Antalya Airport Arrivals Guide 2026: What to Expect After Landing
Antalya Airport (IATA: AYT) is Turkey's second busiest airport, handling 39 million passengers in 2025. If you're landing for the first time, the arrivals process can feel overwhelming — two terminals, long passport queues in peak summer, and rows of taxi touts outside. This guide walks you through every step from wheels down to your hotel transfer.
Quick Answer
Antalya Airport has 2 terminals. Terminal 1 (T1) handles domestic and some international flights. Terminal 2 (T2) handles most European charter and scheduled international flights. After landing: passport control (15–40 min), baggage claim, customs, then meet & greet area. Private transfer drivers wait in the meet & greet zone with name signs. SIM cards and currency exchange are available before customs exit.
Contents
Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2 — which one are you arriving at?
Terminal 1 (T1) — Domestic flights (Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, SunExpress domestic). Also used for some international charter flights in off-peak season. Smaller and less busy.
Terminal 2 (T2) — Main international terminal. Handles all European scheduled airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, British Airways, Wizz Air), Turkish Airlines international, and most Russian/Ukrainian charter flights.
Most holidaymakers arriving from Europe land at Terminal 2. Check your boarding pass — it will show T1 or T2.
The two terminals are connected by a covered walkway (5 minutes walk) and a free shuttle bus that runs every 10–15 minutes.
Your private transfer driver will confirm which terminal they are meeting you at. If you land at T1 but expect T2 (or vice versa), text the driver immediately.
Passport control and e-Visa
Most EU, UK, and US citizens require a Turkish e-Visa, obtained online before travel at evisa.gov.tr. Cost: $50–60 USD depending on nationality. Do not buy at the airport — the on-arrival visa desk is slower and more expensive.
Queue times at passport control:
- Off-peak (October–May): 10–20 minutes
- Peak summer (July–August): 30–60 minutes, especially 08:00–12:00 and 18:00–22:00
- Night arrivals (midnight–06:00): 5–10 minutes
Have your e-Visa confirmation on your phone or printed. Passport control officers scan the QR code.
EU citizens with biometric passports can use e-Gates at T2 — much faster than staffed booths.
Baggage claim
After passport control, follow signs to Baggage Reclaim. Belt numbers are displayed on screens — match your flight number.
Typical belt wait: 15–25 minutes after clearing passport control.
If your luggage hasn't arrived after 45 minutes, go to the airline's baggage desk (located in the baggage hall) before exiting customs.
Trolleys are free and available throughout the baggage hall.
Customs and exit
After collecting luggage, pass through customs. Antalya uses a red/green channel system:
- Green channel — nothing to declare (standard for holidaymakers)
- Red channel — goods above duty-free limits or items to declare
Duty-free limits for Turkey: 200 cigarettes, 1 litre spirits, €300 in goods.
After customs, you exit into the Arrivals Hall — the meet & greet zone where transfer drivers wait.
SIM cards and currency exchange
SIM cards: Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom desks are in the arrivals hall and beyond security. A tourist SIM with 15 GB data costs approximately ₺500–800 (~€15–25). Passport required for registration.
Currency exchange: Booths are available in baggage claim and arrivals hall. Rates are poor — typically 10–15% worse than city centre exchange offices (döviz bürosu).
Recommendation: Use a Wise/Revolut card or local ATMs for better rates. Withdraw TRY after clearing customs. Most transfers accept EUR/USD/GBP cash.
ATMs: Located in baggage hall and arrivals. Use your bank's network card — standalone ATMs charge dynamic currency conversion fees.
Meeting your transfer driver
Private transfer drivers wait in the meet & greet zone immediately after customs exit — typically a designated area with name signs.
How to find your driver:
1. Exit customs into arrivals hall.
2. Look for drivers holding printed or tablet signs with passenger names.
3. Your driver's name and mobile number are sent to you 2 hours before landing.
4. If you can't find the driver, call the number on your confirmation.
Important: Drivers who approach you proactively near customs exit and offer "cheap transfers" are usually unaffiliated touts — ignore them. Your driver waits in the designated zone and does not approach uninvited.
Taxis and avoiding overcharging
Official taxis queue outside the arrivals exit. They use meters. However, the meter start rate at Antalya Airport is set high and the rate is higher than city taxis.
Typical metered taxi prices from AYT:
- Antalya city centre: €25–35
- Lara Beach: €35–45
- Belek: €80–130 (varies significantly)
- Side: €120–200
- Alanya: €200–350
Pre-booked private transfers are fixed: Lara €55, Belek €80, Side €100, Alanya €160. The longer the route, the larger the saving over a metered taxi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which terminal does Ryanair use at Antalya Airport?
Ryanair and most European low-cost carriers use Terminal 2 (T2) at Antalya Airport. T2 is the main international terminal. Check your boarding pass for confirmation.
How long does it take to get through Antalya Airport arrivals?
In peak summer (July–August): 45–90 minutes from landing to arrivals hall. Off-peak: 25–45 minutes. The bottleneck is passport control — night arrivals are fastest (10–15 minutes total).
Do I need a visa for Turkey at Antalya Airport?
Most EU, UK, and US citizens need a Turkish e-Visa, purchased online at evisa.gov.tr before travel ($50–60 USD). Do not wait until the airport — it's slower and more expensive. Nationals of some countries are visa-exempt (check evisa.gov.tr).
Where do private transfer drivers wait at Antalya Airport?
In the meet & greet zone in the Arrivals Hall, directly after customs exit. Drivers hold printed name signs or tablet displays. Your driver's number is sent to you 2 hours before landing.
Is there a luggage storage at Antalya Airport?
Yes. Antalya Airport has left luggage (emanet) facilities in both terminals, open 24 hours. Cost is approximately ₺150–300 per item per day (~€5–10).
Pre-book your airport transfer
Driver confirmed before you fly · No queuing · Fixed price
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