hapy_sole

Hello everyone,

My wife and I live in Sweden and are looking for somewhere to spend the winter months. So far we have identified the Turkish Riviera and the Far East as the two options.

Granted that the "winters" in Thailand are preferable to those in Antalya but we are leaning more towards Turkey because it is closer to home, the flying time is only 4 hours, higher living standard, etc.

We would really appreciate all the input we can get on life in Antalya and the region in general during the winter months. How cold does it get? Do you see any sun? What do people do in winters to amuse themselves? Do many expats stay during the winters? Are there regular international flights from Antalya during the winters? How are the hospitals? What can one expect to pay in rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in an upscale neighborhood?

We look forward to your help in making our minds up.
Cheers!
Nick & Mila

Philogic

Hi, there are a few people on this forum who live in this area, I'm sure they will be along soon to help you out. I have a place in Side and visit at various times of the year. I was there in January and the daytime temp reached 25 degrees with lots of people on the beach and in the sea [This does not happen all the time]. It gets very cold in the evenings with a fleece or coat neccessary. Most of the locals and restaurants have wood burning stoves which makes them very cosy and warm. There is usually a fair amount of rain during the winter months although there seems to have been a bit of a drought in the past few years. Fortunately I have not had reason to use the hospitals although they have just built a new one near to me, the facilities seem to be pretty good. In Belek, halfway between Antalya and Side, there are eight? golf courses which are busy in the winter months. It is also better to visit places of interest when there are fewer tourists around. There are plenty of flights from London and Manchester and lots from Germany, no idea about Sweden. Try Googling Turkish estate agents [emlak] for info on renting properties.
Phil

ONLYME2

Hello hapy sole

I came to Alanya in January this year and the weather was very nice, in January was between 22 to 25 C, not hot but very nice.

I was regularly flying over to Sweden from Antalya but I was flying with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, I am sure there is a charter flight over to Arlanda all year round though but it never suited the days I needed to travel.

Darren

Alanya is a good place to seek your winter sun. There are probably about 345-355 days of sun every year. You can swim in the sea probably right up until that time every year that the could from the east finally rolls over and down from the Taurus mountains, which usually happens around January or February, but sometimes as early as December. Once the cold rolls in, you will have to wait for the sun to warm things up again usually by April, but the air temperature only verges on winter temperatures of about 15-17 for perhaps two weeks a year.

Mind you we have been watching the German retirement communities in Side swim all year round for years.

Alanya has been popluar with Swedes since the 1970s and if you were of a mind to rent your place during the hot sunmmer months you could probably find many takers from back home.

Social life and the quality fo restaurants, shopping, etc etc is not so sophisticated in Alanya in any respect even in comparison to other Turkish Coastal cities or Antalya for that matter, but the sunshine iand warmth is better than anywhere else. Antalya is a bit of a mad house for living and is colder in the winter and gets more rain year round but does have more going for it that you would expect from a city and the old city is a treat. Along the way there are golf courses in Belek. But neither Antalya or Belek are really very accessible from Alanya "with ease" because of the road and its traffic. but they are manageable- and hour or 90 minutes drive for some people is not a problem.

Alanya is a safe, tame and simple place with sandy beaches and loads of sunshine and nice mountain back drop. It doesnt get more un complicated than that really.

Rainbow

I live in Kas all year round, which is a 3 hour drive South from Antalya.
For the last few years we have experienced very mild winters. Of course we have cold snaps but nothing compared to Europe! In fact lots of sunny days spent sitting in the tea garden!
The problem though is that many properties are not designed for any winter weather, so can be draughty. Adequate heating will soon solve that.

What do people do in the winter?? Well that depends on you - there,s loads of things to do. It,s very easy to get around this area so visiting places even in the winter can be a delight. Many people just take each day as it comes and potter around, meet up with friends etc.

I have been receiving ongoing intensive medical treatment for more than a year now at the Akdeniz University Hospital in Antalya and am well impressed with them. The Turkish hospital "system" takes a bit of getting used to but once mastered, is very manageable. A good health insurance is a must.

Wherever you choose I hope you have a lovely winter.

shirleyanntr

i think Antalya will suit you better than Alanya for things to do.
İ have a Swedish friend and at one time she used to come on special offers for 3 month stays that some hotels do..it was cheaper for her than to have the high heating costs she had in Sweden.
Although Alanya is an all year round resort now it still doesnt match up to the standards of Antalya.....i'm sure i will earn a pat on the back from Rik for that comment!!

hapy_sole

Thank you all for your prompt replies! It is wonderful to hear from you all describing the various aspects of life in the winter months. A picture is emerging and I am happy to say that it appears promising.
Please keep your posts coming; whenever you have a free moment or think of something, just let us know.
Thanx again!
Nick

apollo too

Scheduled International flights continue throughout the winter to and from Antalya. In addition there are several regular daily flights to Istanbul.

There is an estate agency owned by an Englishman in Antalya. He has a good reputation. If you go to the forum, expats in antalya, you will find him and you will also be able to communicate with more expats in the area.

For things to do. There are ballets,concerts and operas staged through the winter months. There are several cinemas. There is a wide range of restaurants,cafes and bars. Ranging from the cheap and cheerful to the higher class establishments. There is golf and plenty of places outside of the city for walking.

There are museums to visit and Saklikent is a ski centre close to Antalya.

There are a couple of clubs which expats and the locals can join. No doubt RIK will be along sometime he will be able to give you more details on these.

A colleague of mine swims in the sea everyday, without fail.

The transport system in and around the city is very good and there are good bus links to other towns and cities.

Towards the end of November or during December snow covers the mountains which surround Antalya. Although the snow is arriving later each year and the cover is getting less.

Generally speaking the weather throughout the winter is good. You will need a coat during the evenings.
Antalya weather is famous for the extremes and can feature on the national news.
I have experienced 20cms of rainfall in 24 hours. When it rains oh boy does it rain. The next day however can be glorious.
The thunder and lightning can be spectacular.
I have seen ice on the puddles in the mornings.
A few years ago temperatures of 28 degs were experienced in February. I would suggest that temperature between November and March during the day, range from between 16 to 24 degrees. Night time temperatures normally go down to about 5 degs as the coldest and generally down to about 10 degs.

I hope you both enjoy your stay in Antalya.

hapy_sole

Thank you, apollo too, for your very detailed account of Winters in Antalya. You have captured the very essence of life through your keen observations and interests.
Best regards,
Nick