Konyaaltı Beach is one of Antalya’s most well-known stretches of coast: long, pebbled, backed by cafes and the dramatic sweep of the Taurus Mountains. It’s easy to see why people love it. The views are breathtaking, the water is clear, and the beach park that runs alongside it is lively and full of places to sit, sip, and watch the day.
We spent a few afternoons at Konyaaltı, and while it wasn’t our favorite beach in Antalya—that title goes to İnciraltı Beach for its spectactular cliffside drama—we still appreciated Konyaaltı for what it is: central, accessible, and spacious.
Rocks, not sand (bring swim shoes)
Let’s get this out of the way first: Konyaaltı is not a sandy beach. It’s covered in pebbles and stones that range from smooth and flat to downright painful. Walking barefoot, especially on a hot day or while trying to enter the sea, can be a bit of an ordeal.
We’d highly recommend bringing swim shoes or at least flip-flops that you don’t mind wearing right into the water. It makes a world of difference.
That said, once you’re in, the water is lovely—cool, clean, and gradually deepening.
Beach clubs and sun chairs
If you want to avoid lying directly on the rocks, there are plenty of beach clubs where you can rent a sun lounger for the day. We tried Kalypso, which offered reasonably priced seating for a back-row chair for the day.
The space is modern and well-maintained, with beach umbrellas, changing cabins, and a bar-restaurant section that plays music throughout the day. In our experience, the music was very loud—loud enough that we eventually left. It wasn’t quite the tranquil seaside escape we’d imagined, but it may suit those looking for a more upbeat atmosphere.
Interestingly, we did see people working from laptops inside the shaded restaurant section. So if you’re looking for a beach day with some productive hours in between, it’s doable.
A walkable beach park
What we really loved was the broader Konyaaltı Beach Park—a landscaped promenade that runs behind the beach. It’s full of shady trees, bike paths, grassy sections, and small cafes and coffee shops. Coworking Antalya sometimes will have a group potluck here.
You don’t need to commit to a full swim day to enjoy Konyaaltı. Just walking along the shore, or finding a shaded bench to watch the parasailers in the sky, is worth the visit.
From pebble-strewn beach hangs to parasailing flights above the sea, Konyaaltı offers as much activity as relaxation
The walk down to the beach itself from the tram is also quite lovely, and features various flowers framing the sea.
Notes from the shore
Konyaaltı isn’t the softest or quietest beach around, but it has its own rhythm and appeal. It’s where locals and tourists mingle. Where beach days can be social or solitary. And where the mountain-sea skyline never stops showing off.
Come prepared with water shoes, maybe a good playlist of your own, and an openness to Antalya’s louder, livelier coast.
