Bus 800 is the cheapest shot from AYT to Lara Beach
For around $0.75–1.50, Municipal Bus 800 runs from Antalya Airport to Lara and parts of the coastal strip that sit awkwardly between the tram and the Havaş coach routes. Real reports put the ride at about 45–70 minutes, depending on traffic and which hotel stop you pick. If your bed is in Lara rather than Kaleiçi or the city center, this is the budget move.
Bus 800 serves T1, T2 and T3; look for municipal buses signed "800" outside arrivals after you exit customs. It runs roughly every 30–60 minutes, with noticeably thinner service in late evening and on Sundays compared with route 600. If you land after about 22:00, expect longer gaps or to abandon the plan and grab a taxi.
A single ride on 800 costs about 20–40 TRY (roughly $0.75–1.50) depending on card or cash and current fares, which is a fraction of the $20–30 many visitors report paying for an airport taxi to Lara. You typically pay the driver on board or tap a local transport card; have small notes or coins ready because drivers rarely break large bills cleanly.
The 800 route runs from AYT along the coastal road toward Lara Beach, passing clusters of resorts and apartment blocks where a lot of package tourists stay. Posters mention being dropped within a short walk of hotels like those along Lara Cd. and nearby side streets. One TripAdvisor user summed it up: slower than a taxi, but drops you close for a fraction of the cost.
Stops in the Lara area are a bit rough: several travellers say hotel stops are not clearly signed, and you can easily overshoot. Regulars screenshot the 800 route map and stop list before flying, then watch their location on an offline map and hit the stop button one stop before their pin. Asking the driver to call out your hotel area also helps, especially after dark.
Summer complaints are consistent: in July–August, 800 can run crowded with locals and tourists heading to the beach, and older buses sometimes have weak air-conditioning during the midday heat. Expect to stand with your bag if you board at peak times around 10:00–12:00 and late afternoon, and stash bigger suitcases in the front area without blocking the door.
Service thins out late; forum regulars say that if they land much after about 23:00, they skip 800 entirely and go straight to a taxi or prebooked transfer to avoid 40–60 minute gaps and guesswork at the stop. If your flight is early afternoon and you’re heading to Lara, 800 is worth the trade-off; for very late-night arrivals, budget the extra cash and save the experiment for another day.
One practical tip: before you leave the terminal at T1, T2, or T3, pull up your hotel in a maps app, screenshot the stretch of coastal road and nearest bus stop, and keep that open on your phone so you can bail off 800 at the right pole without relying on guesswork.