Wednesday, November 4, 2009

6 Great Holiday Destinations in Turkey

By Morten Elm

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.

10 % of all tourists in Turkey stays in Alanya. And the reason is probably the great combination of beaches and sights. The most interesting sight is the castle hill 250 meter (820 feet) above the sea. From the top you can see how the hill divides the two beaches. There is also a great view of 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 does not look like the other typical holiday destination. The city has not developed from a small fisher village to a holiday destination. It is a large city with 500,000 residents, so you will probably see more locals than tourist. In Alanya you can combine your holiday with a look into the real Turkey.

In Alanya you will find a lot of shopping streets, centers and bazaars. But there are also a lot of great sights. In the old town Kaleici you will find a lot of traces of the Roman Empire. It is also a great place to see the typical Turkish everyday life, where old women prepare the dinner while the men play dominoes.

The number one golf destination in Turkey is without doubt Belek. Eight golf courses can be found in the area; and many more are on their way. It can be necessary to book several months before the holiday, if you are going in the high season.

But Belek is more than playing golf. Here is a fantastic nature and an incredible silence, which are not found in the livelier holiday destinations such as Alanya and Side. Belek is also a paradise for bird lovers. The city does of course also have fine shopping and several 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.

Close to the city is the ruins of Phaselis, where Alexander the Great spent his winters; an obvious excursion. In the middle of Kemer is the Moonlight Park; a 55,000 m2 park area with playground and dolphinarium. In the same area there are a lot of restaurants, bars and discos.

Even though Kusadasi is the typical fishing village which has developed into a holiday destination, it is not the typical holiday village. Here you find some of the best restaurants and more quit nightlife (with only a small bar street) than Side and Alanya.

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.

The most romantic holiday destination in Turkey might be Side. You will find a lot of old Roman buildings in the old town. It is also possible to take a walk away from the main street, where you can see well-preserved wood and stone houses. Another interesting attraction is the city theater; originally used for gladiator fights, but today you can watch concerts and theater.

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.

About the Author:

No comments: