Hatay Airport Car Rental

Hatay Airport (HTY) has been the air gateway to Turkey's southernmost province since 2007. It stands on the Amik Plain between Antakya and Kirikhan, outside any town, so whichever way you are heading after landing, the journey takes at least half an hour. Antakya, Defne, Iskenderun, Kirikhan, Reyhanli, Samandag and Arsuz lie in different directions, which is why many arriving passengers continue by road.

Most people flying in are visiting family, travelling for work or reconstruction projects, or coming for Hatay's celebrated cuisine. If you only need one address in Antakya, a taxi or the HAVAS airport coach may be enough. Hatay Airport car rental pays off when you want to fit several stops into one day: a meeting in Iskenderun, relatives in Samandag and dinner in Harbiye, for example.

On Otorento you can compare economy cars, automatics, saloons, SUVs and family vans from independent rental suppliers in one list, with fuel policy, mileage and rental conditions shown for each. Prices and availability depend on dates, car group and supplier. All suppliers offer free cancellation and 24/7 support.

For most trips a compact or mid-size car is enough. If you are bringing family or luggage for a longer stay, a larger saloon or estate gives more room, and an automatic makes stop-start driving through construction zones easier. Hatay Airport car rental also lets you plan a wider route through the region, for example along the coast to Iskenderun and Arsuz.

Location and getting around

The airport authority gives the distance to the city centre as 28 km. The table shows road distances from the terminal; times vary with traffic and roadworks.

The airport is north of Antakya: Antakya, Harbiye and Samandag lie to the south, Kirikhan and Reyhanli to the north and east. To reach Iskenderun and Arsuz you cross the Amanos Mountains via Belen on a winding road. None of these routes uses a toll motorway. Roadworks on the access roads around the airport occasionally change the route, so check your navigation app for the current way before setting off.

Travelling in Hatay after the 2023 earthquakes

Antakya and Defne were among the places hit hardest by the February 2023 earthquakes, and rebuilding is still under way. In some neighbourhoods roads may be closed, diverted or slowed by construction traffic. Part of the historic centre has reopened to visitors, but please check whether individual museums, bazaars, mosques and churches are open, and their visiting hours, with official sources before you go. Read the suggestions below with that in mind, and be respectful in areas where people are still rebuilding their homes.

Picking up your car

The handover point depends on the supplier: some meet you at the terminal exit, others hand over the car at an office or car park near the airport. The exact meeting point and the supplier's phone number are in your booking confirmation.

• Documents: your driving licence, passport and the payment card named in the booking. Foreign licences are valid in Turkey for up to six months after entry; check your supplier's licence requirements before you travel.

• Deposit: usually taken on a credit card in the main driver's name. Deposit, minimum age and licence-holding period vary by car group and supplier.

• Flight number: add it to your booking so the supplier can plan the handover around delays.

• Return: the return point may differ from the pick-up point, so check the address and time in your confirmation. From Iskenderun or Samandag, allow close to an hour's drive plus check-in time.

Hatay Airport car hire handovers go faster if you have your confirmation and documents ready. Have any existing damage written on the handover form and photograph the fuel level to avoid disputes at return.

Places to visit by car

• Antakya: the heart of Hatay cuisine, from kunefe to hummus and kebabs, and the reopened historic sites; approx. 28 km. Check the current status of anything you plan to visit.

• Harbiye: waterfalls and shaded garden restaurants in Defne, easy to combine with Antakya; approx. 36 km.

• Samandag and Vakifli: a long sandy beach and Vakifli, known as Turkey's last Armenian village, on the slopes of Musa Dagi; Samandag approx. 51 km.

• Iskenderun and Arsuz: Iskenderun's seafront and fish restaurants, and Arsuz's quieter beaches further south; approx. 48-74 km.

• Kirikhan and Reyhanli: the nearest towns to the airport on the Amik Plain, common destinations for family and business visits; approx. 30-61 km.

Driving and parking tips

• With reconstruction ongoing in Antakya, streets suggested by your navigation app may turn out to be closed; stay on main roads where possible and watch for construction vehicles.

• Summers are hot, so a car with good air conditioning and enough boot space makes coastal trips to Samandag and Arsuz more comfortable.

• Parking near Harbiye's restaurants and the seafront can be hard on weekend evenings; arriving earlier helps.

• The Belen road over the Amanos Mountains to Iskenderun is steep and winding; if it is your first time, drive it in daylight.

• Combining Hatay with Adana or Gaziantep? One-way rentals depend on the supplier, so compare return conditions before booking.

Nearby locations

For other starting points in the region, compare car hire at Cukurova Airport, Gaziantep Airport, Kahramanmaras Airport and Mersin.