The 6 Most Popular Holiday Destinations in Turkey
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.
The beach is a great place for relaxing. Rent a deck chair or play some beach volleyball. You can also try one of the water activities like banana boat, jet skiing or parasailing.
You can also have an active holiday with trekking in the mountains. Ravine climbing and mountain climbing are also getting very popular. If you like the water more, you can try rafting or sea kayaking. Diving is also a possibility.
The most popular holiday destination right now is without doubt Alanya. About 10 % of all tourists in Turkey are on vacation in Alanya. The reason is probably the combination of two great beaches and the interesting sights. The best of them is the castle hill that divides the two beaches. From the top 250 meter (820 feet) above the sea there is a great view of 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 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.
In Alanya you will find a lot of shopping streets, centers and bazaars. But there are also a lot of great sights. In the old town Kaleici you will find a lot of traces of the Roman Empire. It is also a great place to see the typical Turkish everyday life, where old women prepare the dinner while the men play dominoes.
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.
If you do not play golf, Belek is still a great place. Around the city there are great nature and a silence, you cannot find in Alanya or Side. Bird lovers will also find Belek a paradise. And the city does of course also have shopping and 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.
For some sightseeing you can visit the ruins of Phaselis; the winter location for Alexander the Great. Another great place (especially for the kids) is the 55,000 m2 Moonlight Park in the middle of Kemer. Here you find a playground, restaurants, bars, discos; and even 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.
There is an international feeling in the city because of the many cruise ships; most of them come to see the famous sight Efesos (also called Efesus) near Kusadasi. So if you like smart cafes and international clothing brands, Kusadasi is the city for you.
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 cheap travel to Turkey in Billige rejser til Tyrkiet.