A Shopping Day at TerraCity, Antalya

Antalya summers make shopping a matter of logistics. Between hotel, heat and taxi queues, a browse that should be enjoyable turns into a sweaty errand. TerraCity solves half of that — a large indoor mall on the eastern, Lara-facing side of the city — and a car with a driver solves the other half.

It is a full-scale Turkish shopping centre: international high-street labels alongside Turkish brands, a supermarket, a cinema, and a food court that keeps teenagers occupied while someone else takes their time. Everything is under one roof and air-conditioned, which in July matters more than any brand list. Floors are laid out simply enough that you are unlikely to lose your bearings.

They are different errands, and it helps to decide which you are on. The bazaar is for haggling, spices, textiles and atmosphere. The mall is for fixed prices, sizes that are actually in stock, changing rooms, card payment and a receipt. Plenty of visitors do both on separate days rather than trying to combine them.

Bags accumulate. So does fatigue. With WeCare the Mercedes is yours for the booked period, with pickup from your hotel and drop-off back at the door, which means shopping bags go into the boot instead of being carried around, and you leave when you are finished rather than when a shuttle decides.

Some stores take part in Turkey's tax-refund scheme for visitors — ask at the till before paying if you intend to claim it, since the paperwork has to be started at the point of sale. Bring your passport if you plan to. Card payment is standard, but small cash for the food court is convenient.

Because the mall sits on the Lara side of Antalya rather than in the old centre, it pairs naturally with time spent at that end of the city. Tell your driver what else you want to see and the day can be shaped around it.