Tourists shocked: A simit costs 110 lira at Antalya Airport!

Tourists shocked: Simit costs 110 lira at Antalya Airport!

Antalya, Turkey's tourism capital, is hosting around 17 million tourists this year, but the food and beverage prices at its airport have raised eyebrows among both locals and foreign visitors.

With the start of the high season, prices have skyrocketed to outrageous levels. In the departure area of Antalya Airport, a simit is sold for 110 TL, while a 50 cl bottle of beer is priced between 600 and 850 TL.

By comparison, simit costs only 20 TL in Istanbul, reflecting a 450% increase. Similarly, beer that sells for 90 TL in a regular store is offered for 680 TL at the airport — a staggering 655% markup.

PRICES LEAVE TOURISTS STUNNED

A simple burger and cola menu will set you back 800 TL. Those hoping for a light snack will still face steep prices:

A packaged slice of cake: 135 TL (238% higher than store price)

A single savory pastry (poğaça): 110 TL

A plate of tuna salad: 560 TL

Toast and tea combo: 360 TL

A slice of trileçe (milk cake): 350 TL

A bottle of white wine: 3,850 TL (vs. 1,400 TL in retail)

These astronomical prices are attributed to high operational costs such as rent and staff wages. Still, the 5–6 times higher prices compared to market rates are causing concern. Even compared to regular restaurants, airport prices are an average of 172% higher.

Last year, Antalya welcomed a record-breaking 17.3 million tourists, and that number is expected to reach 18 million this year. However, this aggressive airport pricing may negatively impact the tourist experience and leave a bad impression. The long-term impact on the tourism sector remains to be seen.