Antalya summer (June-September) is brutal — 35°C+ days, UV index 9-11, sea at 27°C. Pack for the climate, not the holiday brochure. This is the list our drivers wish more passengers brought.
Skin protection (the non-negotiables)
- SPF 50+ sunscreen — at least 200ml per person, factor 30 is not enough at this UV level
- Wide-brim hat (NOT a baseball cap — ears get burnt)
- Polarised UV-rated sunglasses (cheap ones cause more eye strain than no glasses)
- UV-rated swim shirt for swimming/snorkelling — cheaper to buy from Decathlon Antalya than to treat sunburn
- After-sun aloe (the local pharmacy "Eczane" sells the strongest stuff)
Feet, mosquitoes and beach gear
- Beach shoes / aqua-socks — most Antalya beaches are pebble or sharp stone, not sand
- Walking sandals (Tevas / Birkenstocks) — Kaleiçi cobbles wreck cheap flip-flops
- Mosquito spray with DEET — evenings on beachfront restaurants get bitten without it
- Microfibre travel towel — most hotels supply, but a small extra for the beach is gold
Evenings and dressing up
- One light cardigan / shawl — beachfront restaurants run AC at 18°C
- Smart casual for fine-dining (Kaleiçi rooftop restaurants — collar shirt for men)
- Mosque-visit cover (long trousers or skirt, headscarf for women — most mosques lend free)
Tech and documents
- Type F European plug adaptor (Türkiye uses 220V / Type F)
- Power bank — beach umbrellas don't have outlets
- Photocopy of passport + driving licence (real licence not needed for our transfers)
- Travel insurance details (clinics in Antalya bill direct to most major UK / EU insurers)