrast to the historic old town, with its narrow streets and traditional Ottoman houses.
One of the most outstanding examples of this development is the area of Lara, which is located about three kilometers from Antalya. In recent years, Lara has become one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the region. The construction of an express road in 2006, which connects Lara directly to Antalya airport, has made the region even more accessible. The transfer, which now only takes 20 minutes, has contributed significantly to Lara’s attractiveness.
Lara is home to one hotel complex after another, with the newest resorts often boasting five-star status. These state-of-the-art facilities offer luxurious accommodation, often excellent services and impressive leisure facilities. They stand in sharp contrast to the region’s older hotels, which struggle to compete in a competitive market and often only manage to stand out by offering lower prices.
Antalya, known as the “Turkish Riviera”, offers a pleasant Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Antalya-Lara is the ideal place to enjoy a sunny vacation even in winter.
Excursion tips in Lara
So far I have always refused - holidays in Turkey was not imaginable for me. As a Berliner in some districts, you experience the Turkish life more than in some Turkish tourist resorts. So why go there? But for our first winter escape from the Berlin winter the destination was just right.
There is not much to see in Lara. Only if one fancies a stroll through several shopping malls. A main road leads past many large hotels, behind that there are some houses and behind those: nothing.
"Please take a look at the safety precautions and tell me about it!" we were asked by our travel agent Lisa – bless her soul! – who helped arrange many of our adventures through her agency “Lisa’s Reiseagentur”. To fly to Turkey shortly after the attack in Istanbul was apparently unthinkable for some of her…
The Limak Lara De Luxe Resort is a 5-star hotel located directly on the beach in the small coastal town of Lara. We picked this hotel for our first break from the cold German winter and were rewarded for our choice.
Travel informations
Arrival in Antaly-Lara
By plane
Antalya airport is located about 10 kilometers east of the city center. It is served by scheduled flights from many European cities and additionally by numerous charter flights in summer.
From the airport you can take the bus to the center of Antalya. The trip takes quite a long time, because they stop at almost every corner, but it is quite cheap.
There is a tram from the city center to the airport. The travel time is about 40 minutes.
The fastest way is by taxi. But beware! Drivers like to charge tourists an extremely high fare. It is best to negotiate the price of the tour before departure and before getting into the car.
There is of course the possibility to rent a car at Terminal 1.
By car
There are several national roads connecting Antalya with other major Turkish cities.
By boat
There are two marinas in Antalya that offer moorings for boats. Cruise ships dock at Port Akdeniz.
Best time to travel to Antalya-Lara
Spring (April to June):
Spring is one of the best times to visit Antalya. Temperatures are pleasantly warm but not yet too hot, averaging between 20°C and 25°C.
Summer (July to September):
The summer months are very hot and dry in Antalya, with average temperatures around 30°C to 35°C, sometimes even higher.
Fall (October to November):
Autumn brings cooler but still pleasant temperatures (between 20°C and 25°C), and the weather remains mostly sunny.
Winter (December to March):
Mild with temperatures rarely dropping below 10°C. Rain is more frequent, especially in December and January.