The Turquoise Riviera in the southern part of Turkey is a holiday and vacation paradise between the blue Mediterranean Sea and the Taurus Mountains range sweeping down with their Pine forests and high peaks.
Enjoy secluded coves and small islands, great sandy and pebbled beaches, turquoise calm waters, and great resorts of all levels, from the luxurious hotels in Belek, to the tree houses of Olympos. Visit the cities, towns and villages, and enjoy the unique culture, the great local bazars, restaurants and bars, and vibrant nightlife.
Spend time tanning and relaxing in one of the great beaches and enjoy the endless outdoor activities opportunities, water sports, yachting and sailing, scuba diving and rafting, paragliding, biking, and much more.
Explore the numerous impressive remains of the Lycian, Greek, and Roman ancient cities which flourished here up to 2,500 years ago. Admire the Amphitheatre in Aspendos, the rock carved tombs in Myra, the Kekova Island Sunken City near Demre, the best preserved Roman city of Ephesus, and much more.
It’s not an easy task to select your base location for the vacation in Antalya, and it all depends on your accommodation preferences, how crowds tolerant are you, what type of activities and attractions you are looking for, etc. Thetjoy.com suggests reading the description of the main cities; Antalya, Side, and Alanya, then going west to the Resort towns, and the cities of Kemer, Demre, Kas, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kusadasi, and Izmir, then to select the one that suits you and your companions.
Whatever you will select, it will be hard to make a mistake. The Antalya coast is packed with great beaches and coves, some secluded, some more crowded, some sandy and some pebbled. To name a few of the more popular and recommended beaches, note the list of The Recommended Beaches of Turkey’ Turquoise Riviera.
Side's Roman Theatre
Manavgat Central Mosque
Antalya Coastline
The Turkish riviera is not only about the beach resorts, there are numerous beautiful natural attractions throughout the coast and its surroundings including The Duden Waterfalls, Koprulu Canyon National Park and the Altinbesik Cave National Park near Antalya, Manavgat Waterfall near Side, Beldibi Cave, and the Goynuk Canyon near Kemer.
Visit the Chimera rock flames phenomenon near Olympos, the Saklıkent National Park and Canyon, and the Butterfly Valley near Fethiye.
If outdoor activities attracts you, enjoy Rafting in the Dalaman River near Marmaris, and the many beautiful scuba diving and underwater sites scattered throughout the region, especially in Kas, considered the best place in Turkey for scuba diving.
For a day or more of nature experience, explore the amazing Taurus Mountains, and the 540 km long historic Lycian Way (or section of) through 19 ancient cities, from Fethiye to Antalya.
The region offers 300 days a year of sunshine great for sunbathing and swimming, with very warm Summers.
A visit in March and April will enable skiing in the Taurus Mountains in the morning, and swimming in the warm sea waters in the afternoon.
While vacationing in the Turquoise Riviera, Thetjoy.com recommends to consider 2-3 days off from swimming and sunbathing, for a beautiful visit in Cappadocia, presenting a completely different experiences of Moon like landscapes of Fairy Chimneys, a Balloon ride, Underground cities, churches carved into the Volcanic rock, and authentic Turkish villages and culture.
Another option would be flying to Istanbul and spending few days in this beautiful and interesting city.
