9 of the best resorts in Turkey

1. Antalya

Best all-rounder

If you’re looking for huge sandy beaches, plenty of sunshine, exciting activities and ancient ruins that would impress even Indiana Jones, look to the Mediterranean coast. It’s where you’ll find Antalya, one of Turkey’s largest cities, as well as a string of smaller resorts trailing down the coast.

Antalya itself has sophisticated shopping, excellent restaurants, as well as lively clubs around the old harbour. But its best beaches are really at Lara, midway between the city centre and the airport, and Konyaalti, south of the centre.

At Belek, about 29km (18 miles) east of the airport, you’ll find miles of sand lined with opulent hotels and all-inclusive resorts with vast pools and spas offering the ultimate pampering experiences.

Staying here puts you close to the awe-inspiring Roman theatre at Aspendos, less than an hour from Antalya. The region’s other key archaeological site is Perge, 16km (10 miles) east of Antalya, where a forest of columns marks the site of a 3,000-year-old city.

Cool activities come by way of Köprülü Canyon, where you can get white-water thrills and spills on a raft trip. You’re also close to the Olympos Teleferik cable car, which will transport you 2,365m (7,759ft) to the summit of Tahtalı Dağı (Mount Olympos).

2. Alanya

Best resort for families

It’s said Cleopatra was so blown away by the beauty of Alanya’s main sandy beach that she insisted on stopping for a swim. It’s easy to see why: a 2km (1.2 miles) sweep of fine sand and clear water, Cleopatra Beach (yep, it’s now named for the Egyptian queen) is one of the resort’s highlights.

Others include the fairytale Alanya Castle, a medieval fortress that splits Alanya in two, the small but impressive Damlataş Cave, and Eastern Beach – a whopper of a beach that’s great for snorkelling.

Kids give the resort a big tick of approval thanks to the funfair at one end of the beach and the exciting aquapark nearby, while parents will appreciate the wide choice of family-friendly hotels. Many have kids’ clubs and mini waterparks on site to save on entertainment costs.

For days out, Side and its ancient ruins sit bang in the middle of Alanya and Antalya. If you’re going this far, it’s worth making time to head out to the fast-flowing Manavgat waterfall, which gets its wow-factor from its sheer width. With a hire car (or a day tour), you can also reach the oasis of Sapadere Canyon, about 40km (25 miles) from Alanya.

3. Bodrum

Best resort for shopping

Bodrum hits the spot with the right mix of sightseeing, shopping, sea and sunshine.

Its old quarter is a great place to haggle for suspiciously cheap ‘replika’ (that is, fake) designer shoes, accessories, headphones and sunglasses, and with the pound strong against the Turkish lira, there are plenty of bargains to be had.

For sightseeing, the city’s standout landmark is the medieval Castle of St Peter – built by the Knights of St John, it’s now a museum of underwater archaeology, filled with treasures from ancient shipwrecks.

Days in Bodrum usually end at Cumhuriyet Caddesi, a mile-long neon-lit strip where you’ll find plenty of massive dance venues to boogie the night away.

Make time to visit Gumbet, about 4km (2.3 miles) from Bodrum's city centre, for its brilliant beach that’s ideal for sunbathing. A few kilometres further along the Bodrum peninsula, Bitez is great for windsurfing and watersports.

Further afield, you can take a boat trip across the Gulf of Gokova to ride a dromedary at ‘Camel Bay’ or swim in hot springs at Kara Ada. Or hire a car to visit the awesome ruins at Aphrodisias, one of Turkey’s most impressive ancient sites.

4. Marmaris

Best resort for nightlife

If you’re after a resort in Turkey with a great location and a fantastic choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants, look no further than Marmaris. Set on a splendid bay beneath forested hills, this resort bustles day and night – heritage and culture are not high on the agenda here, but good times are.

‘Bar Street’ is solid with ‘English’ and ‘Irish’ pubs, curry restaurants, pizza joints and raucous clubs like Club Areena, where laser light shows pulse to thumping DJ sets all night long. Hundreds more bars and restaurants line the Uzunyali beach strip just west of the old town, while the marina, opposite the miniature Ottoman castle, offers a more upmarket after-dark experience.

If you need new threads for your all-nighter, head to Marmaris’s market and shopping area, the Karsi, for shops selling bargain beachwear, leatherware and convincing designer gear and accessories.

The Greek island of Rhodes and its spectacular medieval city are just a high-speed ferry journey away from Marmaris, so be sure to keep a day free for this unique two-for-one holiday opportunity (bring your passport). Sedir Adasi (‘Cleopatra’s Island’) and the ruins of ancient Kedreia are also within easy reach of Marmaris.

5. Icmeler

Best resort for couples

Icmeler might be just 8km (5 miles) from boisterous Marmaris – in fact, you could walk between them if you’re so inclined – but its energy is more than a few notches calmer.

Its pretty sweep of a beach, tucked between pine-covered mountains and neatly organised with rows of sun-loungers, is the resort’s main draw. There’s plenty of space to go around on this dark golden beach, some 3km (1.8 miles) in all, but it’s prettiest – and most romantic – bathed in the early morning light.

Icmeler’s string of sea-facing hotels range from three-star to five, suiting couples of all budgets, and there are a clutch of swanky adults-only resorts if you’re really looking to keep it laidback.

Adventure comes in the form of ancient ruins at Knidos and Hierapolis, spectacular waterfalls and gorges at Saklikent, and jeep safari tours to little villages and quiet bays.

Just be sure to stay in Icmeler on Wednesdays for its farmers’ market. While it’s mostly fruit and veg on offer, you’ll also find huge buckets of colourful spices, shoes and fabrics.

6. Dalyan

Best resort for a tranquil getaway

Dalyan couldn’t be more different from Turkey’s other resorts if it tried. For a start, it’s not by the sea – though one of Turkey’s most spectacular and untouched beaches is only a short boat trip away.

This laidback riverside village is hard to beat if you’re looking for peace and quiet. There are no big hotels or rowdy clubs here; nightlife is an after-dinner drink by the jade-green river while admiring the elegant royal tombs (floodlit at night) that are carved into the cliffs opposite.

The sea is only a few kilometres away, and wooden boats ferry visitors to the vast beach at Iztuzu through a reed-filled river delta. On the way, you’ll see kingfishers, egrets and other birdlife, and in summer you’re likely to spot the big loggerhead turtles that lay their eggs at Iztuzu.

To protect the turtles, hotel development is banned from this 5km (3 miles) swathe of sand, but you’ll find a handful of cafés at the west end of the beach.

More inland highlights include swimming in Lake Koycegiz, which you can visit on a boat trip, and relaxing in the Sultaniye Kaplicalari hot springs. You can also check out the ruins of Kaunos perched above the channels and lagoons of the delta.

7. Fethiye

Best resort for traditional Turkey

Fethiye is as authentically Turkish as it gets – it’s even more popular with holidaying locals than with foreign visitors.

That said, Calis Beach, around 3km (1.7 miles) north of town, attracts a multi-national clientele. It’s lined with hotels, restaurants and bars and there are plenty of watersports available too.

In town, you’ll find a picturesque bazaar area around Hamam Sokak, filled with shops selling made-to-measure leatherwear, aromatic spices, colourful ceramics, Turkish delight and many dried fruit and nuts. There are some fab old-school restaurants here too, serving fresh fish from the seafood market.

Fethiye stands on a wide, sheltered gulf dotted with verdant islets, and the '12 Islands' boat trip round the bay is a must. You can also take longer trips along the aptly named Turquoise Coast to Patara, a vast, deserted sweep of sand beside the half-buried ruins of an ancient Roman city. A visit to Kayakoy, a ghost village with a hidden history, is another favourite time-trip.

8. Olu Deniz

Best resort for thrill-seekers

Olu Deniz is the Turkish coast’s ultimate icon – a calm, blue lagoon sheltered from the sea by a crescent beach and overlooked by limestone crags cloaked in lush forests. As a resort purpose-built for tourism, there are plenty of places to eat and drink along the streets inland from the beach, though many who visit really come for the spectacular scenery.

The cloudless sky is often filled with the brightly coloured wings of hang gliders spiralling down from nearby Mount Babadağ to land right in the centre of town. There are sandy beaches around the lagoon, while long, pebbly Belcekiz Beach, lined with hotels, café-bars and restaurants, offers a great choice of watersports including water-skiing, banana boat rides, kayaking and windsurfing.

You can also get your kicks on a boat trip along the coast to visit ‘Butterfly Valley’, where thousands of tiger moths flutter around a deep, cool canyon, or on a tour of the Blue Cave and St Nicholas Island.

Perched in the hills about a mile from Olu Deniz and its beaches, Hisaronu has more hotels, restaurants and bars and there are shuttle buses to whisk you to the beach. Or squeeze into a dolmus minibus for a day’s shopping in Fethiye, which is about 15km (10 miles) away.

9. Kusadasi

Best resort for culture

Bustling Kusadasi has plenty going for it, but its deep history makes the resort a top pick for culture cravers.

History buffs will want to make a beeline for Ephesus. The ancient city is Kusadasi’s most iconic spot, home to the impressive ruins of the Library of Celsus and St Mary’s Basilica – believed to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. There’s also Pigeon Island, which has a Byzantine castle-turned-museum displaying historical artefacts.

Like most of Turkey’s best resorts, Kusadasi is blessed with several soft sandy beaches. Long Beach is a family favourite with plenty of activities and amenities, or pitch up on Ladies Beach for a tranquil afternoon catching rays.

You’ll get good views of the surrounding area on a quad or jeep safari of the Buyuk Menderes National Park, while the crystal-clear waters around Kusadasi’s bays are prime for snorkellers.

For a more local buzz, check out Selçuk’s Saturday market (catch the minibus from Kusadasi town centre), stopping in the pretty village of Şirince to sample fruit wines on the way back.