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Bozcaada >>
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1st Istanbul International Opera Festival >>
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Open Air Museums in Turkey >>
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Magic Ice Museum opens in Istanbul >>
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Feature Article
Antalya & Its Environs: Sun, Sea and Fun - with 8 Million sunseekers!
By Vildan Yahni
Based on the latest estimates announced by Antalya's Culture and Tourism Board, 8 million tourists are expected to visit Antalya in 2007! Can the Turkish Riviera of the Mediterranean handle these crowds? The answer is a resounding yes as Antalya has literally been growing in leaps and bounds in the last several years. Not only are the number of hotel beds increasing, the infrastructure of Antalya is growing almost at the same pace to keep up with the increase in the number of tourists flocking to Antalya and its environs every year. The 20,815 square kilometer province, with a population of just 800,000 permanent residents, continues to add new hotels to its roster in 2007 - some have already been completed and are open, while some will be opening in the middle of the summer season. The highway linking the Antalya Airport, cutting down the travel time to the Lara and Aksu districts in half, is now open. To ensure that traffic jams do not occur, a number of underpasses were built in the city in 2006 and a couple more will be completed in 2007. The highway leading to Kemer from the Antalya city center is being widened and road work will be completed soon. Ataturk Park in the city center is once again open to the public after going through renovations in 2006 and includes a number of cafes, restaurants and bars - all offering spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Municipality of Antalya is working hard and the improvements made in the last few years is due to the efforts of the city's Mayor, Menderes Turel. The latest notch on his municipality's belt is the opening of Turkey's first and only indoor waste water purification facilities. Opened in Lara (Lara Atiksu Biyolojik Aritma Tesisi) in March 2007, this state-of-the-art facility cost nearly 38 million YTL and has a capacity to service 1 million customers for pre-purification and 350,000 people for biological purification
The continued explosion of staggeringly colossal, all-inclusive entertainment resorts encroaching ever-farther down the shoreline continues to make Antalya a dream come true for the package holiday fans - especially families. Depending on the property you select, you can golf or play tennis in the morning, slip-and-slide through an aquapark or swim in the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean by lunch, while the afternoon away by enjoying a leisurely massage at the spa or check your emails on the net or hit the shopping arcade; choose from among countless cuisines for dinner and dance the night away at an open-air disco; and all without leaving the grounds of your hotel!
Even though you necessarily don't have to, you should definitely enjoy all that Antalya has to offer that exists outside of your hotel! There are a number of 5-star deluxe hotels in the city center and environs that caters to tourists who want to do just that!
Antalya, situated on the vast crystal clear Mediterranean, against the striking backdrop of the snowcapped Taurus Mountains, also offers plenty of other activities. Antalya is full of numerous, remarkably well-preserved ancient ruins and an award-winning museum. Anyone with even a mild curiosity about human ancestry and early history will be fascinated by the region's rich evidence of civilizations which inhabited the area throughout the ages. Fortunately, the mild Mediterranean climate has helped preserve many of Antalya's splendid ruins so that most may be enjoyed in their original settings and splendor today. International cultural festivals (Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival, Antalya International Golden Orange Film Festival, etc.) and an abundance of breathtaking natural beauty are also in store for those willing to venture outside the confines of their hotel.
If you want a piece of Antalya's paradise to call your own, real estate agents tout the region to foreigners as “outstanding for investments… with an inconceivable potential. In recent years, non-natives - mostly British, German and Dutch - purchased real estate in Turkey, more than 90 percent of which were houses. Antalya is among the top three most popular places to buy vacation property, the other two being Fethiye and Bodrum.
Antalya: Summer in a Booming City
Antalya proper is a mecca for bargain clothes shopping, beach bumming, strolling, dining out and unlimited choices of nightlife. By day, head into the oldest remaining part of the city called Kaleici, which abuts the old city walls and where winding, narrow streets open to many carpet, souvenir shops and cafes. At the foot of Kaleici is the award-winning Antalya Marina, considered one of the loveliest marinas in Turkey. At the Marina, you can sit and relax at one of the many tea houses, book an excursion on a boat tour or make a dinner reservation at some fine dining establishments.
You can also head to Beach Park in Konyaalti, which is a modern center of beach-time fun and ringed by a smooth boardwalk. There is something for everyone here, from lounging at trendy seaside cafes, lying on the sandy beach, partaking in water sports, or dining at one of the park's several restaurants and cafes, or to enjoying its varied nightlife. By night, Antalya becomes a beaming hub of activity with a plethora of restaurants, open-air nightclubs and live music bars to suit any night owl's taste.
Lara, about 15 minutes east of the city, exemplifies the area's expansion like no other. Miles of Lara's golden strands are still protected by environmental laws and real estate development is not permitted along its pristine sand dunes. Nevertheless, Lara is punctuated with various beach clubs, places for lounging in the sun, dining out and sipping cool refreshments or even beach and water sports.
A few kilometers east of Lara beach is the Kundu & Aksu region. All of the resorts in this area, including Delphin Palace, Kervansaray and Kremlin Palace, attract mostly German, Russian, Israeli and Danish tourists who prefer “all-inclusive” packages.
Besides the sun, surf, restaurants and nightlife, Antalya city has several cultural sites worth visiting, with some in walking distance of the city center. Evidence of human habitation in the Antalya area dates back over 200,000 years. Finds from these periods through Neolithic times, the Hittite period to more recent periods can all be found at the world-renowned Antalya Museum. Named the best museum in the world by the European Museum Association, it contains one of the world's richest collections of Roman provincial architecture. The Antalya Fortress and Harbor takes you back in time as you wander the narrow streets with their distinctive timber-framed houses, stone archways and private gardens. Some have been restored as summer residences. At the entrance to this old part of town are the old city walls and Hadrian's Gate, one of the most impressive Roman-era antiquities in the area. Dating from 130 AD, it consists of three 14-meter high gates, which were constructed in honor of the emperor Hadrian.
Also within the old Antalya district, which is called Kaleici, is the Suna & Inan Kirac Museum, which is part of the Vehbi Koc Foundation. The museum is part of the Research Institute on Mediterranean Civilizations, an international establishment chartered to serve the word of history, culture, and art; to encourage and support research to document, protect, and restore the historical, archaeological, ethnographical and cultural values of Antalya and its surrounding. The Institute complex consists of three independent buildings, all very picturesque to behold. The first one used by the center is a late example of a traditional two-story Turkish house in “L” form with an exterior anteroom. Then almost all in ruins, it was reconstructed according to the prerequisites of contemporary architecture for libraries and finished in a style harmonious with the traditional architecture of the Old City. The upper story of the house now holds Reading Rooms with a Rare Books and Periodicals Section and a small Conference Room.
THE EASTERN PENINSULA
Alanya: Of Castles, Caves & Vacation Enclaves
Most of Alanya is spread out on the foothills of a lush hill dominated by a beautifully preserved ancient castle. A major revitalization program, begun in the winter of 2002, virtually changed the face of the city and its environs. Public parks were built along both of Alanya's long sandy beaches; and the town's main thoroughfare, Ataturk Caddesi is a beautifully palm tree lined boulevard. In tandem with public area improvements, a plethora of large hotels dot the outskirts of town. Alanya is a favorite retreat among Germans with the Dutch and Russians following on their close heels.
Among the historic sites to visit in Alanya are the Alanya Castle, the Alanya Museum and the Damlatas Cave. The area's major resort hotels are located on the beaches just west of Alanya.
Manavgat: Land of Fertility
Founded around 200 BC, Manavgat is about 60 kilometers east of Antalya and just four kilometers from the shore of the Mediterranean. The main attraction of this village, which is situated on both sides of the Manavgat River, is the Manavgat Waterfall (selale). Early records indicate that the river was used for cargo and human transportation since its founding until fairly recently. It was also a sacred site for the inhabitants of ancient Seleukeia and Side. Bordered by the Taurus Mountains and Lake Oymapinar in the north, the Sorgun pine forest and Lake Titreyengol south of the village, it's no wonder why Manavgat is a favorite destination for tourists in search of a serene, naturally beautiful retreat. The plain of Manavgat is suitable for growing cotton, wheat, barley and 45 different kinds of fruits and vegetables and trout is bred in some parts of the river. As most of Antalya, the area is under continuous development and there are plenty of fine hotels to choose from.
Side: Shopping, Sea & Ancient History
Side (pronounced Si-deh), about 60 kilometers from Antalya, is one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey and was an ancient harbor whose name meant pomegranate. A pretty resort town, its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches, numerous shops and extensive tourist accommodation attract throngs of visitors. The magnificent theater of the ancient city, built on colonnaded arches, is the largest in the whole area. Other monuments include the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, which is situated near the sea, a fountain and necropolis. The extensive Roman baths, now a museum, houses one of Turkey's finest archeological collections. Tucked in pine forests east of Side, the holiday resorts of Sorgun, Titreyengol and Kizilagac are popular for their sandy beaches and sparkling sea. The atmosphere is relaxed, the accommodation plentiful and the activities endless. West of Side, the holiday centers of Kumkoy, Çolakli and Kamelya also offer sun and sea in close proximity to ancient sites.
Belek: Golfer's Paradise
Home to six of the country's nine championship golf courses, Belek has become synonymous with golf in Turkey. A short 30 kilometer drive east from the center of Antalya, Belek's golf courses are situated amidst magnificent pine forests along the Mediterranean coast. In total, there are over 30 four and five-star hotels spread out along Belek's white sandy beaches and no matter where you stay, you can enjoy all of the courses without signing up for a membership. With one resort trying to outdo the next in terms of the number of leisure activities, variety of restaurants and grandiosity of design, it's clear that competition is fierce.
Geared towards golfing families and corporate groups, most of Belek's seaside resorts are in the five star category and offer - in addition to golf - tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a plethora of other sports and many activities for children. All courses welcome beginners as well as professionals, provided they meet the standard handicap requirements. Each club offers a training academy staffed by qualified golf pros who are available for individual or group lessons, playing lessons and junior training.
With ideal golfing temperatures, ranging from 28 °C in October to15 °C in January and 300 days of sunshine, Belek's golf courses - all of which have Bermuda grass and have been designed with the European golfer in mind - are ideal for playing throughout the year. With most flights just over three hours from major European cities, Belek attracts about 90 percent of its visitors from outside Turkey.
THE WESTERN PENINSULA
The towns west of Antalya city continue to boom in equal proportion to the areas east of the city, which is evidenced by construction sites all along the beautiful coast road beside the aqua blue Mediterranean at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains. There are over 40 hotels and resorts along the beach stretching 45 kilometers west from Antalya to Tekirova. The road, too, is an indication of the influx of more visitors as the highway and inland roads have been widened from two to four lanes. Overall, the towns west of Antalya are similar to one another with little activity outside what is offered at the large resort hotels (with the exception of Kemer, which is larger and livelier). So, your best bet is to choose your destination based on the type of hotel you prefer as they all offer the same attractive natural setting, gorgeous beaches and clear, calm waters of the Mediterranean.
Tekirova: Where Greenery Reigns
Tekirova, the far western town of Antalya province, has by far the most greenery with many large resorts tucked inside. The center of town is beautifully landscaped, the roads new and the atmosphere friendly. Many of the shops' signs are in German and Russian indicating the type of tourists they hope to attract. While Germans visit almost all year round, Russians generally flock to the area during summer.
Just around the corner from Tekirova is one of the area's finest attractions: 2,575 meter high Mt. Tahtali (Olympos). The ancient city of Olympos is situated on the southern side of Mt. Tahtali. Oleander and laurel bushes shade the Olympos Valley, which can be approached by land or sea.
Çamyuva/Kiris
Orange Groves & De-luxe Condos Çamyuva and Kiris, once small coastal villages, are now major international tourist havens, with the majority flocking from Russia and Germany. Orange and lemon groves abut the area's luxurious condominiums and a delightful scent of jasmine still fills the air. In addition to the many activities available at the large hotel resorts, which include the World of Wonders World Palace Resort, Çamyuva also offers horseback riding along the pristine sandy beach.
Kemer: Beach Resorts & A First-Class Port
This resort town has been carefully designed to blend in with the surrounding scenery and offers an ideal environment for a wonderful holiday. The fully equipped Kemer Marina allows yachtsmen to enjoy the unspoiled bays and beaches south of town. As of 2007, the Kemer Marina is under the management of Ahsel Holding and has been renamed the Kemer Turkiz Marina. A beach promenade north of the marina has steps down from its cafes and shops leading directly to the beach. Kemer Beach is a Blue Flag beach (the term “Blue Flag” coined by the European Union signifies especially clean beaches).
Kemer is about 30 kilometers from Antalya and is the most "cosmopolitan" and largest county in the western side of the peninsula. The nightlife is quite lively with many different bars and clubs - attracting both young and old. In the last couple of year, the area has grown in leaps and bounds with many new luxurious “all-inclusive” beachfront hotels.
For those interested in a more secluded and tranquil holiday, the Olympos Lodge located in the village of Çirali not far from Kemer is a popular destination. The quaint hotel, on 4 acres of land, has a total of 12 tastefully decorated rooms, most with a sea view and situated amongst beautiful citrus groves.
Goynuk & Beldibi: Hotels Abound in Sleepy Towns
Goynuk and Beldibi, about 25 km from Antalya, no longer retain their village charm as most of the greenery and low-rise buildings have now been replaced with ultra deluxe hotels. There is little to do in these towns outside lounging on the wide, sandy beaches or taking in the entertainment at your mega resort hotel. Two newcomers to Goynuk, are the mega hotels Queen Elizabeth (you guessed it, the hotel is a replica of the famous cruise ship) and Le Chateau De Prestige, with planned openings in late May. The hotels are adjacent to each other not on the waterfront (but do have access to the beach) and have very large shopping arcades around their perimeters for all to shop, not only their own guests. However, Goynuk is also growing. Both towns are a short minibus ride to the more action-packed town of Kemer. Most hotels in the area offer regular service to its guests. Or you can hop on one of the minibuses that travel from Antalya to Kemer along this route.
Enjoy your vacation in Antalya!
Facts & Figures
• The Antalya Gulf is 20,815 square kilometers
• Over three quarters of the region is covered by mountainous terrain and some ten of these mountains are over 2,500 meters high with two exceeding 3,000 meters.
• About 60% of the region is covered in pine forest and Mediterranean plant life including various types of cactus and typical Mediterranean maquis at the foot of the Taurus Mountains
• 290 kilometers of the 590 kilometer coastline is natural beach
• The city is at 39 meters altitude on a rocky coastline.
• On average Antalya is rain-free 300 days out of the year
• The summer months are hot and rainless and the temperature rarely drops below zero in winter.
• Average humidity is 64%, but much higher during summer
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