Moving to Antalya with kids

When Beatrice and Adam Solberg moved to Lara, Antalya, they were, in Beatrice's words, young, free, adventurous - ready for anything. Nine years and two children later, they're more settled but still with the adventurous spark that brought them to Antalya in southern Turkey. Antalya, covering much of the beautiful Mediterranean coast, is one of Turkey's top destinations for foreign house sales. In addition, the long stretches of sand make Antalya the number one beach holiday district. As a large province, Antalya includes many towns and small villages as well as the region's large city centre and hub. The couple learned much since buying their property in Antalya and agreed to share their knowledge.

About Moving to Antalya with Kids

Why Choose Antalya for Somewhere to Live

We hadn't been together long when Adam was offered a year-round contract. I was between jobs, and we just thought, why not. We liked Antalya so much and kept extending our stay, and after three years, we bought a home. Antalya offers everything family-friendly environments should. There are many children's play amenities; of course, they enjoy the great outdoors. Also, given many expats live in Antalya, the region's multicultural ambience makes life easier to settle in.

Do Your Children Go to School?

The children are five and three; the eldest attends kindergarten and will attend a private school next year, and the youngest stays home with me for now. The school system here is generally good, but you need to do some work to find out which school is best. There are Turkish state schools and private schools here. Many expats can help decide what's best.

What's It Like Where You Live?

We are right on the coast, enjoying the many seaside cafes, restaurants, and promenade that follows the shore where the children can ride their bikes. Although we have a car, we often catch the local buses to the centre and nearby beaches. Lara is lively, with lots to do, and our apartment complex has gardens and two swimming pools, which the children love. Konyaalti is lovely too, it's a bit quieter, with a pebbly beach. When we first moved here, we lived there but purchased a property in Lara to be closer to Adam's work. The area is safe for children, and kids in our complex play together.

Bringing Up Children in Antalya

Beatrice: we both had different experiences. Because I was at home with the children, I was the one attending baby groups and taking the children out during the day. It was hard at first, but I soon made a network of friends.

Adam: A significant difference we noticed is people love small children here. Name, age, sleeping habits, that sort of thing. At first, this was a bit strange - that does not happen back in Sweden! But after a while, you get used to it and accept quick trips to the supermarket will take longer. Our children grew up with this friendly attitude. They knew no different, so they're confident and happy to talk to just about anyone, which we think is terrific.

Can the Children Speak Turkish?

Our eldest is five, and he speaks Turkish very well. We speak Swedish at home but a bit of English too. Most Swedes know English as the most important global language. We think children should understand both the language of their adopted country. So they will grow up trilingual, which gives them so many advantages.

Enjoying Time with the Children at Weekends

There is so much to do here; I don't know where to start! Firstly, stay local and go to the beach, aqua park, or a park. Or you can go into town, to museums - of which there are many. Finally, if you want to explore, there are some fantastic spots to reach by dolmus or car. Kemer to the west is beautiful, but we visit off-season when the resort is quieter. Nearby Side also has a charming beach about an hour away.

Our children are still small, but we'd like to start taking them on hikes, horse riding and sailing in a few years. There is a sailing club here for children; sailing is enormous here. And, of course, being Swedish, we love skiing! The ski fields here aren't as good as Swedish ones, of course, but still quite decent and very cheap. The ski industry is still being developed here, so that's something to watch for.

Do You Travel Back to Sweden Regularly?

We go back about twice a year. Travel links from Antalya are excellent – it's one of the reasons we stayed. We want our children to know their heritage and extended family, so we make an effort. It can be not easy living so far away from family at times, but we are close-knit and stay in touch as best we can. We usually get one or two sets of family members coming out each year to visit.

Advice for Others Moving to Antalya with Their Children

Antalya is a fantastic place to live, with so many opportunities. Antalya is a diverse, exciting place to bring up children, with people from all over the world visiting. To me, it's the perfect city: not too big, but large enough to have everything from the practical side of things like medical facilities and schools to the social side. Any significant life change is hard, as is understanding new cultures but preserving. Try to learn Turkish before arriving, and contact other expats for advice and local resources. Make the most of living here by making Turkish friends, but don't forget there is a wealth of expat knowledge for help.

Any Downsides to Living in Antalya?

Aside from missing family, not really. I think the culture shock was challenging to navigate but only temporary. One problematic difference was the [no problem) philosophy. Sometimes it's refreshing to approach life that way, but this made work difficult. You will need patience to adapt to a different way of life. The weather also gets sweltering in July and August, which annoys small children who want to play outside.

What are the Upsides?

The food is fantastic, fresh, tasty, and cheap if you buy local goods. The endless sunshine is a definite plus! Being able to get outdoors every day is really fantastic. Turkey's history is rich and varied, with many civilisations making their homes along the coast. It's incredible for children to see these historical sites for themselves instead of in books or on the internet.

Also About Antalya

Districts of Antalya: Altogether, 19 districts of Antalya form one province that storms ahead of others for tourism and foreign house sales. Sitting aside the D400 highway and running from Alanya in the east to Kas and Kalkan in the west, the Antalya province is worth getting to know. This article will also be helpful to anyone considering purchasing property in the area. The report gives local information and descriptions of each official district.

Property in Antalya: If you are considering moving to Antalya, or would like to buy a holiday home, browse our portfolio of apartments and villas for sale. Each listing contains everything to know, including price, location, home features and contact details to arrange viewings. Every month, thousands of homes are bought and sold in the Antalya province, proving its worth as an ideal seaside destination.