Blending the Old and New: Holidays in Antalya

Holidays in Antalya

Antalya is a popular holiday destination in a glittering bay on Turkey's south western coast. The city is set against the dramatic backdrop of the Taurus Mountains that rise over 10,000 feet above the city. The Taurus foothills are covered with characteristic Mediterranean shrubs, while the forests are filled with attractive oak and pine trees.

Antalya holidays offer a wide variety of adventure activities from diving and sailing to hiking, trekking, cycling and rafting to history tours, safaris and cruises. The pulsating nightlife of Antalya includes traditional belly dancing shows, raucous karaoke, upbeat clubs and relaxed waterfront bars. Fill in your dates to find holidays in Antalya with Holiday Hypermarket today.

Family Fun in Kemer

The Antalya holiday region has a fabulous year-round climate and is sometimes known as the Turkish Riviera. About 25 miles west of the city is the popular seaside resort of Kemer, which is a quiet region on the Gulf of Antalya with the western side of the Taurus Mountains rising majestically inland.

Despite its idyllic surrounds, the resort of Kemer is lined with clubs and trendy bars, classy restaurants and shops, a yacht marina with large capacity and Blue Flag beaches such as the Kemer Resort Beach. Popular attractions are the nearby ancient city of Olympos, the ancient Lycian city of Phaselis and the Three Islands (visited by boat). The kids will love EcoFun Adventure Park, which tours the route of Göynük Canyon offering a whole range of activities from canyoning to wall climbing.

Historic Alanya

Alanya is just over 100 miles from Antalya in the province of the same name, situated on a small peninsula on the southern coast. A combination of natural beauty and historic heritage (the city was a stronghold for ancient empires including Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman) makes Alanya a prime destination for holidays to Turkey.

One of Alanya’s magnificent landmarks, the Alanya Kalesi (Castle), is obvious from every viewpoint in the city. Built on top of Byzantine fortifications in the 13th century, the castle provides an impressive view of ancient architecture and is well worth the visit.

Visitors are also drawn to the city’s sandy beaches (amongst them, Cleopatra and nearby Damlatas Beach) and the Damlataş Cave, which has a selection of stalagmites and stalactites that are thousands of years old. River rafting on the Alara River, mountain biking in the Taurus Mountains and playing golf at Belek are other popular activities.

Classic Side

Pronounced “see deh”, this is a popular holiday town about 50 miles from Antalya. Even though the city was important in classical times (occupied by Alexander the Great and an important trade depot for the Romans) it’s also a popular holiday destination and a great spot from which to watch solar eclipses. Much like the rest of Turkey, in a sense, Side blends quality accommodation and other amenities with some of the most notable ruins around.

These include the remains of an impressive Roman-style theatre complex that would have seated between 15,000 and 20,000 people, as well as preserved city walls and a Hellenistic main gate dating from 2 BC. A colonnaded street that would have once held grand marble columns leads to an extensive public museum that displays statues and sarcophagi.

It’s not all ruins and remains in Side, however - visitors can also enjoy a range of water sports including paragliding, jet skiing and diving, white water rafting and boating as well as hiking in the forests and rocky trails of the Taurus Mountains. Another particular attraction is Side’s cuisine, which is a unique blend of Turkish, Greek and Western foods and tends to comprise healthy ingredients like fish, vegetables and fruit.

Tour the Turkish Riviera with Holiday Hypermarket

One of the most beautiful and fascinating countries to visit, Turkey is well-equipped to accommodate visitors from all over the world. Fill in your dates to find affordable holidays in Antalya and remember to compare board and star rating to get the deal that suits you best.