Why Antalya, Turkey Is Great for Digital Nomads

 

Overview: A Mediterranean gem many nomads overlook

Antalya sits on the Turkish Riviera and runs along a coastline that rivals the beaches of Italy, Croatia, or Greece. It combines long sandy shores, preserved ancient ruins, a walkable old town, and a growing digital nomad community. For me, Antalya hit the sweet spot: beautiful views, delicious food, and a relaxed holiday vibe that makes it easy to unplug when I need to.

Housing: affordable and better deals the longer you stay

Photo by Desert Morocco Adventure on Unsplash

Housing is a big factor when deciding where to base yourself. The great news is Antalya is affordable compared to many popular nomad hotspots. If you plan ahead a few months, you can find a month-long Airbnb for a two-bedroom near or inside the city center for roughly $1,000 to $1,300 per month. The longer you stay, the more bargaining power you’ll have for even better deals.

Food: tasty, cheap, and diverse

Eating out in Antalya is affordable. Expect average meals to fall in the $10 to $15 range, and local spots can be even cheaper. The best restaurants run around $30 per person for a higher-end meal, which I thought was well worth it.

If you want authentic, inexpensive food, hunt down esnaf restaurants—traditional tradesmen spots that are equally delicious and offer a different slice of local life.

Health and travel insurance: don’t skip it

Travel and health insurance is a must. I use a product made for long-term travelers that covers emergencies, medical evacuation, mental health support, and adventure sports, and it even includes travel protections like last-minute cancellations or lost luggage. If you travel year-round, pick a comprehensive plan. For short trips, a plan that covers emergencies may be enough. Nobody likes paying for insurance until they need it.

Community and co-working

Antalya’s nomad community is small but growing. Locals and expats we met were welcoming, and language barriers rarely became a problem—Google Translate fills in a lot. The most visible hub for remote workers is a gorgeous co-working space called Co-working Antalya. Don’t expect fancy boutique furniture; expect an incredible view that makes work feel a little less like work.

Internet and best cafes to work from

Internet speeds vary across the city. As someone who creates large video files, I noticed the difference—but for most digital nomads who handle video calls, remote meetings, and everyday uploads, Antalya’s internet is fine.

• The fastest connection we found was at a coffee spot overlooking the beach: about 400 Mbps download and 56 Mbps upload—fast enough for heavier uploads and streaming.
• Other cafes typically measured in the 20 to 30 Mbps download range, with uploads around 5 to 20 Mbps—plenty for video calls, collaborative work, and regular cloud backups.

Nightlife and friendliness

Antalya gets lively, especially in summer. It is a popular holiday destination for people from Istanbul, Ankara, and beyond, so the city comes alive with night markets, bars, and music. The old town is a great place to have dinner and then head out for the night. Learn a few Turkish phrases—it goes a long way to breaking the ice and building quick connections.

Leisure and work life balance

Because Antalya is primarily a holiday destination, the leisure component is high. If you want to balance intense work blocks with easy downtime, it’s perfect. You can spend a morning in a cafe overlooking the Mediterranean, an afternoon trying water sports, and an evening at a traditional hamam or wandering ancient ruins. The city is full of beachside cafes, bright vibes, and outdoor activities that make it easy to look up from your screen and feel inspired.

Things to do and day trips

There is no shortage of activities:

• Explore well-preserved ancient ruins inside or near the city.
• Swim and dive in the crystal-clear Mediterranean waters.
• Recharge at a traditional Turkish hamam in the city center.
• Rent a car to visit nearby coastal towns such as Kaş and Fethiye for more beaches and hidden coves.

Between water sports, historical sites, and beach hopping, boredom is hard to come by.

Practical tips

• Book housing in advance to secure better monthly rates.
• Bring or get a local SIM with data as a backup if cafe Wi-Fi is spotty.
• Learn a few Turkish phrases to make interactions smoother.
• Consider comprehensive travel/health insurance if you plan to spend most of the year abroad; make sure it covers adventure sports if you plan to kite, dive, or paraglide.

Final thoughts

Antalya is one of those underrated nomad-friendly cities that checks a lot of boxes: affordable housing, great food, beautiful beaches, a welcoming community, and enough infrastructure to work remotely without major headaches. The internet could be faster in some spots, but it is more than sufficient for most remote work needs. I loved my time here and plan to return for a longer stay. If you want a Mediterranean base that blends work and holiday vibes, Antalya deserves a hard look.

Antalya, we love you.