Tuesday, August 2, 2011

6 Places for a Great Holiday in Turkey

By Morten Elm


Turkey has everything you need for a great summer vacation. The sun normally shines the whole day, and the beaches are perfect for relaxing. The nightlife doesnt stop until the morning, and the Turkeys kitchen is nominated as the third best in the world.

The beach is a great place for relaxing. Rent a deck chair or play some beach volleyball. You can also try one of the water activities like banana boat, jet skiing or parasailing.

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.

The most popular holiday destination right now is without doubt Alanya. About 10 % of all tourists in Turkey are on vacation in Alanya. The reason is probably the combination of two great beaches and the interesting sights. The best of them is the castle hill that divides the two beaches. From the top 250 meter (820 feet) above the sea there is a great view of Alanya and the surrounding country.

If you bring your kids, a popular attraction is the Water Planet Aquapark. It is one of Turkeys largest water parks with everything from rafting and water slides to bungee jumping and crazy golf. Alanya does also have a lot of shops with both real and fake branded goods. The night can be spent 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.

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.

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.

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.

Surrounded by the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean is Kemer. Here you find a very special mix of the real Turkey and a great holiday destination with lively pedestrian streets, nice beach promenades and an elegant marina.

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.

Kusadasi is another fishing village which has developed into a holiday destination. The city has a lot of great Turkey restaurants, and while the nightlife is not a wild as in Alanya or Side, there is still a small bar street with discos and bars.

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.

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.




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