If you are looking for a great summer holiday, Turkey could be the place to go. The sun is shining and the beaches are great. In the evening you can eat the great Turkey food and then dive into the wild nightlife.
If you just want to relax, you can spend the whole day on the beach. If you want some action, you can try one of the water sports: jet skiing, parasailing or the banana boat. Or you can just play a game of beach volleyball.
If you get tired sun bathing, you can trek in the mountain. If you like it a little wilder, mountain climbing and ravine climbing is also a possibility. Other options are diving, rafting and sea kayaking.
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.
A popular attraction for the kids is Water Planet Aquapark; one of Turkeys largest water parks. Here you find everything from water slides and rafting to crazy golf and bungee jumping. In the evening you can shop branded goods (both real and fake) in Alanya. Finish your day in one of the many bars and discos.
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.
As a large city Alanya has a lot of bazaars, shopping centers and shopping streets. But there are also many interesting sights from the Roman Empire in the city. Many of them are in the old part of the city called Kaleici. Here you can also see old men playing dominoes while the women preparing the dinner.
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.
If you do not play golf, Belek is still a great place. Around the city there are great nature and a silence, you cannot find in Alanya or Side. Bird lovers will also find Belek a paradise. And the city does of course also have shopping and water parks.
Kemer is a nice, little holiday village surrounded by the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean. The city has a unique mix of the original Turkey and a modern holiday destination. Here are lively pedestrian streets, an elegant marina and beautiful beach promenades.
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.
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.
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 Tyrkiet. You can also learn more about cheap travel to Turkey in Afbudsrejser til Tyrkiet.
