6 Places for a Great Holiday 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.

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.

If you like to be active in your holiday, you can trek in the mountains or do some mountain- or ravine climbing. If water is more your element, Turkey does also has a lot of places for diving, sea kayaking and rafting.

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.

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 a little different than the other holiday destinations. The city is not the typical fisher village that has grown into a holiday village. The city has 500,000 residents, so here you see more locals than tourists. It also means that you get a better insight 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.

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.

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.

Like many other holiday destinations Kusadasi was originally a small fisher village. Today you find great Turkey food and a quieter nightlife with only a small bar street.

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.

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.

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 Rejse til Tyrkiet. You can also learn more about the destinations in Tyrkiet Kemer.