Getting Around Antakya
Antakya is a compact provincial capital, and much of the central city can be covered on foot. The old city sits on the east bank of the Orontes River, while newer neighbourhoods spread across the plains to the south-west, linked by four bridges. Be aware that the narrow streets of the old city can become clogged with traffic, so walking is often the simplest way to move between the centre's shops, restaurants and tea gardens.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Antakya has no metro, tram or light rail network of its own, and there is no train station in the city. The nearest railway station is in Iskenderun, but services from Adana and Mersin remain suspended because of long-running track works. For practical purposes, visitors should not plan on reaching or touring Antakya by rail.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Antakya's public transport is built around buses and dolmuş minibuses rather than rail. The intercity bus station, Antakya Otogarı, sits on the bypass north-west of the city centre. It was badly damaged in the 2023 earthquakes and, as of mid-2026, had not yet been rebuilt, operating instead with makeshift facilities. Dolmuşes run from the otogarı into the downtown area, making them the usual link between long-distance arrivals and the centre.
Long-distance buses connect Antakya with other Turkish cities. Services from Istanbul run every couple of hours and take around 14 hours, passing through Ankara, Niğde, Adana and Iskenderun. International services no longer run from Beirut or Aleppo. The main operators are Metro Turizm, Kamil Koç (now part of Flixbus) and Has Turizm. When booking online, select "Hatay" as the destination, since bus company websites do not recognise "Antakya".
Within the city, dolmuşes are plentiful and, along with taxis, are the main way to cover longer hops that are impractical on foot.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful in Antakya and are a straightforward option for trips across town or to places beyond comfortable walking distance. The source material does not describe any ride-hailing apps operating in the city, so visitors should expect to rely on conventional taxis and dolmuşes rather than app-based services.
Walkability
The centre of Antakya is walkable, and many of the city's amenities — the central avenue Kurtuluş Caddesi, the large park opposite the governor's building, and the surrounding shopping and business district — are within easy reach on foot. In the summer heat, locals tend to stay outside late into the night, walking with family and friends rather than seeking out formal nightlife.
Some sights lie well beyond the walkable core. The Church of St Peter is several kilometres north-east of the centre, and the route passes through industrial areas with little shade, so it is not a pleasant walk in hot weather. For destinations like this, take a dolmuş or taxi instead.
If you want to explore the wider area around Antakya, having your own car is the most practical option, especially given how much of the city was wrecked by the earthquakes. Parking in town is plentiful on rubble-strewn vacant lots — land that used to be people's homes.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Hatay Airport (HTY) lies north of the city centre and handles domestic flights only, with Turkish Airlines and Pegasus serving Istanbul and Turkish Airlines also flying from Ankara. There are no international flights, but Istanbul offers excellent onward connections. The airport was patched up after the earthquake and has only basic facilities.
To reach the city from the airport, the Havas bus is supposed to meet arriving flights and run downtown, taking about an hour to a stop on İnönü Caddesi near the main square and Hacı Durmuş bridge. In practice, this service can be unreliable, so it is wise to have a backup plan. Otherwise, look for a dolmuş or take a taxi into the centre.