The Antalya coast stretches for over 600 kilometres along Turkey’s southern Mediterranean shoreline, from the pine-forested mountains of Kemer in the west to the long sandy beaches of Alanya in the east. Antalya International Airport (AYT), located on the western edge of Antalya city, sits at the centre of this coastline and provides the access point for the most concentrated collection of five-star all inclusive resorts anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Antalya city itself — the regional capital and Turkey’s fifth-largest city — is a destination in its own right. The historic Kaleiçi old town, with its Roman harbour walls, narrow Ottoman streets, Hadrian’s Gate and clifftop restaurants overlooking the sea, is one of Turkey’s most rewarding urban destinations. The Antalya Museum is among the finest archaeological collections in the country. The city’s modern waterfront, marina and shopping districts make it a genuinely complete city experience accessible from any resort on the Antalya coast.
The resort areas of the Antalya coast each have their own character and appeal. Understanding the differences between them is the key to choosing the right holiday.
Belek — situated 35 kilometres east of Antalya Airport — is Turkey’s premier resort for all inclusive holidays and championship golf. The hotels here are set in mature Aleppo pine forest behind a long sandy beach, giving Belek a more natural and distinctive atmosphere than the larger resort strips. Properties like Cullinan Belek, Kaya Palazzo Golf Resort and Gloria Hotels set the standard for ultra all inclusive quality on the entire Turkish coast. Land of Legends theme park, located in Belek, has become one of the primary reasons UK families choose this part of Turkey.
Lara — 12 kilometres east of Antalya city — is the closest major beach resort to the airport and the city. It has one of the highest concentrations of large five-star ultra all inclusive hotels on the coast, a long sandy beach and easy access to Antalya’s historic centre. For guests who want maximum hotel choice alongside proximity to the city, Lara is the strongest answer on the Antalya coast.
Kundu — immediately east of Lara — is home to some of the largest and most prestigious ultra all inclusive resorts on the Turkish coast, including Rixos Premium Kundu. It is a self-contained resort area without an independent town centre, suited to guests who want a fully immersive all inclusive experience within the hotel.
Side — approximately 75 kilometres east of the airport — combines good beaches with the remarkable setting of an ancient Roman town at its centre. The Temple of Apollo at the tip of the Side peninsula, the Roman theatre and the well-preserved harbour area make Side the most historically interesting of the Antalya coast resorts. The Sorgun area just east of Side, where some of the finest all inclusive hotels are set in protected pine forest directly on the beach, is one of Thomas’s personal recommendations on the entire coast.
Alanya — 135 kilometres east, around 90 minutes from the airport — is the furthest of the major Antalya resorts from the airport but offers strong compensations: Cleopatra Beach, one of Turkey’s finest urban beaches, the dramatic Alanya Castle on its clifftop headland and a genuine town centre with real local character. Alanya has developed significantly in recent years and continues to do so — the infrastructure, the hotels and the overall tourism offer have improved considerably, making it one of the best-value destinations on the entire Antalya coast.
Kemer — 45 kilometres south-west of the airport, where the Taurus Mountains meet the Mediterranean — offers the most dramatically beautiful natural setting of any Antalya coast resort. The water here is among the clearest on the Turkish coast. Properties like Maxx Royal Kemer and Rixos Sungate take full advantage of the extraordinary pine forest and mountain backdrop.
The Antalya coast as a whole benefits from some of the most reliable summer weather in the Mediterranean — long, hot summers from May through October, with water temperatures that make swimming comfortable from late April onwards. Antalya Airport is served by direct flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and many other UK regional airports throughout the summer season, with flight times of approximately 3.5–4 hours.
For all inclusive holidays on the Antalya coast, luxury Antalya hotels, family holidays in Antalya or Turkey golf holidays — book through GotoBeach with full ATOL protection under licence #11211, low deposits from £30 per person and the honest advice of a team that knows this coastline better than any other UK specialist operator.
