resort report n antalya, turkey
resort report n antalya, turkey
Queen of the south Seven days in Turkish Riviera gateway Antalya. Peter Ellegard is your guide urkey’s fastest-growing city, Antalya lies on its southern coast in the heart of what is known as the Turkish Riviera, or Turquoise Coast. Cupped between the Taurus Mountains, snow-capped in winter, and the clear waters of the Mediterranean, this beguiling part of Turkey has been attracting visitors for millennia and is said to have been given to Cleopatra as a dowry by Mark Antony, when the Romans ruled the region. While the early visitors – who also included Greeks and, later, Ottomans – were not drawn by aesthetics, in more recent years it has attracted the holidaying masses with its captivating mix of ancient history, culture, and exotic cuisine as well as for its glorious scenery and beaches. With so much to explore, the city of Antalya is very much a destination for those who don’t just want to fly and flop, although for those who prefer to do that it has beaches with hotels alongside. Konyaalti, a pebble beach, is the closest at just 3km west of the city centre, while sandy Lara Beach, 12km to the east, is hemmed in by a pine forest. Many of the hotels there are all-inclusive, with meals and drinks part of the package – something to bear in mind if
T
n Club Arma restaurant
anised side street above the harbour. Part of the Tutav Turk Evi hotel, its rooftop patio restaurant has superb views over the harbour and the old Selcuk Quarter, but book in advance to guarantee a table. Choose your fish main course and giant prawns for starters from the iced fish counter, and they take them away to cook them.
you fancy sampling some of the great local cuisine in Antalya’s restaurants or want to n Shop in kick back in some Kaleici of its bars. This is how you can make the most of a week’s stay:
day 2 daytime
day 1 daytime After a long and tiring journey, you will want to relax and wind down. Once unpacked, you can laze by the hotel pool or on the beach, followed by a gentle stroll to take in the wonderful sea views.
evening Take a taxi to the Mermerli Restaurant (www.mermerlirestaurant.com), at the top of steps leading up from the harbour wall in Kaleici, Antalya’s historic centre. It has one of the best vantage points for a sundowner high up on the cliffs looking out to the mountains across the bay and down to its private beach. Have mezze with your beer or cocktail as you watch the tourist boats cruise back to the harbour, but leave room for dinner. Stroll round the harbour and go for dinner at the Kale Bar Restaurant (tel: +90 242 248 6591), in a pedestri-
Explore old Kaleici today, perhaps after an iced coffee in one of the cafes perched above the marina by the main Cumhuriyet Square to get your bearings. This fascinating citadel frames the harbour with some of the fortified walls that still partially enclose it. Within the historic centre, you can explore the maze of narrow streets lined by traditional houses, minarets, mosques and shops selling everything from spiced tea powders to belly-dancing outfits, bangles, bags, handicrafts and, of course, carpets. Highlights include the Clock Tower, fluted 13th century Yivli Minaret and adjacent multi-domed mosque, and the well-preserved Hadrian’s Gate, dating back to 130AD. For lunch, have a bite and a beer on the terrace of the Hotel Odile (www.hotelodile.com), with a grandstand view of the adjacent Hirdilik Tower, then walk along the clifftop path through leafy Karaalioglu Park with a glass of freshly-pressed pomegranate juice before returning through Kaleici’s narrow streets, stopping by Ataturk Museum, dedicated to Turkey’s founder.
n Konyaalti Beach Pictures: Peter Ellegard
34 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine
www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
Winter 2011/2012
Winter 2011/12
tlm n the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
35