Lara Beach Guide: Antalya's Closest Resort to the Airport

Lara is the resort you reach before you have even finished settling into the car. Just 15 minutes east of Antalya Airport, this beachfront district is the closest major resort area to AYT on the entire Turkish Riviera — which, after a long flight with children, is no small thing. It is also one of the most distinctive: Lara is where Antalya built its giant themed five-star hotels, replicas of the Titanic, the Kremlin and Venetian palaces lined up behind a long ribbon of golden, Blue-Flag sand.

Two reasons, mostly. The beach — Lara Beach is wide, sandy (unusual on a coast of pebble coves) and gently shelving, perfect for families. And the hotels: this is all-inclusive done at scale, with vast pools, aquaparks, à la carte restaurants and nightly entertainment. If your idea of a holiday is to land, drop the bags and not move for a week, Lara is built for exactly that.

What sets Lara apart from the resorts further east is proximity to Antalya itself. The atmospheric old town of Kaleiçi — Roman walls, Hadrian's Gate, the harbour, boutique cafés — is a 15-minute drive away, as is the city's shopping and the cable car at Tünektepe. The Lower Düden Waterfalls, where the river drops dramatically straight into the sea, are right on Lara's doorstep and best seen from a boat. You get a self-contained beach holiday with a real city within easy reach.

This is the easy part. Lara is about 12–15 km from Antalya Airport (AYT) — a 15-to-20-minute drive, the shortest resort transfer on the coast. There are no highways to speak of and no traffic worth planning around outside peak summer afternoons.

Even on so short a trip, a private transfer earns its keep: you skip the taxi queue, your driver is waiting inside arrivals with a name board, and you go straight to your hotel door rather than negotiating a fare at the rank. With WeCare it starts from €18 per vehicle — for a family, less than a couple of metered taxis — with child seats fitted free and the price fixed before you fly. Book the Antalya Airport → Lara transfer here.

Because the drive is so short, the main value is at the airport end: no waiting, no hauling cases to a distant rank, no after-midnight haggling. Your chauffeur meets you, takes the bags, and 15 minutes later you are checking in. On departure day the same applies in reverse — handy when the hotel is a 15-minute hop and you would rather not over-budget the journey.

• Closest to the airport of all the big resort areas — ideal if you have very young children or a late-night arrival.
• Day trip to Kaleiçi (Antalya old town) is a must and only 15 minutes away — a private driver for a half-day is easy to arrange.
• Düden Waterfalls: the lower falls plunge into the sea near Lara; boat trips run from the harbour.
• Best time: April–June and September–October for comfortable heat; July–August are hot and busy.

How far is Lara from Antalya Airport? About 12–15 km — a 15–20 minute drive, the shortest resort transfer on the coast.

How much is a transfer to Lara? From €18 per vehicle for a private WeCare transfer, fixed at booking and shared by your whole party.

Is Lara good for families? Yes — sandy Blue-Flag beach, huge hotel aquaparks, and the shortest airport run of any resort.

Can I visit Antalya old town from Lara? Easily — Kaleiçi is 15 minutes away by car.

Should I still pre-book such a short transfer? Yes — you skip the queue and get a fixed price and a waiting driver. Reserve here.