Where to stay in Antalya

Lara Beach

Best place to stay for families

Lara Beach is the top pick for a family holiday in the Antalya area. For starters, this lively resort town with plenty of family-friendly all-inclusive hotels – most with kids’ clubs to keep younger holidayers happy – is only 14.5km (9 miles) from the airport, so families can be poolside or on the beach not too long after touching down.

The beach is the star here, with 8km (5 miles) of dark yellow-sand jam-packed with activities that will please restless older kids, including kitesurfing, paddleboarding, parascending and jet-skiing.

For family days out, Lara Beach has a choice of theme parks and water parks offering thrills and spills for all ages, and there are family-friendly day trips ranging from four-wheel-drive safaris in the mountainous hinterland to gentle raft floats through the wild Köprülü Canyon.

Kaleiçi

Best place to stay for a romantic couples’ break

For many, Antalya city's busy airport is just the gateway to the region, but for couples it's worth considering a stay in the old Kaleiçi quarter, hidden away beside a quaint harbour.

You’ll find a sprinkling of romantic boutique hotels (a few even with pools) tucked away in this maze of streets, where domed mosques and soaring minarets add a far-from-home feel.

For foodies, authentic seafood restaurants cluster along a quayside where yachts and fishing boats moor. There's a buzzy summer nightlife scene, ranging from laidback music bars favoured by local hipsters to big clubs where you can dance until dawn.

Roman and Ottoman relics like triple-arched Hadrian's Gate and the imposing Hidirlik tower make Kaleiçi a favourite for history buffs, and it even has its own pretty (but pocket-sized) beach, Mermerli, where the entrance charge includes sun-loungers and umbrellas.

Belek

Best place to stay for sports in lush surrounds

You can imagine the Made in Chelsea crowd loving Belek, with its seven-star hotels, luxury spas and high-end nightlife tailored for wannabe WAGs and Gucci-accessorised oligarchs.

There’s no such thing as too much bling in this swanky Turkish resort but alongside the glitz, you'll find first-rate sports facilities too.

Designed as a true sports destination, Belek has a climate that rivals the Algarve, winter soccer training facilities that attract top sides from Turkey and all over Europe, and perfect greens on challenging golf courses designed by star architects. On the beach, miles of sand stretch to the horizon either side of the resort, offering just about every possible watersport imaginable.

Sporty travellers will find some of the best hotels in Antalya here, with fabulous fitness centres complete with personal trainers, golf courses in luxurious settings, and tennis coaching for teens and adults on floodlit courts so you can play in the cool of the evening.

Side

Best place to stay for a quieter family stay

If you're looking for a family resort that's a little less busy and a good deal more budget-friendly, try Side (it's pronounced 'Shee-day').

Long sandy beaches, most with lifeguards on duty in summer, stretch either side of this cheerful little harbour town around 65km (40 miles) east of Antalya's urban sprawl.

Ringed by ancient walls, the old town is so steeped in history that every corner you turn in its maze of mostly car-free streets seems to reveal yet another massive chunk of Byzantine and Roman ruins, including an impressive theatre and the Temple of Athena.

You'll find friendly seafood restaurants and authentic grill joints in Side's narrow streets, along with dozens of small shops where you can bargain for sandals and other leatherwear and artisan jewellery.

Nightlife in Side is low-key, with a handful of relaxed music bars and beach bars – and if you start to feel homesick there are even a couple of English and Irish-style sports pubs.

Çirali

Best place to stay for getting back to nature

Way down the Lycian coast from Antalya – around a 60–90-minute drive from the airport – Çirali has a vibe that's oh-so-different from vibrant Lara or perma-tanned Belek.

It’s surrounded by a conservation area and a protected archaeological site, so there are no big, intrusive resorts but you’ll have a choice of smaller chalet-style hotels that make it a great area to stay in Antalya for a tranquil escape.

Çirali’s main draw is its 3.2km (2 miles) of pebbly, sandy beach and clear blue waters, where you can swim undisturbed by the scream of jet-skis. It’s also virtually traffic-free, as there's just one road in and out of the village.

On the outskirts of the village is one of Turkey's many hidden wonders: the Yanartaş or 'Burning Rock'). Known to the ancient Greeks as the Chimaera, this natural gas leak from deep underground feeds an eternal flame that, even after millennia, shows no sign of going out. Go after dark to see this uncanny phenomenon at its best.

Kaş

Best place to stay for activity lovers

Further down the Lycian coast still, almost exactly between Antalya and Dalaman, vibrant Kaş hits the sweet spot for beach and adventure combined. It’s a bit of a trek from the airport (a three-hour drive from Antalya or two and a half hours from Dalaman), but the journey is worth it if you’re after an action-packed getaway.

Exceptionally clear waters and a treasure-trove of ancient relics, rock formations and ship wrecks make it the best place in Turkey for scuba diving. You’re also perfectly located to explore the Sunken City of Simena on neighbouring Kekova Island. Take a guided kayak tour to see the ruins of the ancient city submerged just below the water’s surface.

For a more laidback itinerary, seek out the small but stunning white-sand cove at Kaputas Beach or spend a day perusing the shops and markets of the charming old town.

After dark, it’s hard not to be drawn in by the social buzz created by the restaurants and bars that spill out into plaza squares. It’s a great place to stay in Antalya for nightlife that’s lively and local rather than raucous.

Alanya

Best all-rounder

Wondering where to stay in Antalya for a bit of everything? There’s not much Alanya can’t do for holidaymakers.

Two hours east of Antalya, the picturesque harbour city has something to please every type of traveller. Culture cravers can check out the medieval castle that stands watch over the town, while beach bums have one of Turkey’s best beaches at their disposal – 2km-long (1.2 miles) Kleopatra.

A range of budget accommodation options and kid-friendly attractions make Alanya one of the best areas in Antalya for families, too. And as the cheapest destination for an all-inclusive holiday this summer, it’s ideal if you’re looking to tick off food, drinks and entertainment in one affordable package.