For a long time, a trip to Turkey for many Russians has become almost an obligatory item in their vacation plans. Our compatriots have tightly occupied the most popular Turkish resorts, forcing the locals to learn Russian and turning the coasts of Alanya, Marmaris and Antalya almost into an additional region of the Russian Federation. It is not in vain that people have traveled and are going to these places: the infrastructure is high, the sea is warm and clean, the all-inclusive system allows you not to think about where to eat and how to have fun.
But there is another Turkey - small towns in bays of stunning beauty with a unique flavor and incredible architecture, where only the most inquisitive, quiet beaches and streets, not overloaded with idly staggering people and annoying merchants, can get there. All this can be found, barely driving a few kilometers from the main resorts of the country.
Top Turkish seaside resorts
Kemer
Resort and port on the Mediterranean Sea, one of the main cities of the Turkish Riviera, offering a variety of package holidays. For many years it has been one of the most popular destinations for Russian tourists. The choice of hotels in Kemer is huge: from quiet family hotels to huge complexes with a vast territory and all imaginable services. One of the most famous natural attractions in the resort is the Lycian Way hiking trail.
Icmeler
For a long time it was considered an integral part of Marmaris, but in recent years it began to develop as an independent resort. There is a picturesque beach surrounded by gardens, healing mineral springs and cozy hotels. From Marmaris and from the island of Rhodes, you can get here by water transport. It is believed that hotels in Icmeler are better and more comfortable than in neighboring cities.
Alanya
A resort city that is constantly heard by tourists. There are many beaches marked with the Blue Flag, and an incredible number of historical sites: fortresses, mosques, civil buildings, natural monuments. Alanya is considered one of the most affordable Turkish resorts; a tourist can afford a vacation here even with the most modest budget.
Belek
Belek's tourist infrastructure began to develop in the mid-1980s. Today its coastline is strewn with 4 and 5 * hotels smoothly operating on the "all inclusive" system. The city has a reputation as one of the most respectable resorts on this part of the coast. Lined up along the sea are luxurious hotels, each of which can be considered a mini-state, golf courses are located everywhere, and modest 3 * establishments are very far from the beaches, so you won't find them right away.
Antalya
Along with Kemer, Antalya is considered one of the key resorts of the Turkish Riviera. In Russia, for sure, everyone has heard about it. Such popularity has come to the city not only because of the wide opportunities for beach recreation, but also because of its rich history and interesting sights. Tourism has been developing here for a long time - since the 1970s. The annual flow of travelers has long exceeded one million people.
Marmaris
It is famous for its old castle-fortress, where the museum is located, the Bar Street, which is packed with tourists during the season, and a large water park. The magnificent Mediterranean climate of the resort, without the exhausting heat, is conducive to a pleasant stay, especially since the choice of hotels here is quite wide. Tourists have begun to travel to Marmaris in droves since the 1980s.
Kalkan
Not quite a typical Turkish city, as it was created by the Greeks who lived here until the 1920s. Nice houses are buried in flowers, and narrow streets are full of incredible charm, coffee shops and small restaurants are waiting for tourists everywhere. Kalkan is located between Fethiye and Kemer, the local beaches are very clean and of high quality. It is so beautiful and well-groomed here that you might think that you are in a fashionable Italian resort.
Oludeniz
Before the construction of large hotel complexes, Oludeniz Bay was considered the best destination for independent travelers. However, such picturesque places could not be empty for a long time - mass tourism came here too. In Oludeniz, you can choose from three great beaches: Blue Lagoon, Belcekiz or Kidrak. The Oludeniz Lagoon is a popular postcard landscape in Turkey used in advertisements and souvenirs!
Kusadasi
An Aegean seaside resort with a convenient harbor for Mediterranean cruise ships, luxury yachts and more modest ships. This is a great place for diving, unbridled nightlife fun and quality shopping. Despite the first impression with a touch of pathos, Kusadasi is a completely democratic city: rest in local hotels with a high level of service is available to most tourists.
Bodrum
The resort is chosen by those tourists for whom visiting bars and nightclubs is an obligatory part of the vacation program. Active young people come here, aiming at a party vacation, quiet married couples with children, most likely, should prefer the western part of Bodrum, where the marina, respectable restaurants and shopping centers are located. The eastern part is the territory of endless discos.
Side
A small town surrounded by hotel complexes that form whole resort villages. Side is equally attractive for beach lovers and fans of excursion tourism, as well as for gourmets - local restaurants cook delicious seafood dishes. It is one of the most popular resorts in Turkey, attracting thousands of tourists every year.
Tekirova
Resort village located 12 km from Kemer. It is famous for the fact that there is the Olympos National Park - the ruins of the ancient Lycian city and the Ecopark, consisting of a botanical garden and a zoo with reptiles. The local beach is a mixture of pebbles and sand. The settlement is quite secluded, so rest here is perfect for lovers of silence.
Fethiye
Picturesque Fethiye is located at the foot of the mountains covered with aromatic coniferous forests. The holiday season here lasts from the end of March to November - at this time the sun is constantly shining, and the air and water have a comfortable temperature. Despite the fact that the city has existed since ancient times, few historical buildings have survived due to the devastating earthquake in the middle of the 20th century.
Didim
A young resort offering beach holidays of European quality at fairly reasonable prices. It is located on the coast of the Aegean Sea. Didim's beach is a sand and pebble strip 65 km long. It is ideal for small children due to its smooth and gentle entry into the water. Here you can not only sunbathe, but also do water sports.
Cesme
A true paradise for scuba diving, windsurfing and kiteboarding enthusiasts thanks to the clear sea and suitable air currents. There are many schools in the city where they teach all the intricacies of these sports. The most famous hotel in the city is the caravanserai, built by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, where you can stay in luxurious historical interiors.
Dalyan
Small resort and fishing village located near Dalaman. It is popular due to the fact that sea turtles lay their eggs on the local beach. Dalyan is Turkish Venice, as the town is also cut by canals, through which locals move in boats, and at the same time offer their services to tourists as cabbies. People also come to the resort for the sake of mineral springs.
Ayvalik
It is well known to European tourists and the Turks themselves, but Russian travelers have heard practically nothing about it. It is located on the Aegean coast, 150 km from Izmir. The sandy beaches of the resort are considered one of the best in Turkey, they stretch for many kilometers along the coast. The town is not large in size, and it is more suitable for a relaxing holiday, although there are also a couple of nightclubs there.
Kash
A mass tourist has not yet managed to reach Kas, so it has retained its charm for those who are in search of non-standard routes. Package tours are not sold here due to the lack of all-inclusive hotels, and indeed there are not many hotels in Kas. Mostly the resort is visited by independent travelers from Europe. The town is surrounded by mountains, the slopes of which are covered with pine forest, which is the key to a healing climate.
Beldibi
The resort is located on the shores of a picturesque bay among mountains covered with dense greenery. There are no historical sights, noisy discos, crowds of strolling tourists, but there is a magnificent sea and nature. It is good to come to Beldibi to enjoy peace and quiet, and for entertainment you can drive a rented car to Antalya, which is only 30 km away.
Ozdere
The resort village of Ozdere is focused mainly on families with children. All conditions have been created here for the little ones: there are playgrounds, interesting attractions, cafes with a special menu and cinemas. Young people will not get bored either - bars and nightclubs work for them. There are no attractions in Ozdere itself, so in search of excursions, you should go to Kusadasi and Ephesus.
Turunc
Just a couple of tens of kilometers from Marmaris, in one of the bays of the Aegean Sea, there is a picturesque Turunc, sheltered from prying eyes by coastal rocks. Here, far from the crazy rhythm of the promoted Turkish resorts, families, people with respiratory diseases (the air has it) and lovers of a quiet vacation against the backdrop of mesmerizing natural landscapes rest.
Yalikavak
The resort is popular with the wealthy residents of Istanbul, as well as with Europeans. Like many hidden places on the Turkish coast, it is little known to the Russian tourist. Once the city was a major fishing port, today it has gained fame as a beach resort with modern hotels, trendy restaurants and manicured waterfront promenades. Yalikavak is a romantic place, young couples often come here to spend their honeymoon.
Foca
The village is located on the site of the ancient city of Fokey. The resort's infrastructure is geared towards domestic travelers and seems unpretentious to guests spoiled by the service of five-star hotels. But the more clearly the unique flavor of this place is felt: the entire embankment of Foča is strewn with private villas, pleasure boats are located at the berths, a measured and unhurried rhythm of life is felt in everything.
Camyuva
Another lost paradise of the Turkish coast, located just 10 km from the well-known Kemer. The resort is quite small, there is practically no entertainment here either, but there are groves of fragrant citrus trees, quiet beaches against the backdrop of wooded hills. Guests are hosted by several large hotels with a full range of services, including their own pier and swimming pool.
Izmir
A major city, the third largest in Turkey, and an important port. It is located on the shores of the long bay of the Aegean Sea. It was practically rebuilt after a fire in 1922. Today it resembles a prestigious European resort, although there are places with a pronounced oriental flavor, as well as the preserved ancient ruins of Smyrna, an ancient Greek city that once stood here.
