Antalya in November 2026: What COP31 Changes for Your Holiday
Heading to Antalya in November 2026? The COP31 climate summit means more security, busier roads and tighter hotels. Here is what to plan for.
If you are planning a trip to Antalya in November 2026, you will share the city with the UN climate summit. COP31 runs from 9 to 20 November at the Antalya EXPO Center in Aksu, east of the centre, and around 100,000 participants are expected: government delegations, observers, journalists and business visitors from almost every country.
For most of the coast that means a busier, more heavily policed fortnight rather than a spoiled holiday. The effects are concentrated in a few places and on a few dates. This guide sets out which ones, so you can plan around them.
Antalya in November 2026: the dates that matter
| Dates | What happens | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 3–8 November | Badge desks open, delegations start arriving | A busier arrivals hall at Antalya Airport |
| 9–20 November | Conference days | Traffic east of the city in the morning and early evening |
| 11–12 November | World Leaders' Summit | The tightest security of the fortnight; allow extra time on the road |
| Sunday 15 November | Conference venue closed | Old town and sights busier than on a usual November Sunday |
| From 20 November | Delegations leave | Another busy spell at the airport |
Recent COPs have often run past their scheduled final day, so the departure wave can spill over by a day or two.
Getting through Antalya Airport
Most participants will fly into Antalya Airport, the same airport most holidaymakers use. Security plans cover the airport, the venue, the conference hotels and the roads between them, and more than 30,000 police, health, transport and other staff are due to be on duty across the city. The airport itself has grown: after the latest expansion, its annual capacity has risen from 35 million to 82 million passengers and its aircraft stands from 108 to 176.
In practice, allow extra time for your departure on the peak days, and arrange your transfer before you land rather than relying on the taxi rank at the busiest hours. Our comparison of shuttle, taxi and private transfers explains the options.
If you are heading to Alanya or further east, look at Gazipaşa Airport as well. It is closer to Alanya and well away from the summit.
Hotels: where the pressure is
Delegates cluster where the official conference arrangements point them. The official accommodation platform lists hotels in the city centre, Belek, Lara, Kemer and Side, and its partner's shuttle service covers Belek, Boğazkent, Lara, Kundu, Kaleiçi and Konyaaltı. Resorts in Lara, Kundu and Belek, closest to the venue, are where demand is strongest.
If you have not booked yet, compare dates just before or after the summit, or look at areas outside the official platform, such as Alanya. Our area-by-area guide for COP31 visitors shows how each district relates to the venue.
On the roads
Much of the preparation has gone into roads. In the Belek–Kundu tourism zone, about 37.8 km of main roads and hotel access roads have been built or renewed, with the COP31 routes marked in yellow. Roadworks in Aksu, near the venue, were scheduled to finish in October.
Around the venue itself, the security cordon is being tightened step by step up to the opening on 9 November. On the two leaders' days, as at any summit of heads of state, expect short holds while official convoys pass. Transfers from the airport east to Belek, Side and Alanya use the main road through Aksu, so leave a little margin on conference mornings and evenings.
The upside of a summit November
November is a good month on this coast anyway: daytime temperatures usually around 20°C, cooler evenings, and the first autumn rains. This year the city adds a few extras. The Green Zone, the public side of COP31, hosts exhibitions, talks and cultural events, and visitors can register through the official COP31 website, although access rules may vary by event. The negotiations in the Blue Zone are for accredited participants only.
Away from the venue, most of the coast keeps its off-season calm. A walk through Kaleiçi and along the cliffs above the old harbour is a good way to see the city at its most international.
Book your airport transfer early
These are current prices for a private transfer from Antalya Airport. Booking ahead fixes the price and means a driver is waiting for you, whatever the day.
Frequently asked questions
For most holidaymakers, no. The summit is concentrated around the venue in Aksu and the nearby resort areas. Allow extra time at the airport and book your hotel and transfer early, especially if you want Lara, Kundu or Belek.
Yes. Antalya Airport has been expanded ahead of the summit and is preparing for extra security. Expect more crowds on the peak days at the start and end of November and on 11–12 November, and arrive earlier than usual.
The negotiations in the Blue Zone are for accredited participants only. The Green Zone, with exhibitions, talks and cultural events, is more open, and visitors can register through the official COP31 website. Access rules may vary by event.
Demand is highest in the resort areas closest to the venue: Lara, Kundu and Belek. Compare dates just before or after the summit, or look at areas outside the official platform, such as Alanya.
11 and 12 November, when heads of state attend the World Leaders' Summit. On all conference days, roads east of the city are also busier in the morning and early evening.