How To Get From Fethiye To Antalya By Bus

Information in this post was last updated March 2024

We’re going to take you on a little journey in this article. Just a short one.

The Fethiye Antalya bus journey via the quickest route; over the mountains and through the yayla (highlands).

We’ve mentioned on many occasions that travelling around Turkey by intercity bus is:

• comfortable
• simple
• generally easy on the finances

It’s the mode of transport we plump for most often.

We even sometimes take the bus to Istanbul and other places further afield because we love to feel the size of the country.

Of course, the Fethiye Antalya bus route is a short hop by comparison.

But it’s a great journey, nonetheless.

How To Travel From Fethiye To Antalya By Bus

If you’re travelling between Fethiye and Antalya in the daytime, routes are plied by the Batı Antalya Coop and Fethiye Seyahat (links below).

These are air-conditioned mini coaches which run at regular intervals from Fethiye Otogar to Antalya Otogar (bus station).

Depending on the time of day you are travelling, we’d recommend reserving a seat – some buses do get busy.

Get yourself to Fethiye otogar and all the offices are clearly marked.

The staff will tell you the bus times and show you which seats are available if you are looking to travel on the next available bus.

And usually where to sit while you’re waiting. Where to leave your bags. Where you might like to go and drink tea. Where to buy a simit…

Helpful people at the otogar!

Fethiye Antalya Bus

Reserve Your Seat

And, happy days, things have changed of late when it comes to the Fethiye Antalya bus route.

You could be haphazard and just rock up at the otogar and wait for the next bus.

This could go pear-shaped on the rare off chance that the bus is fully booked – a possibility during public holidays.

Or you can go the 21st century route and book online.

You can book via the individual sites or use the obilet app/website.

Using obilet gives you alternative buses if you want to pay extra and use one of the larger intercity bus services.

And Get On The Bus

If you book your tickets online, you can just get on the bus at the otogar.

Before setting off, staff will board the bus and check the right people are in the right seats – some passengers do get on and sit wherever they like. They’ll be moved.

The Yayladan Fethiye Antalya bus (this bus takes the D350 mountain road) is much quicker than the coastal bus.

The road is shorter and there are fewer stops.

You only need to take the Sahilden (coastal) bus if you are heading to coastal places.

Places such as the town of Kaş, the treehouses and ruins of Olympos. Or the town of Demre for the St. Nicholas Church and Myra ruins, for example.

Don’t get us wrong, we love a road trip between Antalya and Fethiye along the D400 coast road.

It’s our favourite road.

It’s just that your attempt to get to Antalya via that route by bus is going to take you some hours.

And it’s more expensive!

A Glimpse Of Yayla Life

Let’s call the Yayladan bus an express service.

3 hours and 30 minutes after setting off, you’ll be at the otogar in Antalya.

Your journey also gives you a glimpse of mountain life as you pass tiny villages and settlements.

And, just as you think the bus is in the middle of nowhere, someone will flag it down from the side of the road.

Sometimes they’ll get on.

And sometimes it’s just to load a parcel on to be dropped off in the next town.

You’ll notice all our photos have a bit of a wintry feel to them. That’s because we take the bus to Antalya at the same time each year – March – to take part in Runtalya.

However warm and springlike the weather in Fethiye and Antalya might be, high up in these mountains, dividing the two, winter usually prevails.

Arrival At Bekçiler

And one village that sits at one of the highest points of the road is Bekçiler.

Observant shoppers at Fethiye market will have noticed the signs on some of the potato stalls, advertising the fact that their potatoes are Bekçiler potatoes.

They’re the famous yellow ones (sarı patates) that make a mean baked potato.

A Quick Break

The Fethiye Antalya bus stops here for 20 minutes or so at a dinlenme tesisi.

Literally translated, this is a relaxation place. Think roadside services.

This is where you can get a hot meal, hot drinks, snacks and cold drinks. It’s a loo stop.

At this time of year, it’s also where – if you were in any doubt about the temperatures – you’ll get off the bus and have it confirmed that winter still lingers strong in the yayla!

We get off for a leg stretch and a little wander to take photos. And breathe in the fresh, icy air.

It’s so beautiful and lonely up here, despite it being the main route to Antalya.

Arrival At Antalya Otogar

Eventually, mountain scenery transforms into city outskirts.

As with many city approaches, this section of the journey is not the prettiest.

But, never fear, all that will change.

First, we need to negotiate Antalya otogar. We’ve arrived and now we need to get to the city centre.

So, what happens when you arrive at Antalya otogar?

If you’re anything like us when you arrive at an unfamiliar (large) bus station in an unfamiliar city, you get your backpack, put on your best blank face, stand with your hands on your hips, look at the taxis, look at the confusing signs…

Then wonder how on earth you’re going to get to where you need to be.

You envy the local people-in-the-know as they stride off with confidence and hop onto random modes of transport.

Leaving you behind to wonder where to start.

Take The Antray Tram

Ahh, well, here’s a tip.

If you’re going to be staying in the historic Kaleiçi area of Antalya (that’s where we always stay as it’s so central) allow us to rescue you from that aimless wandering.

Outside of the terminal, you will see a sign reading, ‘Antray.’

This is the Antalya tram system and the tram will take you from the otogar right to the centre of town. And beyond.

The tramway now also goes directly to Antalya Airport, (if that’s where you’re heading).

For the Kaleiçi area, get off at the İsmetpaşa stop.

Alternatively, use the Müze line and get off at the Müze stop outside the Antalya Archaeological Museum.

Then you can jump on the historic tram to Kaleiçi.

Buy An AntalyaKart

So, anyway, you’ll buy an AntalyaKart either from one of the machines or, if you prefer, from real human beings in the store near the Müze line.

The AntalyaKart is a plastic card and you can keep topping it up as and when you need to either at the machines around town of online via the app.

The card works on all public transport.

So, if you’re gonna be bobbing about a bit around town, it’s useful.

You can’t use cash on public transport.

But, as with the Muğla dolmuş system, you can also pay with contactless card. You will pay slightly more if you pay in this way.

And, as for finding your accommodation once you arrive in Kaleiçi…it’s time for hands on hips and blank faces again.

It’s a crazy-mazey world out there in the old town of Antalya.

Ask a local. Or tap into the good old GPS on your phone!

The local council have seen fit to update street names, recently, but we still manage to go a bit wayward.

Fethiye To Antalya By Bus – Useful Information

• The Fethiye to Antalya Yayladan bus takes 3 and a half hours and costs around 220-250 TL per person, each way (March 2024) with Batı Antalya.
• If you book online with Batı Antalya or Fethiye Seyahat, you will need to know a bit of Turkish to negotiate the payment. If in doubt, book your ticket at the otogar where you can speak with a human and pay by cash or card.
• With Batı Antalya, buses run roughly every two hours throughout the day, starting at around 7:30 am. Don’t forget to check your bus is taking the shorter route through the mountains. It’s also worth checking with Fethiye Seyahat as they usually have buses at different times.
• Once in Antalya, look out for the AntalyaKart signs and machines around the otogar. Buy cards from here and add credit to them for your journey. The machines have an English language option.
• Your AntalyaKart can be topped up at booths around the city, machines at bus and tram stops and also online via their app.

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