If you are looking for a great summer holiday, Turkey could be the place to go. The sun is shining and the beaches are great. In the evening you can eat the great Turkey food and then dive into the wild nightlife.
If you are the relaxing type, you can spend the whole day at one of the many great beaches. Here you can play beach volleyball or try one of the many water activities like: parasailing, jet skiing or the banana boat.
If you get tired sun bathing, you can trek in the mountain. If you like it a little wilder, mountain climbing and ravine climbing is also a possibility. Other options are diving, rafting and sea kayaking.
10 % of all tourists in Turkey stays in Alanya. And the reason is probably the great combination of beaches and sights. The most interesting sight is the castle hill 250 meter (820 feet) above the sea. From the top you can see how the hill divides the two beaches. There is also a great view of Alanya and the surrounding country.
If you bring your kids, a popular attraction is the Water Planet Aquapark. It is one of Turkeys largest water parks with everything from rafting and water slides to bungee jumping and crazy golf. Alanya does also have a lot of shops with both real and fake branded goods. The night can be spent in the many discos and bars.
Antalya is not like the other holiday destinations, which has developed from a small fisher village to a holiday destination. With its 500,000 residents you will see more locals than tourists. So a visit to Antalya will give you a better look at the real Turkey.
As a large city Alanya has a lot of bazaars, shopping centers and shopping streets. But there are also many interesting sights from the Roman Empire in the city. Many of them are in the old part of the city called Kaleici. Here you can also see old men playing dominoes while the women preparing the dinner.
The number one golf destination in Turkey is without doubt Belek. Eight golf courses can be found in the area; and many more are on their way. It can be necessary to book several months before the holiday, if you are going in the high season.
But Belek is more than playing golf. Here is a fantastic nature and an incredible silence, which are not found in the livelier holiday destinations such as Alanya and Side. Belek is also a paradise for bird lovers. The city does of course also have fine shopping and several water parks.
Kemer might have the most beautiful location in Turkey. Surrounded by the Mediterranean and the Taurus Mountains is this special place. The city does have a unique mix of the real Turkey and a modern holiday village. The city has an elegant marina, beautiful beach promenades and lively pedestrian streets.
The ruins of Phaselis, where Alexander the Great spent his winters, is a great sight just outside the city. In the middle of Kemer you can visit the 55,000 m2 Moonlight Park with restaurants, bars and discos. For the kids there are also playgrounds and a dolphinarium.
Kusadasi is another fishing village which has developed into a holiday destination. The city has a lot of great Turkey restaurants, and while the nightlife is not a wild as in Alanya or Side, there is still a small bar street with discos and bars.
Kusadasi has an international feeling because of the many cruise ship guests in the city, which arrives to see the famous sight Efesos (also named Efesus). So expect a lot of smart cafes and shops with international clothing brands.
Side is probably the most romantic holiday destination in Turkey. In the old town you find many old Roman buildings. And if you walk a little away from the main street, it is possible to find quiet streets with well-preserved wood and stone houses. The city’s theater is certainly also worth a visit. In the old days there were gladiator fights; today you will find more peaceful concerts and theater.
Side does also have a wild nightlife. You can even combine culture with pleasure in one of the most popular bars in the city; placed among the ruins of two 2nd century temples. For sun bathing Side has two beaches; the quit east beach and the livelier (and kid friendly) west beach.
Morten Elm is writing about holiday destinations in Turkey in Rejser til Tyrkiet. You can also learn more about the destinations in Rejser til Alanya.
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