We have selected the 5 best resorts in Turkey for you to plan a trip to. Turkey is adored for its stunning summer resorts and luxury hotels. Most of its most beautiful beaches await on the Turquoise Coast, where the Taurus Mountains meet the sea and the landscape is dominated by intriguing coves and paradisiacal bays. Turkey is famous for its all-inclusive resorts where guests are invited to discover a plethora of luxury amenities and impeccable service. Ultra-lux is to be found in renowned resorts like Bodrum or Kalkan, while the Lycia area is famous for its more casual atmosphere and funkier vibes.
Check out the 5 best resorts in Turkey but remember: summers in Turkey are sometimes unbearable due to very high temperatures and you won’t find shade just as often as you do in the Caribbean. However, the resorts create the perfect oasis against the disarming miles and miles of white sand and the hot embrace of the Turkish sun.
Oludeniz
Oludeniz is home to the most famous beach in Turkey. Blessed with impossibly turquoise waters, incredibly calm and nonchalant, Oludeniz’s Blue Lagoon is framed by a long sandy beach adorned with pine trees. Breathtaking and photogenic, Oludeniz attracts travelers from all over the world searching for the perfect infinite blue.
The beach has a small resort with the same name situated at the foot of the Babadag Mountain. The resort keeps on developing to meet the expectations of tourists but the lagoon remains unspoiled and wild, ideal for a romantic getaway or a family holiday. There’s not much to do on the beach except swimming and taking a boat trip to the lovely Butterfly Valley, but who needs something to do in paradise? Would you include this in your personal list of 5 best resorts in Turkey?
Kalkan
It’s almost impossible to believe that the posh Kalkan was once a sleepy Greek fishing village. Today, Kalkan is a bohemian summer resort that attracts dreamers who want to escape the urban jungle. A sophisticated resort, Kalkan may be a destination for the rich and famous of Europe, but artists too will find their own haven of beatitude.
The streets are lined with art galleries and hip boutiques, as well as numerous chic cafes and cozy restaurants. The picturesque bay is now home to elegant yachts, while the pretty fishermen cottages are still there waiting for their fishers to return home. There’s a certain elegance in the air, and everybody behaves accordingly fearing not to disturb the resort’s serenity.
Patara
Patara overwhelms the visitor with its 11 miles of sand and surreal tranquility. The beaches in Patara are wide and sandy, and surprisingly quiet. You won’t find as many tourists in Patara mainly because the resort forbids development to protect the presence of Loggerhead turtles who lay their eggs here.
A wild painting where the dunes are dotted with ancient ruins, Patara has a pristine beach except for the few small cafes and solitary sun loungers scattered on the sand. This is the perfect paradise for families with kids due to its warm and shallow waters and for surfers who prefer body-surfing. If you want to base yourself close to Patara, you can find accommodation Gelemi, a village situated a mile inland, which welcomes tourists with cozy restaurants and pretty bars.
Bodrum
Bodrum is the destination of choice for party-goers and wild spirits. Also known as Turkey’s party scene, Bodrum is hip, loud, and posh. With a skyline dominated by white-washed buildings and an atmosphere that reminds travelers of the fancy southern France, Bodrum never sleeps. At least not in the summer! Invaded by night clubs and bars, the resort comes to life especially after 10 pm when DJs invite tourists on the dance floor.
The beautiful Bodrum peninsula is a favorite of the Turkish elite, so you can expect to find plenty of luxury hotels and modern amenities. It’s true the peninsula’s main town, Bodrum, has been developed heavily, but everything has been done with elegance. The many hotels in Bodrum are dominated by the presence of the majestic castle of St Peter, while the beaches of the peninsula, such as Bitez and Turbuku, have kept their charm intact and are ideal for sunbathing and windsurfing.
Antalya
Home to gargantuan all-inclusive resorts, Antalya has conquered the hearts of travelers who love the beach and ultimate comfort. The jewel of the Turkish Riviera, this summer resort is the perfect destination for a relaxing beach holiday where everything you need is at your fingertips. Families with kids have access to the Konyaalti Beach, a kid-friendly beach with a waterside playground, while couples can relax by the pool in one of the many luxury resorts or spa centers in town.
Antalya’s beaches are spectacular, Olympos Beach, Alanya Damlatas, and Lara Beach luring the most sun worshippers. The restaurants, bars, and clubs await in the old walled quarter, while the suburbs are packed with malls, shops, and cinemas. For breathtaking sights head to the Duden Waterfalls and the city’s harbor. Surely on your list of of 5 best resorts in Turkey?