Antalya Medical Transfer: Hospital Transfers, Health Tourism & What to Know 2026
Turkey handles an estimated 500,000 international medical tourists per year, and Antalya consistently ranks in the top three cities alongside Istanbul and Izmir. The appeal is well-documented: the same procedures that cost €8,000–12,000 in Germany or £6,000–9,000 in the UK can be performed to equivalent international standards in Antalya for 60–80% less. For medical tourists, the transfer is not just logistics — it is part of the care pathway. An uncomfortable vehicle, a driver who cannot communicate clearly, or a missed pickup that leaves a post-operative patient waiting at a hospital exit can have real consequences. This guide covers exactly what to request, which vehicles work for which situations, and how the transfer process integrates with the hospital stays.
Quick Answer
Antalya is one of Turkey's top health tourism cities, with 3 JCI-accredited hospitals. Medical transfers cover: airport to hotel, hotel to hospital, and post-procedure hospital to hotel or airport. Minivan (€60) is recommended for post-operative patients needing reclining access or space. Your driver meets you at Terminal 2 Arrivals, ground floor, exit after customs, in the transfer company meeting area, holding a printed sign with your surname. A receipt for your online card payment is provided by the merchant on request, useful for travel insurance claims. Payment: secure card payment online at booking.
Contents
Table of Contents
1. What You Need to Know Before You Book
2. Step by Step — What Actually Happens
3. What to Request — Exact Wording
4. What If Something Goes Wrong?
5. Vehicle Options and Pricing
6. Antalya Health Tourism: What It Covers and Why It Works
7. Frequently Asked Questions
What You Need to Know Before You Book
### Antalya's three JCI-accredited hospitals
Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation is the international gold standard for hospital quality. In Antalya, three hospitals hold JCI certification:
- Medical Park Antalya Hospital — Konyaaltı district, western Antalya. Transfer from airport: €50 sedan, 25 minutes.
- Liv Hospital Antalya — Lara district, eastern Antalya near the main hotel zone. Transfer from airport: €55 sedan, 28 minutes.
- Medstar Antalya Hospital — Antalya city centre. Transfer from airport: €45 sedan, 22 minutes.
Most medical tourists stay in a hotel close to their hospital and transfer hotel-to-hospital-to-hotel across multiple visits during their treatment week.
### What to specify at booking
You do not need to share medical details with the transfer company. What matters for vehicle allocation:
- "Post-operative patient — reclining seat required" → minivan booked automatically
- "Wheelchair user (folding manual chair)" → confirmed to fit in minivan boot
- "Wheelchair user (electric/powered)" → minivan required; confirm dimensions at booking
- "Post-operative patient requiring assistance boarding" → driver briefed
- "Multiple transfers needed across 5 days" → sequence booking available
### How far in advance to book
Book the airport arrival transfer when you book your treatment. Hospital day-transfers (hotel to hospital and return) can be booked 24 hours in advance. If your discharge date is uncertain (common for procedures with variable recovery), book provisionally and confirm 12 hours before.
Step by Step — What Actually Happens
### Arrival transfer (airport to hotel)
Standard process: driver waits in Terminal 2 Arrivals, ground floor, exit after customs, in the transfer company meeting area, with a printed sign bearing your surname. For medical tourists flying in for a procedure, this is the same arrival process as any other transfer. The difference is at the vehicle: if you have pre-notified reclining or space requirements, the driver has pre-arranged the appropriate vehicle configuration.
### Hospital day-transfers (hotel to hospital)
The driver picks you up from your hotel entrance at the pre-booked time. For a morning clinic appointment, book the pickup 15–20 minutes earlier than you think you need — hospital check-in times are strict in Turkey.
At the hospital: the driver waits or returns at an agreed time. For procedures with uncertain duration (surgery), book an open return time and WhatsApp the driver when you are ready for pickup. Drivers are experienced with this — it is standard medical tourism practice.
### Post-operative discharge transfer (hospital to hotel)
This is the most important transfer of the medical journey. Specifics:
- Always use a minivan for post-op patients — the larger cabin allows the patient to recline or be supported without bending the surgical area.
- The driver holds a printed name sign at the hospital exit — discreet, without medical information on the sign.
- Boarding time may be slow — the driver assists with bags and allows the patient to board at their own pace.
- No abrupt braking or sharp cornering — drivers with medical passengers know to drive smoothly.
### Return airport transfer (hotel to airport)
Same process as standard return transfer. For post-op patients: book the minivan for the return. Medical tourists often carry more items on return (pharmacy purchases, recovery equipment, gifts). Allow extra time at the airport — post-op patients may need assistance.
What to Request — Exact Wording
Use these phrases in the booking notes field to ensure the right vehicle and driver briefing:
For post-operative patients:
"Post-operative patient — please allocate minivan with reclining space. Slow, smooth driving requested. Driver should assist with boarding."
For wheelchair users (manual folding):
"Passenger uses folding manual wheelchair. Minivan required — chair will be folded and placed in boot. Please confirm."
For wheelchair users (electric/motorised):
"Passenger uses motorised wheelchair [dimensions: X×Y×Z cm, weight X kg]. Please confirm vehicle can accommodate."
For multiple hospital transfers across a stay:
"Medical patient — 5-day stay. Need: 1) airport arrival, 2) hotel to Medical Park on Day 2, 3) return same day, 4) hotel to Medical Park on Day 4, 5) return to airport Day 6. Please quote package or book individually."
For insurance receipt:
"Please provide a printed receipt for each transfer showing date, route, vehicle type, and price in EUR. Required for travel insurance reimbursement."
What If Something Goes Wrong?
### The vehicle is not a minivan when a minivan was requested
For post-op patients, this is not acceptable. Photograph the vehicle and WhatsApp support immediately — before boarding. Support will send the correct vehicle or arrange an alternative. Do not begin the journey if the vehicle is unsuitable for your condition.
### The driver does not speak enough English to confirm the destination
Show the driver your booking confirmation on your phone — it contains the hospital or hotel name in Latin script. Google Translate is reliable for Turkish–English for simple directions. If you cannot communicate clearly, WhatsApp support immediately.
### You need to change the pickup time due to extended procedure
WhatsApp the driver directly when you know the revised time. As long as the driver is not already on another job, they will accommodate. For procedures with very uncertain duration, book an open pickup and confirm 30 minutes before you need the vehicle.
### Your discharge is delayed by a day
Message support. The booking can be moved to the new date. Hospital-caused date changes are always accommodated without penalty.
### You need to stop at a pharmacy on the way back to the hotel
Ask the driver — there is always a pharmacy near major hospitals and on the main roads. Specify "pharmacy stop needed" in the booking notes and the driver will plan a convenient stop.
Vehicle Options and Pricing
### Minivan — strongly recommended for all medical transfers
Ford Transit Custom or VW Caravelle (6 seats). The wider cabin, higher roof height, and side-access doors make it the best option for post-op patients, wheelchair users, and patients with mobility limitations. Airport to city/hospitals: €60 for city centre, €65 for Konyaaltı (Medical Park), €70 for Lara (Liv Hospital).
### Sedan — suitable for pre-procedure arrivals and fit patients
Standard sedan for fit patients arriving for consultation, or post-discharge patients after minor procedures. Airport to city: €45, Konyaaltı: €50, Lara: €55.
### VIP Sedan — for patients requiring premium comfort
Mercedes E-Class with full leather recline. For patients travelling business class or for long-distance medical transfers (Kemer, Side, Alanya) where seat comfort for 60–90 minutes matters.
Child seats: Free child seats on request — infant (0–13 kg), toddler (9–18 kg), booster (15–36 kg). Specify the child's age and weight at booking.
### Comparison: private medical transfer vs taxi vs ambulance
| Option | Private medical transfer | Metered taxi | Private ambulance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price to hospital | From city: €60 minivan | €20–40 (unmetered, negotiated) | €120–300+ |
| Post-op suitability | Excellent — minivan, slow driving | Poor — sedan, no briefing | Designed for it |
| Driver briefed | Yes — via booking notes | No | Yes |
| Receipt for insurance | Yes — printed | Rarely | Yes |
| Wheelchair access | Yes — folding manual | No | Yes |
| Availability 24/7 | Yes | Yes | On call |
Recommendation: private medical transfer for all stages of the health tourism journey. Reserve private ambulance only if medically required (active monitoring, stretcher, IV).
### What is included in medical transfer pricing
- Printed receipt on driver's receipt pad (required for insurance)
- Driver assistance with boarding and bags
- Smooth driving style (for post-op patients)
- Discreet name sign (no medical information)
- Wait time at hospital (book with estimated procedure duration)
Antalya Health Tourism: What It Covers and Why It Works
Most common procedures performed in Antalya for international patients:
- Hair transplant: Antalya has over 50 specialist hair transplant clinics. A 3,000-graft FUE procedure: €1,200–2,500 in Antalya vs €5,000–10,000 in Germany or the UK.
- Dental work: full mouth reconstruction, implants, veneers. €2,000–4,000 in Antalya vs €8,000–15,000 in Western Europe.
- Cosmetic surgery: rhinoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation. 60–75% less than UK or German prices at accredited hospitals.
- Eye surgery (LASIK / SMILE): €800–1,200 per eye in Antalya vs €1,500–2,500 in the UK.
- Orthopaedic procedures: knee replacement, hip replacement. JCI-accredited hospitals (Medical Park, Liv) perform these to international standards.
Why medical tourists come to Antalya specifically:
1. Price advantage: 60–80% lower than UK/Germany for equivalent procedures
2. Direct flights from across Europe and Russia
3. JCI-accredited hospitals with Western-trained specialists
4. Combined treatment + recovery holiday: warm climate, good hotels, short distances
Insurance documentation: AntalyaTransfers drivers carry printed receipt pads. Every transfer generates a dated receipt showing route, vehicle, and price in EUR. Keep these for any travel insurance reimbursement claim.
Related guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hospitals in Antalya are JCI accredited?
Three hospitals in Antalya hold JCI accreditation (2026): Medical Park Antalya (Konyaaltı), Liv Hospital Antalya (Lara), and Medstar Antalya (city centre). JCI accreditation is the international standard for hospital quality management.
What vehicle should I book for a post-operative transfer?
A minivan is strongly recommended for post-operative patients. The wider cabin and higher roof allow reclining or supported seating without bending the surgical area. Specify "post-operative patient — reclining space required" in the booking notes.
Can a wheelchair fit in the transfer vehicle?
A folding manual wheelchair fits in a minivan boot alongside the passenger's luggage. A motorised/electric wheelchair requires advance confirmation of dimensions — message support with dimensions before booking. Powered wheelchairs that cannot be folded require a van-accessible vehicle.
Do drivers provide a receipt for travel insurance?
Yes. All AntalyaTransfers drivers carry printed receipt books. Request a receipt at the end of each journey — the receipt shows date, route, vehicle type, and price in EUR. Keep all receipts for travel insurance reimbursement claims.
How do I book multiple transfers across a medical stay?
Book each transfer individually or message support for a sequence. Typical medical stay transfers: arrival airport to hotel, hotel to hospital (Day 2), hospital to hotel (Day 2 return), hotel to hospital (Day 4), hospital to hotel, and return to airport. Book with your hospital schedule, confirm 24 hours before each journey.
What is the price from Antalya Airport to Medical Park Hospital (Konyaaltı)?
Medical Park Antalya is in Konyaaltı district. Transfer from AYT: €50 sedan, €65 minivan, 25 minutes. For post-op patients returning from hospital, the minivan at €65 is recommended.
How much cheaper are medical procedures in Antalya compared to the UK or Germany?
Typically 60–80% cheaper for equivalent procedures at JCI-accredited hospitals. Examples: hair transplant (FUE, 3,000 grafts) €1,200–2,500 in Antalya vs €5,000–10,000 in Germany. Dental implants €500–900 per tooth in Antalya vs €2,000–3,500 in the UK.
Can the driver wait at the hospital during my procedure?
Yes — book with an estimated wait time included. For a half-day procedure, the driver waits or returns at a pre-agreed time. For same-day discharge, book the hospital-to-hotel return as an open pickup: message the driver 30 minutes before you are ready to leave.
Where does the driver wait at Antalya Airport for medical transfer patients?
Terminal 2 Arrivals, ground floor, exit after customs, in the transfer company meeting area. Driver holds a name sign with your surname. 60 minutes free waiting from actual landing time. If you are travelling with a medical device or wheelchair, the driver will assist with loading.
What payment is accepted and can I get a EUR invoice?
Visa, Mastercard, and other major cards are accepted. A receipt showing date, route, vehicle type, and price in EUR is provided by the merchant on request — useful for insurance claims.
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