Lara or Belek? Which Antalya Resort Area Suits You

Lara and Belek are the two resort areas closest to Antalya Airport (AYT), but they feel very different. Lara is the hotel strip on the eastern edge of Antalya city: a long sandy beach, large all-inclusive hotels, and the city, the old town and shopping centres just a short drive away. Belek lies further east along the coast: a purpose-built resort area of golf courses and spacious hotels set among pine trees, with a calmer, more self-contained atmosphere.

If you like to mix beach days with evenings in town, Lara is the practical choice. If you plan to stay mostly inside your resort, play golf or simply want more space and quiet, Belek usually wins.

Both areas are among the quickest transfers on the Antalya coast:

• Lara: ≈ 14 km, about 20 minutes.
• Kundu (the eastern end of the Lara strip): ≈ 18 km, about 26 minutes.
• Kadriye (western side of Belek): ≈ 29 km, about 33 minutes.
• Belek: ≈ 35 km, about 40 minutes.
• Boğazkent (eastern end of Belek): ≈ 43 km, about 46 minutes.

These are typical times; summer traffic can add a little. Either way you are at your hotel quickly, which matters on late-night arrivals or with tired children. See the Lara transfer page and the Belek transfer page for vehicles and live prices.

Lara's main advantage is location. From the hotel strip you can reach:

• Kaleiçi, Antalya's historic old town with its harbour, narrow lanes and Hadrian's Gate.
• Lower Düden Waterfall, where the river drops from the cliffs straight into the sea, right at the edge of Lara.
• Shopping malls, restaurants and the city's everyday life, all a short ride away.

The beach is long and sandy, and the hotels are big, often lavish all-inclusive complexes. Lara suits couples and families who want a resort holiday but do not want to feel cut off, and travellers on shorter stays who want minimal time in the car. More on the city side in our Lara, Kundu, Konyaaltı or Kaleiçi guide.

When people say "Lara" they often mean Kundu, the eastern part of the strip towards the Aksu river. This is where you find the famous themed resorts built to resemble landmarks, plus many large family hotels. Kundu is a touch further from the city centre than western Lara but still very close to the airport. If you like the Lara idea but prefer a more resort-only feel, Kundu is a good middle ground.

Belek was developed as a tourism and golf area, so the hotels tend to sit on large plots with gardens, pools and direct beach access, often backed by pine forest. The region is known as Turkey's main golf destination, with many courses within a short drive of the hotels.

• Golfers: courses are close together, so daily transfers are short. Our golf transfer planning guide covers bags and tee times.
• Families: The Land of Legends theme park is in Kadriye, on the Belek side.
• History: the Roman theatre of Aspendos is inland from Belek, and Perge is on the way back towards Antalya.

The trade-off: Belek is not a town in the Lara sense. Evenings are mostly spent at the hotel, and a night in Kaleiçi means a longer drive.

The beaches in Belek are long, sandy and generally wide, and the stretch is known as a nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles. Because the hotels are spread out, you will rarely walk from one to the next for dinner the way you might in a town; most guests treat the resort as their base and plan one or two outings during the week. For many families and golfers that is exactly the appeal: less traffic, more greenery and more space around the pool.

• Short break or late arrival: Lara – the shortest transfer on the coast.
• Want to explore Antalya city: Lara, or Kundu if you want both.
• Golf holiday: Belek, no contest.
• Family with theme-park plans: Belek/Kadriye for The Land of Legends; Lara for the city sights.
• Quiet, green, spacious resort: Belek.
• Ancient sites: Belek is closer to Aspendos; both are fine for Perge.

Still torn between other areas? Compare Belek vs Side as well.

Whichever you choose, a private transfer keeps arrival simple: your driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits if it is delayed. The price is fixed per vehicle, not per person, and agreed before the trip, with no night surcharge or luggage fee. Child seats are free on request.

Staying in Lara and want a day at Belek's theme park or Aspendos, or staying in Belek and fancy an evening in the old town? Both are easy by private car, and you can book the return at the same time. Choose a Minivan (1–6), a VIP Mercedes-Benz Vito (1–7) or a Sprinter for groups (8–16), book 24/7 on WhatsApp or online, and pay in the vehicle, with no prepayment.