The Turkish Riviera is the southern coastal strip of Turkey and one of the most popular summer holiday destinations. The region is particularly popular among all-inclusive vacationers. Between sun, sea and beach, the region between Antalya and Alanya also has numerous ancient sights and natural spectacles to offer.
While the Turkish Riviera is flat and has long sandy beaches, the Aegean coast is characterized by mountainous landscapes and romantic bays.
The city of Antalya also has a beautiful old town to offer - this is called Kaleiçi. The clock tower is located on the edge of the old town, which is why we started our exploration tour from there. Near the clock tower is another attraction, the Yivli Minare - a mosque, which the locals often refer to as the city's landmark. The best views of this impressive structure are from nearby Republic Square. Other sights in the city include Hadrian's Gate, the marina and the Archaeological Museum.
If you are looking for peace and relaxation, Belek is ideal for it, it is also wonderful to hike in the pine forests around Belek. If you want to experience something more than Side has a lot more to offer.
Antalya, on the other hand, is known for its historical and cultural wealth, its magnificent beaches and its luxurious resorts.
Alanya is the epitome of a relaxed and carefree tourist attraction. The choice between Side and Alanya ultimately depends on your personal preferences. If you are interested in history and archaeology, Side might be a better choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a livelier holiday with beautiful beaches, Alanya might suit you better.
In Side, which is characterized by tourism, there are numerous restaurants and cafés as well as many colourful shops and souvenir shops that invite you to stroll around. In particular, the pretty old town and its ancient ruins, along with the picturesque beaches, are among the city's best-known and most popular sights.
Selimiye - The truly tourist district of Selimiye lies on a peninsula near the ruins of the southernmost part of the ancient city of Side. Lot of bars and restaurants, souvenir shops and the harbour make an unbelievable difference to the ancient part of Sides.
Silifke Seleucia lies (250 km south of Konya, 400 km east of Antalya, and 150 km west of Adana) at the foot of the Taurus Mountains and on the western edge of the Göksu estuary.
Oymapinar Dam, located approximately 18 kilometers from downtown Manavgat, is the third largest dam in Turkey and is now used as a recreational destination for locals and guests, too.
Hamaxia - A few years have passed since we were last on the 400-meter-high mountain right next to the new road tunnels near Alanya to visit the Helenistic ruined city of Hamaxia, which is just over half an hour's walk and within sight of Cleopatra's beach.
Camper - We met Silvia and Anselm at a campsite near Venice as part of our project "Comprehension and Cultural Trip along Roman Roads" and were able to experience their experience and knowledge of the city of Venice on a shared city tour. For the first time with the two of them, the idea of wintering for campers on the Turkish Riviera was pushed so strongly that we subsequently looked more and more into this possibility.
Alanya Beaches - To the East and to the West of the castle mountain of Alanya you will see the huge beaches up to 5 kilometers wide. Because of its excellent quality of the water all parts of the beaches have got blue flag.
Gazipaşa: Turkey, an ever-shining star in the global tourism market with returning tourists and foreigners deciding to settle by buying houses, continues to attract new tourists every year.
Alanya is a fast growing town about 135 km east of Antalya. Quite often called the pearl of the Turkish Riviera, Alanya has become well known world wide because of its sandy, clean beaches, the crystal clear, deep blue waters and the excellent climate of the Mediterranean area.
Alara Han - The Seljuk Caravanserai is located just 45 kilometres from Manavgat, on the border between the districts of Alanya and Manavgat, directly on the Alara River.
Phaselis was one of the most important trading centres in the Mediterranean for several centuries in ancient times. Goods such as Lycian cedar wood and rose oil were shipped from here to Egypt and the Middle East.
Olympos - In different, international travelogues of users of the Lycian trail and backpackers we have repeatedly heard about the "tree houses" at Olympos, which are made of simple, nailed boards lodgings offering cheap accomodation.
Mamure Kalesi Anamur - Although mostly only ruins remain, the Crusader castles exude an air of adventure and past grandeur.
Aspendos – when this world-famous name for ancient buildings is mentioned, everyone thinks of the best-preserved theatre near Manavgat / Side, which is still used for numerous events today.
Gazipasa - Could it finally become reality and regular international flights between Alanya-Gazipasa and Europe, at least initially from some airports, be possible?
Manavgat Waterfall - The various watercourses, which finally form the Manavgat River from the Taurus foothills and the two reservoirs, are fed by many further inlets and underground springs, forming an imposing waterfall before the river flows into the Mediterranean at Side.
Manavgat Waterfall - We were on the way to a friend in Manavgat / Oymapinar when we noticed, while driving through the village, the high water level of the Manavgat River, because the meadows and shore fortifications left and right of the river were completely flooded.
Altinbesik Cave - The short holiday visit of Brita and Peter with family appendix in Alanya brought, beside delicious Nuremberg bratwurst and various types of cheese as a souvenir, the idea of a short excursion into the Taurus Mountain, which should be started with a hearty breakfast at Ömer at the lower part of the artificial lake at the Manavgat river, the Manavgat Baraji.
Adada was an ancient Roman city in Pisidia, about 40 km southeast of Egirdir and 80 km northeast of Antalya, near the present-day village of Sagrak in the Sütçuler district of the Turkish province of Isparta, which is probably just known to hikers on St. Paul's Way.
Perge - According to the Greek Writer Strabon (63 BC-19 AD) the city was founded by Greek colonists led by Mopsos and Kalchas who came to Pamphylia after the Trojan War around 1200 BC.
Visiting Perge you can get a good impression of what a Roman towns looked like with its theatres, stadium, agora, baths, streets and town gates, as large parts of the town have been excavated and are still being restored.