Perhaps the most famous Turkish resort - Antalya has been in constant demand among our tourists for many years. A beautiful harbor, bright sun, warm climate, blue sea and streets of ancient cities, plus top-level service, spa treatments, entertainment programs for all ages - this is what an all-inclusive vacation in Antalya is - the system by which most hotels work. in Turkey, has long been appreciated by our fellow citizens.
Features of the resort
Antalya is a large administrative center of Turkey, the capital of the province of the same name. Speaking of a resort, they usually mean the coast within the city and the neighboring Lara beach on the east side. Antalya airport is located just 12 kilometers from the city, which in many respects has provided the city with the glory of the tourist capital. The history of the city begins before the birth of Christ. The streets, houses, mosques and towers of the city have preserved traces of the past centuries.
At the same time, it is a modern, rapidly developing city with a diverse tourist infrastructure - hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and, of course, beaches for every taste - sandy, pebble and even on rocks. There will be no language problems here, our compatriots have long loved this resort, and all representatives of the service sector speak Russian quite tolerably well.
Best time to travel
Most tourists come here from May to September, when the weather is warm and the water in the sea warms up to almost + 28 ° C. The hottest months in every sense are July and August. The air warms up to + 40 ° С, in hotels, on beaches and city streets - crowds of tourists. If you can't stand the heat, you can come here in May-June or September.
Comfortable weather, warm sea and excellent service await you. It is very convenient to go from Moscow, for example, on a tour for the May holidays. Those who wish not to lie on the beach, but simply to admire the extraordinary landscapes, to explore historical places, can come here from October to April. It should be borne in mind that not all hotels will operate at this time.
All-inclusive system advantages
Turkey is one of the first countries to use the all inclusive system. Today, most tourists choose this particular system when going on vacation. "All inclusive" - a system that implies not only hotel accommodation and three meals a day, unlimited access to drinks, including alcoholic beverages; but also the use of almost the entire infrastructure of the hotel, the beach, the pool, participation in entertainment programs that are held at the hotel.
This allows you not to think about the main problems on vacation associated with the organization of food and entertainment, especially for those who are vacationing with children. All you need to do is to select a suitable tour in advance and book it while the minimum prices are in effect.
Vacation with children
Antalya is considered one of the most comfortable and safe places for families with children. The warm sea, mild climate, comfortable beaches and all-inclusive hotels make it a very popular destination for families. Most of the hotels have a wide entertainment infrastructure not only for adults, but also for children. Shallow pools with heated water allow even the smallest guests to splash around without endangering their lives.
All hotels are equipped with children's playgrounds and rooms, many have children's clubs in which, according to a special program, children are occupied by animators. You can always order babysitting services. And the food system is organized in such a way that you can feed anyone who is fussy. Aqualand is very popular in Antalya, where, in addition to slides and pools, you can watch dolphin shows and swim with them. Children will be interested in visiting the Oceanarium, Aquarium, as well as numerous amusement parks.
Which hotel to choose
Most of the complexes operate on an all-inclusive basis. We carefully studied the reviews of tourists and selected the best hotels located on the first line of the most famous Konyaalti beach. Most of them are family-oriented, have a wide entertainment infrastructure, and the staff is ready to fulfill any request of guests and do everything to make your stay in Antalya memorable for a long time.
Akra Hotel 5 *
Combining casual luxury, impeccable service and a prime location, the ambience of this complex will make you feel like a gossip hero. All balconies offer an unforgettable view of the mountains and the sea. Several restaurants and bars offer gourmet food, fresh vegetables and fruits, drinks and snacks throughout the day.
The complex of swimming pools, open all year round, including a magnificent panoramic pool, have their own areas for relaxation and sunbathing. For younger guests, there is a children's pool and playgrounds. The SPA center offers health and beauty treatments, a massage room, sauna and hammam. For the best effect, you can use the services of the gym.
Located on the first line, 100 meters from the beach. The private pebble beach is equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas. The entrance to the water is from the platform. Most of the resort's attractions, shopping centers, many city cafes and restaurants are within walking distance.
Akra Hotel
Antalya
Indoor and outdoor pools
Good based on 2,671 reviews
Sunis Hotel SU 5 *
Designed by renowned Turkish designer Eren Talu, the complex transports you into an era of unrestrained, carefree disco. All hotel visitors have VIP access to the nearby Aqualand water park.
It has 12 slides, a wave pool, children's slides and pools. It also hosts unforgettable performances with dolphins. The heated outdoor pool with panoramic views and an underwater music system features an African oak deck with sun loungers and parasols. Another indoor pool is equipped with a relaxation area.
Sanda-Spa is a wellness center where guests are offered a variety of programs: anti-stress, relaxation and general wellness treatments. Guests can try several types of massages, visit the baths: sauna or Turkish, experience the rituals of Balinese masters. There is a beauty salon here that offers a range of facial and hair care services. The hotel's beach is a 2-minute walk away and has been awarded the Blue Flag.
It often hosts shows, water sports, or beach soccer and volleyball. About ten restaurants, cafes and bars will satisfy the tastes of the most discerning guests: dishes of national cuisine, Asian, Italian, Mediterranean and other types combined with the best drinks and cocktails. A children's menu has been developed, there is a small children's buffet. The complex is located not far from the Aquarium, next to shopping centers, a miniature park and other interesting places for walking.
Sunis Hotel SU
Antalya
The water park with a total area of 11,500 sq. M.
Crowne Plaza Antalya 5 *
Located on the most famous beach - Konyaalti. All comfortable rooms offer mountain and sea views. It offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools equipped with a relaxation area, sun loungers, the cleanest protected beach marked by the Blue Flag. The hotel's main restaurant serves buffet breakfast and dinner.
The Ambrosia Restaurant is open on the terrace in the evenings, and dinners are accompanied by live music. The SPA-center "Aphrodite", one of the best in Turkey, located on the 10th floor of the complex, offers an unforgettable view of the Mediterranean Sea. Only women are accepted here and they help them completely immerse themselves in an atmosphere of serenity and feel like real goddesses of love and beauty.
Another SPA-center "Zeus" is designed for all guests, they are waiting for a sauna, hammam, Russian bath and snow room, several types of massage. You can rent a car or a bicycle at the hotel, and the managers will be happy to help you plan a travel itinerary for the most beautiful and interesting places.
Crowne Plaza Antalya
Antalya
Indoor and outdoor pools, spa
Rixos Downtown 5 *
Rocky shores, shady avenues of gardens, the emerald surface of the Mediterranean Sea - just the view from the windows of the hotel will take your breath away. The lagoon-style pool is surrounded by palm trees and is equipped with sun loungers and parasols. Nearby is the Tropic Bar, which serves light drinks and snacks throughout the day. For younger guests - a children's pool, club, playgrounds.
In the evenings, music shows and discos are held. During the day, guests can enjoy tennis courts, aqua aerobics lessons, and water polo. The hotel has its own comfortable area on the famous Konyaalti beach. The SPA center offers a wide range of massage and beauty treatments using luxury Bruno Vassari cosmetics.
You can have a vitamin cocktail in the bar, and in the fitness room, in addition to modern equipment, you can do yoga or aerobics. The location is ideal for those who want to combine beach holidays and sightseeing - near the Old Town, Antalya Museum.
Rixos Downtown
Antalya
The beach can be reached in just 4 minutes
Sealife Family Resort Hotel 5 *
Family complex just a stone's throw from the pristine Mediterranean coast. Comfortable air-conditioned rooms, several pools with slides, playgrounds, play centers, equipment for water sports, diving, snorkeling - all conditions are created here for an unforgettable holiday for adults and young guests.
The SPA center offers body and face treatments, Turkish bath and sauna, solarium, jacuzzi. Several restaurants of the hotel offer a varied menu, including a dietary one, as well as a special for children. In the evenings, show programs for children and adults are waiting for you, there is a disco bar. You can rent a car to see all the sights nearby.
Sealife Family Resort Hotel
Antalya
The beach can be reached in just 1 minute
Good based on 2,343 reviews
Vacation prices
You can arrange the most carefree and comfortable rest for yourself by purchasing a package tour. It is worth taking care of the purchase in advance, in this case the savings are very significant. If you decide to travel spontaneously, the last minute tour can be purchased 1-2 days before departure, which can also be very beneficial.
Below are the prices of tours to popular hotels for 2 adults departing from Moscow, including a roundtrip flight, transfer, accommodation, meals and medical insurance.
Hotel | Tour cost (rub.) |
Sealife Family Resort 5 * | from 42 695 |
Aska Lara Resort & Spa 5 * | from 44 614 |
Rixos Downtown 5 * | from 55 051 |
IC Green Palace 5 * | from 59 662 |
Limak Lara De Luxe Hotel & Resort 5 * | from 67 315 |
Lara Barut Collection 5 * | from 88 990 |
Royal Seginus 5 * | from 71 096 |
Sights
Lovers of history and viewing antiquities will not be bored, there are more than enough relics and ancient artifacts in the city.
Hadrian's Gate is the main evidence that the city was founded in ancient times, and the most ancient landmark of the city. Erected in 130 in honor of the visit of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. They were once part of the wall that surrounded the city and the harbor, but the wall has not survived. They consist of 3 marble arches, decorated with columns with capitals.
Previously, they had a superstructure, on which, in all likelihood, the statues of Adrian and his family members towered. Through the plexiglass cover, you can see the road from the era of ancient Rome with furrows from the transport of those times. Now the gates perform the same role as in ancient times - they lead to the Old City. Not far from the gate there is a cozy park where tourists and locals rest.
The Old Town, or Kaleici, is an area that has preserved the style of the 19th century Ottoman Empire. All the streets are pedestrian, there are many shops, restaurants, coffee houses where you can have a cup of a fragrant drink. Many old houses are used as hotels, but the prices are quite high. The mosque of the 18th century, the Kesik minaret with a damaged mosque (13th century), which was previously a Roman temple of the 2nd century, has survived.
The Antalya Museum is the largest collection of curiosities that illustrate the history of Turkey from the ancient civilizations of Lycia to modern times. The total area of 13 exhibition halls is 7000 sq. meters, more than 5,000 exhibits are offered for review, and 30,000 are in storerooms. In the garden of the museum there is an open gallery, where monuments, tombstones, large statues are exhibited.
In the very first hall of the museum, you can see tablets on which children of ancient times performed calculations during their studies. The hall of the prehistoric period contains exhibits of the Paleolithic and Neolithic times, hand axes, stone and bone tools found in the Beldibi caves.
The Gallery of the Gods, the Hall of Emperors, the Hall of Cult Burials store full-length statues of emperors and empresses, tombs and burial items, gold and silver jewelry, dishes with unique images of gods and battles.
The Duden Falls are the main natural attraction. There are two of them, but they usually inspect the Lower Duden, for this a special observation deck is equipped. The waterfall looks especially beautiful from the side of the sea, excursion boats and boats come here. Located in the east of the city, at the beginning of Lara beach.
The Sand Sculpture Park, or Antalya Sand Sculpture Museum, is an interesting collection of structures and monuments made of sand. There are more than 150 of them, after sunset the figures are effectively highlighted. Located on the western edge of Lara Beach.
Entertainment
If you are fed up with the aromas of antiquity, you can go to the water park, go in for sports, visit the amusement park. And in the evening - a disco, bar or night club, which are also enough.
Aqualand and Dolphinland are the largest and oldest water parks in Antalya with a dolphinarium. Located next to the Konyaalti beach, at the beginning of the hotel zone. There are pools with caves and lagoons, a 100-meter twisted slide "Black Hole", a very high slide "Komikadze" and many other entertainments there for adults and children. The dolphinarium hosts dolphin and fur seal shows, and you can swim with dolphins. It is better to visit the water park on weekdays, as it is popular and very busy.
Across the street from the water park you will find Antalya Aquarium. There are 10,000 marine inhabitants collected there, which can be observed both in separate aquariums and passing through a 131-meter underwater tunnel. At the exit there is a large gift shop with magnets, mugs, toys and more.
Themed Aktur Park with interesting and varied attractions is located nearby. The best time to visit is in the late afternoon, when the heat subsides and the park is beautifully illuminated. There are two Ferris wheels, several types of swings, a musical carousel, a panic room. There are also attractions for the little ones.
The daytime entertainment ends and the city's nightlife begins. The oldest club ALLY is considered the most European institution. Gourmet cuisine is the strong point of the ARMA club. Both are located in Kaleici. The SALINAS Club, located next to Lara Beach, will be appreciated by true connoisseurs of music.
Excursions
Resting on the Antalya coast not to get acquainted with the history of Antalya, which dates back to 22 (!) Centuries, is a big mistake. Excursions with experienced guides will help prevent it, who will take you through the streets of the Old City of Kaleici, where people live in houses built during the Ottoman Empire, and will show you ancient squares, towers and mosques. You will ride over the city on a cable car, admire the sea distance and the panorama of the Taurus Mountains, see the magnificent Lower Duden waterfall, plunging into the sea from a 40-meter height.
After enjoying the beauty of the city and its surroundings, you can go to Pamukkale and swim in the Cleopatra basin, see ancient Hierapolis, the ancient cities of Mira with an amphitheater carved into the rock, and Demre with the Church of St. Nicholas of the 6th century.On a yacht, you can get to the picturesque island of Kekova, having seen the city of Dolihiste, sunken as a result of the earthquake, on the way.
Stylized boats moor in the port, and you can, for example, take a trip on an almost real pirate ship, see the ruins of ancient Phaselis and swim in one of the picturesque bays of Kemer.
The beaches
The beaches delight with a variety. The most popular and visited is Lara. It stretches several kilometers east of the city and consists of the purest white sand, awarded the Blue Flag. It is convenient to relax here with children, the entry into the water is smooth.
Along the beach strip there are many cafes, shops, beach volleyball courts. There is a barbecue area. The beach is municipal with free admission, but there are separate areas for hotel guests. There are beach activities - bananas, scooters, catamarans.
To the west of the resort is a wide 8 km strip of Konyaalti Beach, which also regularly receives the Blue Flag. It is pebble with sand and pebbles, sometimes large. The depth builds up quickly enough. Admission is free, changing cabins and showers are also free. Sun loungers and umbrellas can be rented. This place is appreciated by locals who come here in the evening and even sometimes stay overnight to sleep under the sound of the surf.
Beach Park Beach is the most fun and rich in entertainment, loved by young people. Consists of sand and pebbles. The entrance is paid, all the beach infrastructure is available. There are many playgrounds with swings, houses, trampolines, sports grounds, water attractions.
There is a windsurfing school, you can go water skiing and learn parasailing. It is part of a park area, and its distinctive feature is the abundance of greenery and the beauty of the surrounding nature. During the day it is good for families, in the evening discos open here.
Topcham is a godsend for lovers of semi-wild beaches. The infrastructure is not very developed, but also not so crowded. It is located in the Olympos National Park. The purest clear water, pine trees, the combination of the aroma of pine needles and the sea attract both tourists and local residents who come here with their families. Covering - pebbles and sand. Not far from the coast, near the island of Sichan, you can go scuba diving.
Mermerli is a small, cozy and picturesque sandy beach practically in the historical center, adjacent to the harbor. The entrance is paid, through the restaurant, you need to go down a rather steep staircase. There are sun loungers for relaxing on the original pontoons above the water. After swimming with a mask, you can observe fish and small crabs in clear water.
Adalar is an unusual beach, arranged on twin rocks in the territory of Karaalioglu Park. A stone staircase leads to the beach; you also need to descend into the water by steps. The entrance is paid, sun loungers, umbrellas are provided, there are changing cabins, a shower, a toilet. There are restaurants and bars in the park where you can eat.
Shopping
Serious shopping is best done in large shopping centers such as Erasta, Mark Antalya, Migros 5M, Terra City, Deepo Outlet Center. It makes sense to pay attention to inexpensive Turkish brands that are not represented in Russia. Cheap textiles are bought at the markets, and not at the stationary Old Bazaar in the center, but at migratory markets that are organized in different regions - where prices for the same goods are much lower.
Of course, you can't buy real branded things in the markets, but many people are satisfied with brands, as it were. It's nice to bring home something authentic from your trip - painted ceramics, designer jewelry, oriental sweets, pomegranate or plum wine, spices, handmade carpets.
You can buy excellent quality fur and leather goods, which are sold both in shops at factories and in markets. Market prices are much lower, but there is a high risk of buying a low-quality fake. Items made of gold and silver are cheaper than in Moscow. They are quite varied, but, as a rule, they do not shine with originality of design. You need to buy in company stores, again due to the large number of fakes in the markets.
You can and should bargain not only in the markets, but also in stores, the price can be reduced by 50%. The exception is for goods with a fixed price.