6 Places for a Great Holiday 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.

If you are the relaxing type, you can spend the whole day at one of the many great beaches. Here you can play beach volleyball or try one of the many water activities like: parasailing, jet skiing or the banana boat.

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.

Alanya is without doubt the most popular holiday destination in Turkey, with 10 % of all Turkey tourists staying here. The city does also have nice beaches and some interesting sights. The most popular is the 250 meter (820 feet) castle hill, which divides the two beaches. From the top you can see 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.

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.

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

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.

If you are looking for a romantic holiday destination, Side might be the answer. In the old town you can see many Roman building. Do also walk a little away from the main street and take stroll among the well-preserved wood and stone houses in the quieter streets. Finish the day in the city theater, where concerts and theater has replaced the gladiator fights.

Side does also have a wild nightlife. You can even combine culture with pleasure in one of the most popular bars in the city; placed among the ruins of two 2nd century temples. For sun bathing Side has two beaches; the quit east beach and the livelier (and kid friendly) west beach.