Retiring in Antalya Turkey: Best Season of Your Life Begins
Retirement marks the beginning of your dream lifestyle. If you want to make the most of this exciting chapter, you can explore Antalya. As a stunning Mediterranean city in Southern Turkey, Antalya boasts lush green nature, rich history, and turquoise seawater.
Antalya is a popular tourist destination with a colorful atmosphere. The city attracts millions of visitors each year. In fact, over 16.5 million tourists arrived in Antalya in 2023.
If you are looking for a tranquil and enjoyable atmosphere all at once, Antalya is the perfect place for you. Let's explore the city further.
Antalya at a Glance: Is Antalya a Good Place to Retire?
Yes! The city has everything a retiree could ask for. Here are 7 factors that make retirement in Antalya for foreigners perfect.
1. Expat-Friendly Environment
Today, over 125 thousand foreigners with a Turkish residence permit live in Antalya. This cosmopolitan structure welcomes foreigners in a heartbeat. While foreigners have a friendly society, locals have nothing less. Turkish people are famous for their hospitality, which helps newcomers adjust to Turkey.
A high rate of locals in Antalya, especially in the coastal regions, speak fluent English, Russian, German, and Arabic. If you speak any of these languages, you won’t have hardship adjusting. In addition, you can find Turkish language courses that target foreigners living in Antalya.
2. Marvelous Nature
You can find more than pristine fine-sanded beaches in Turkey, Antalya. The city is home to stunning natural attractions. The top natural beauties in Antalya are:
- Düden Waterfalls
- Saklıkent Canyon
- Karain Cave
- Yanartaş (flaming stone)
- Kekova Island
- Sazak Cove
3. Active Lifestyle
If you would like an active and healthy lifestyle, you can always find sports activities in Antalya Turkey. These include scuba diving, rafting, canyoning, hiking, paragliding, ziplining, and jeep safari.
Moreover, Antalya is home to Belek, Turkey's IAGTO-rewarded golf center. The golf hotels here host thousands of foreign visitors each year.
Things to do in Antalya don’t seize during the winter months. If you like some adventure, you can spend colder days hiking at least some of the 760-kilometer-long Lycian Way. If you like skiing or sledding, you can also visit Saklıkent Ski Resort between December and February.
4. Rooted History
If you appreciate history, you will love Antalya. Its strategic location and natural beauty have attracted civilizations during its 40,000 years of past. The historical places in Antalya to visit proudly preserve traces of this rich past.
The landmarks around the carry signs of the Hittites, Lykians, Romans, Seljuks, and Ottomans. These places boast marvelous architecture and natural ambiance, offering perfect photo frames. The most famous historical sites in the Antalya region include:
- Hadrian's Gate
- Olympos Ancient City
- Phaselis Ancient City
- Patara Ancient City
- Ancient City of Perge
- Temple of Apollo
- Roman Theatre of Aspendos
5. Sunny Getaway
Antalya is a popular holiday resort, offering 300 days of sunshine per year. Thanks to the average temperature of 18 degrees, tourism never stops in the city.
Most hotels operate four seasons in Antalya. What’s more, the beaches in Antalya allow a 9-month swimming season. Plus, if you like mild weather, you will love the spring season in Antalya.
6. Daily Life
Retiring in Antalya, Turkey allows you to enjoy the blend of urban lifestyle and holiday ambiance. Therefore, living here is not only enjoyable but also very convenient.
Public transportation provides easy access to all neighborhoods around the Antalya region. Moreover, you can find a bus to all districts at every hour.
Antalya has all kinds of social amenities, including cafes, bars, malls, entertainment centers, and aquaparks. You can enjoy bowling, fine dining, or going to the movies in your leisure time. You can even find theater plays in your native language.
7. Health Services
Turkey offers advanced medical services with a qualified team of medical staff, attracting health tourists from around the world. In 2023 alone, over 1.5 million visitors decided to get dental care and cosmetic treatments in Turkey. Meanwhile, Antalya was the prime health tourism destination.
The hospital system in Turkey includes public and private healthcare centers. Both private and public healthcare insurance are available in the country. In addition, universal health insurance is valid according to the healthcare system for foreigners in Turkey.
While living in Antalya, you will have easy access to all health services. You can find hospitals and clinics in all regions around the city.
Public Healthcare Services
Public healthcare in Turkey is cost-free for all individuals with SGK (public healthcare insurance). If you have SGK, you and your family can get basic and free health services. In addition, healthcare insurance applies a discount to doctor’s prescriptions.
Note that some healthcare services like plastic surgery are not free in Turkey. Yet, these services cost less in public hospitals than in private ones.
You can find at least one public hospital in Belek, Alanya, Side, Manavgat, and other districts. The government hospitals in Antalya city centre are:
- Atatürk State Hospital
- Kepez State Hospital
- Antalya City Hospital
- Education and Research Hospital
- Akdeniz University Hospital
You can also find a primary healthcare center in every neighborhood in Antalya. These clinics provide basic services like examinations, vaccinations, and some tests. So, you don't even have to visit hospitals except for more extensive services.
Private Health Services
Private healthcare in Turkey is a quick and more personalized alternative to public healthcare. Private hospitals are available at every corner of Antalya. They require almost no waiting period and offer even more extensive services.
Private hospitals in Turkey charge fees for all procedures. However, public insurance covers most expenses. You can get private health insurance to have budget-friendly health services in Turkey.
The best private hospitals in Antalya city are:
- Anatolia Hospital
- Memorial Hospital
- MedicalPark Hospital
- Medstar Hospital
- Yaşam Hospital
Are You Ready to Retire in Antalya, Turkey?
Here are some questions to ask before your arrival:
- How to get to Antalya, Turkey?
You have two main options for traveling to Antalya province: You can take a bus or a flight. With two international airports, arriving in Antalya via the airway is the best option. You can use either Antalya International Airport or Alanya-Gazipaşa International Airport.
Antalya International Airport receives direct flights from 211 airports. In 2023, the airport welcomed over 37 million passengers, surpassing its record set in 2019.
The best airline to fly to Antalya is the Turkish Airlines. The company boasts outstanding services and the highest number of flight destinations globally. Other airlines that offer direct flights to Antalya are Pegasus and The Sun Express.
If you want to get to Antalya by bus, you can find departures from all over Turkey at every hour. Antalya Intercity Bus Terminal has a very central location.
It's important to note that Antalya does not have a port for international cruise trips, ruling out arrival by boat. However, you can use the ports in Greece, Muğla, or Mersin and take a bus or fly to Antalya. In addition, Antalya receives frequent bus trips from all of the cities around Turkey.
- Do I have enough financial resources to retire in Antalya?
Most likely yes, provided that you have savings or a pension in foreign currency. The cost of living in Turkey is much lower than in the EU zone when comparing currencies. Prices for rent, utilities, food, and entertainment are also much cheaper.
- What is the cost of living in Antalya in 2024?
The answer depends on your lifestyle. In general, however, a single person’s monthly spending is around ₺18.000 without rent.
The average rent prices in Antalya are ₺15.000-₺25.000. A meal costs around ₺150-₺500 at a restaurant while coffee is around ₺80-₺130. A one-way public transportation ticket is ₺20. Utilities (electricity, water, mobile phone, and home internet) cost ₺2.000-₺3.000.
- Where to buy Antalya real estate for retirement?
The best places to retire in Turkey, Antalya are Alanya, Manavgat, Side, Belek, and Kemer. These areas boast a more tranquil environment with easy access to daily amenities.
If you seek a livelier atmosphere, the city center of Antalya is a great option for you. This region offers the perfect blend of urban and vocational lifestyles. You will find all kinds of daily amenities along with serene beaches and lush-green landscapes. Konyaaltı, Muratpaşa, and Kepez are the best places to live in Antalya as a retiree.
Antalya real estate includes both luxury villas and stylish apartments. If you seek Mediterranean coast views and a detached environment, you can buy a house in Antalya Turkey. If you prefer a vibrant atmosphere, you can choose apartments in Antalya for sale. Some complexes boast amenities akin to those in 5-star hotels.
Take the Leap: Start Your Retirement in Antalya
Retiring in Antalya can be the beginning of the best season of your life. All you have to do is decide on a place to live in Antalya, arrange financial resources, and take the leap.
As Antalya Homes ®, we are aware that retirement in a foreign country is a big step. Our team of professionals is ready to guide you through your unique journey. Our lawyers will handle the legal procedures and our agents who speak your language will find your dream home according to your needs.
If you are ready for the next chapter of your life, call us today and claim exclusive before and after-sales services!