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To some, it may seem like overkill to plan a summer vacation in mid-April, but seasoned travelers know that making a reservation in the spring is already a bit late anyway, especially if you want to take advantage of those early bird arrivals. offers.
And for those currently wondering where to go this coming season, I have the perfect recommendation: it’s warm, beachy and Mediterranean; In short, the perfect place to make your summer fantasies come true.
Antalya is gearing up for one record yearwith more than 16 million international travelers expected to cross the border by 2024, many of whom will of course visit the city between May and September.
And since it’s only been a few months since the beautiful Turkish city announced its latest tourism record, this continued rise in popularity begs the question: why can’t travelers get enough of Antalya?
The unparalleled natural beauty of Antalya
Much is made of the otherworldly beauty of the Mediterranean, but the Turkish Riviera is truly something else.
Antalya in particular is surrounded by the Taurus Mountains, whose contrast with the crystal clear waters creates a kind of landscape that seems as if it has been touched by the gods.
The best place to see how striking these views are (at least in my humble opinion) is Konyaaltı beach, whose golden, liquid-looking sand has been photographed a million times, and honestly, none of the photos do it justice. you’ll really see it once you get there.
One downside to visiting a place this famous, however, is that you’ll likely have to share the experience with hundreds of other tourists, always assuming you’re not traveling out of season or are incredibly lucky.
So for those who want to enjoy the Mediterranean sun in a secluded spot, Lara Beach might be a better choice.
The water here is warm, calm and shallow, so families or those not so confident in their swimming skills get a much-needed chance to practice.
If you get tired of the beachy landscapes (although I’m not entirely sure how that would happen), I can’t recommend going on a tour to see enough of the local waterfalls – these start at $55 per adult and takes you past some of the region’s most stunning sights.
So much history to discover
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about Antalya is that it is just a beautiful seaside resort whose relevance is only related to tourist-oriented resorts; however, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Besides the dreamy views, the city offers travelers the opportunity to rediscover one of Turkey’s oldest civilizations, especially through the famous Kaleiçi historic district.
With its winding cobbled streets and breathtaking Ottoman architecture, the area is the perfect place to relive a piece of the country’s (very) storied past.
If you’re short on time, I recommend prioritizing a few unmissable sights, such as the famous Clock Tower, Hadrian’s Gate, Antalya Museum and Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque, but if you visit the latter, make sure Then make sure you do some research on clothing requirements and customs beforehand.
A fantastic selection of all-inclusive resorts
If you were to pick someone up off the street and ask them what they know about Antalya, their first answer would probably be the fact that the city is known for its fantastic all-inclusive resorts, many of which are also remarkably affordable.
However, if you still want a taste of luxury, you can’t go wrong with one of the many places in the famous Lara District.
Lara Barut Collection, Concorde De Luxe Resort and Megasaray Westbeach Antalya are currently the top 3 resorts in the city according to Tripadvisorand if you read through the entire list, you’ll find plenty of great options that don’t even break the $150 mark – for an all-inclusive deal, that’s incredible!
Traveling to Antalya has never been easier (or cheaper)
Whether you’re a more time-efficient traveler looking to book a flight or someone looking for the perfect cruise option, Antalya has never been easier to visit.
At the moment there are many connections which allows travelers to travel to Antalya from virtually any major US city, and airfares are at an annual low: just over $500 for a round-trip flight.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
