How to Take the Bus in Antalya

Taking the public bus around Antalya city is one of the easiest, quickest, and most cost-friendly ways to get around. Buses in Turkey are extremely affordable. While the bus driver may or may not speak English, he will most likely understand you if it is a popular destination such as the beach, a mall, or the Antalya Airport. Turks are very friendly people, and if you feel lost or confused, just stop someone and ask for help.

Taking buses in Antalya is as easy as in any country:

• First, you will need to locate the nearest bus stop to you. Bus stops are located throughout the city center, so this wouldn't be a problem. (They often have a covered shelter to protect you from the sun or rain, with benches where you can sit while waiting for the bus. You’ll usually see a blue sign with the letter "D" (standing for "Durak," meaning "Bus Stop" in Turkish) or a sign featuring a picture of a bus.
• When you see the bus number you want to take (simply glimpse at the LED signs on the front and side of the bus, where you can also spot the names of the destinations/districts that the bus passes through), you can raise your hand to signal the bus driver that you want to get on the bus.
• After getting on the bus, you can pay your bus fare by placing either your credit card or Antalyakart (Antalya Card) on the sensor next to the driver and the fares will be reduced from your account. Keep in mind, you can't use cash to use buses in Antalya, although you can pay with cash in minibusses (a type of shared Taksi in Turkey, known as "Dolmuş").
• Keep in mind, that you can use your credit card for public transportation in most Turkish cities. However, it's more cost-effective to get a city-specific card (as each city has its separate card just like Antalyakart is used in Antalya) This is especially helpful if you plan to make frequent transfers, as city-specific cards offer discounted rates for transfers, which is not possible with a credit card.
• When you want to get off the bus, simply press any of the red buttons nearby. An LED sign above the driver will then light up, displaying "Stop" or "Duracak." to confirm that the bus will stop at the next bus station. (Remember to press the button before reaching your desired bus stop, so that the bus drivers can know that you will get off at the bus station, and if the bus is too crowded, it may be particularly busy during peak hours in the morning and early evening rush hour, you can simply ask someone to press the button for you either with using translation or by pointing at the button.)

You can also use the small kiosks and bus ticket machines to add credits to your Antalyakart. Another alternative is to use the Antalyakart transportation app, which you can use to add credits to your Antalyakart using the online payment method with your credit card.

• The AntalyaKart transportation app is also the best way to navigate the buses in Antalya. This app has every bus route and bus stop mapped out so that you can easily choose a destination on the map and see which bus will take you there and when it is coming. A great feature about this app is that every bus stop has a 5-digit code written on it that you can type into the app and see every bus that is coming and how far away it is. You can save your favorite bus stops and locations for easy navigation in the future. You can also find the card refill stations by looking at the map.
• Another option for navigating public transportation in Turkey is the Moovit app. You can input your destination to receive bus line recommendations, and Moovit will even notify you when it's time to get off. Just be aware that the app does include some ads.
• During peak times in the summer, using public transportation can be stressful, as the number of passengers is at its highest, making buses and trams very crowded. The hot weather does not help and people might be more anxious than usual.
• If you want to avoid the hassle and stress of using public transportation and following each stop to make sure you don't get lost, you can always opt to use taxis or private transfers. We recommend choosing a private transfer over taxis when traveling in Antalya. The city offers numerous private transfer options, with companies competing to provide better and more advantageous services. In most cases, drivers speak multiple languages, offer complimentary services, and can even suggest places to visit based on your interests.
• If you’d like to learn more about private transfers in Antalya, check out our "Private Transfers in Antalya" article on the topic, where you can also find the best deals from our hand-picked partners.

— İsmail Can Turan