6 Great Holiday Destinations in Turkey

Turkey is a great place to go in the summer. The holiday destinations have everything you need for a great vacation. The weather is almost always perfect with sun the whole day. The beaches are great and the parties are going on all night. Finally the Turkeys kitchen is very good.

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.

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.

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 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 without doubt the number one golf destination in Turkey. In the area there are eight golf courses, and many more are under construction. If you are going in the high season, it is wise to book as soon as possible, because of the popularity of the area.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Tyrkiet Side.