Kepez or Aksu? Two Big Districts for Families and Budgets

Kepez and Aksu are Antalya's two big outer districts and they often come up together. Both spread north and east of the centre, and both attract families and buyers watching their budget. Yet they differ in size, in their relationship with the sea, in housing stock and in daily rhythm. This guide sets them side by side to see which fits which need.

Scale: a district of over half a million versus a mid-sized one

First the numbers. According to Wikipedia's district page, Kepez had 608,675 residents in 2022, covers 292 km² and has 68 neighbourhoods. It is one of Antalya's most populous districts and has no coastline. Aksu is listed at 406 km²; the page gives 82,560 for 2024 and the infobox 77,623 for 2022. The two figures are for different years, so it is enough to say that Aksu is far smaller: Kepez is as dense as a city of its own, while Aksu is still a developing, more thinly settled district.

This difference sets the first criterion: in Kepez everything is plentiful and close; in Aksu, areas are wider, distances longer and new construction more visible.

Relationship with the sea

Kepez is not a coastal district; Wikipedia describes it as part of Greater Antalya without a sea border. To reach the water you head down to Muratpaşa or Konyaaltı. Aksu includes coastal points such as Kundu beach and opens onto Antalya's eastern shore. For someone who wants the sea, that alone may decide it. We cover Kundu in more detail elsewhere; for its hotel-concept residences and the short-let rules see Kundu's hotel-concept residences and Law 7464.

Distance and transport

According to Wikipedia, Aksu lies about 18 km from the city centre on the D.400 highway linking Antalya and Mersin. For daily commuters that means both convenience and the risk of traffic. Kepez borders the centre and contains city-scale transport points such as the bus terminal. So Kepez connects more directly to the urban transport network, while in Aksu car use weighs more.

Airport links also vary by area. For the new growth corridor around the airport read Antalya airport expansion in 2026 and what it means for Altınova and Aksu and the Altıntaş guide.

Photo: Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Nature and places to visit

Both districts have real natural and historical assets. Kepez contains the Düden Waterfalls, which Wikipedia lists among the district's main tourist attractions. In Aksu the ancient city of Perge and Kurşunlu Waterfall Nature Park stand out. If you are thinking about weekend outings, Perge and Aspendos weekend trips gives ideas for new residents around Aksu.

Housing stock and age

Kepez mixes buildings of very different ages and qualities: long-established neighbourhoods, blocks renewed through urban transformation and new complexes. Aksu has mostly newer buildings, complex-type flats and developing neighbourhoods. That feeds into the new-build versus resale question; see new or second-hand? for details.

In our post on buying in Kepez we recommend a framework that applies here too: do not look at the whole district through a single price lens; compare neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

What it means for families

For families the question is whether school, park, clinic and transport come together. In Kepez those services are broad and widespread, with social infrastructure ready in many neighbourhoods. In Aksu's newer neighbourhoods, schools and social areas mature over time; when viewing a home, ask what is already built nearby and what is only planned. In some parts of Aksu, social areas inside complexes cover part of that need.

Budget and expectations

Prices in both districts vary widely by neighbourhood and building, so we do not quote fixed figures. To see what is possible within your budget, use the framework in what you can buy in Antalya by budget, and if you are a first-time buyer read compact homes for first-time buyers. The whole purchase process is covered on our buying a home in Antalya page and payment-plan options on installment homes.

A checklist before you buy

In both districts the same four questions come first. One is the occupancy permit: does the building have its yapı kullanma izin belgesi, or is it a project whose title deed has not yet been issued? Two is the title deed type: condominium ownership or construction-servitude? Three is building age and the paperwork on earthquake resistance. Four is what the service charges amount to and what they cover. Especially in Kepez neighbourhoods where old and new buildings sit side by side, this building-level check says far more than any district-level generalisation. If you are looking at off-plan homes in Aksu, 10 checks when buying off-plan lists which documents to ask for.

From a rental and investment angle

For those considering renting out, the tenant profile differs. In Kepez it tends to be year-round residents who work in the city; in Aksu, families who want to be near the coast and newer complexes may stand out. This is a generalisation; real demand varies from neighbourhood to neighbourhood and building to building. For the difference between long-term and holiday lets see renting out your property in Antalya.

A quick comparison

• City living, a dense transport network, established neighbourhoods: Kepez.
• Closer to the sea, newer and more spacious, car-oriented life: Aksu.
• Proximity to the centre: Kepez is adjacent; Aksu is a drive of a few dozen minutes.
• Nature and history: Düden Waterfalls in Kepez; Perge and Kurşunlu in Aksu.
• Investment: in both, building-level checks (occupancy permit, title deed, service charges) decide everything.

Before you decide

Walk around both Kepez and Aksu at two different times: a weekday morning and a weekend afternoon. Try the route between home and work or school in real traffic. You can browse current developments on our projects page, and you are welcome to write to us with questions.

Cover photo: EROL AKBULUT / CC BY 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons