6 Great Holiday Destinations in Turkey
Turkey has everything you need for a great summer vacation. The sun normally shines the whole day, and the beaches are perfect for relaxing. The nightlife doesnt stop until the morning, and the Turkeys kitchen is nominated as the third best in the world.
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.
Alanya is without doubt the most popular holiday destination in Turkey, with 10 % of all Turkey tourists staying here. The city does also have nice beaches and some interesting sights. The most popular is the 250 meter (820 feet) castle hill, which divides the two beaches. From the top you can see Alanya and the surrounding country.
The Water Planet Aquapark is one of Turkeys largest water parks; and a great place for kids. Here they can try everything from water slides and rafting to bungee jumping and crazy golf. After some branded goods shopping (both real and fake) in Alanya, you can finish your day in the many discos and bars.
Antalya does not look like the other typical holiday destination. The city has not developed from a small fisher village to a holiday destination. It is a large city with 500,000 residents, so you will probably see more locals than tourist. In Alanya you can combine your holiday with a look into the real Turkey.
Because of the size of Antalya you find a lot of shopping centers, shopping streets and bazaars. But the city does also have many interesting sight; especially from the Roman Empire. Most of them are in the old town Kaleici, where you also can see old women preparing the dinner while their men are playing dominoes.
Belek is the number one golf destination in Turkey. In the area around the city there are eight golf courses; and many more are being built. It has been so popular to play golf in Belek that it can be necessary to book months ahead in the high season.
Belek is also a great destination even though you not play golf. The nature is fantastic and silence is incredible compared to the lively destinations like Side and Alanya. If you love bird, Belek will also seem like a paradise to you. And you can still find both shopping and water parks.
Surrounded by the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean is Kemer. Here you find a very special mix of the real Turkey and a great holiday destination with lively pedestrian streets, nice beach promenades and an elegant marina.
Close to the city is the ruins of Phaselis, where Alexander the Great spent his winters; an obvious excursion. In the middle of Kemer is the Moonlight Park; a 55,000 m2 park area with playground and dolphinarium. In the same area there are a lot of restaurants, bars and discos.
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.
The most romantic holiday destination in Turkey might be Side. You will find a lot of old Roman buildings in the old town. It is also possible to take a walk away from the main street, where you can see well-preserved wood and stone houses. Another interesting attraction is the city theater; originally used for gladiator fights, but today you can watch concerts and theater.
When you get tired of all the culture and sight, you can dive into Sides wild nightlife. One of the most popular bars is located among the ruins of two old temples from the 2nd century. Side has two beaches; the lively and kid friendly western beach and the quieter east beach.
Morten Elm is writing about holiday destinations in Turkey in Tyrkiet Rejser. You can also learn more about the destinations in Side Tyrkiet.
categories: Turkey,Alanya,Antalya,Belek,Kemer,Kusadasi,Side,destinations,holiday,vacation,beaches,nightlife,restaurants,sights
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