Turkey’s Coastal Gem: The Ultimate Getaway with Sunlit Beaches and Historic Ruins

On March 6, 1930, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of modern-day Turkey, visited the southern Anatolian city of Antalya and, per the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, reportedly said of its landscape, “Without a doubt, Antalya is the most beautiful place in the world.” Bold as the claim may seem, this city of nearly 3 million people on the Mediterranean coast contains all the natural grandeur, ancient ruins, and cosmopolitan atmosphere needed to back it up.

Part of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, Antalya hosts a diversity of international visitors and residents that rivals even that of Istanbul’s. The city is well-known for its Russian immigrant and tourist population, with the group accounting for 3.5 million of the city’s 15 million annual visitors, according to Antalya’s Culture and Tourism directorate. During the peak summer season, you’d be forgiven for thinking you weren’t in Turkey at all, given the number of languages you’ll hear and swimsuits you’ll see. This is not the comparatively conservative atmosphere you’ll find in Turkish cities closer to the country’s interior.

That laid-back, international vibe — combined with the city’s beaches, restaurants, bar scene, and the region’s excellent outdoor adventure opportunities — makes Antalya a “different kind” of Turkey that you won’t get anywhere else, for better and worse. The city is more interesting and less polished than it seems from afar,  but that’s what makes it so compelling: Like the rest of Turkey, Antalya is a story of opposites. The result is a magnetic mix of controlled mayhem that makes for a great base to explore the rest of Turkey’s affordable Mediterranean vacation spots. Whether or not you end up agreeing that it’s the most beautiful place in the world, it’s worth finding out for yourself.

Antalya is a beach town. If you’re staying anywhere near the central downtown area, you need to check out Konyaaltı Beach, a several-mile-long stretch of sand and pebbles lining the city’s western edge that looks out over the mountains in the distance. Konyaaltı gets busy in the summer, but its size means it’s rarely difficult to find a place to put down your towel. If you want something more accommodating, there are plenty of beach clubs along its length that provide lounge chairs and umbrellas for a fee and serve up food and drinks as well.

For something a little more intimate, check out Mermerli Beach, a small, private strip of seaside sandwiched between a small marina and a rocky hill dotted with cypress and palm trees. You can get an even more secluded and naturally raw experience at Kayalıklar, just south of the airport. This public beach is made up of a stony seaside with no lifeguard or beach infrastructure to speak of, except for the stairs leading down to the water’s edge. Consider bringing an umbrella if you want to spend the day here — the Antalya summer sun is no joke.

If ruins and history are your thing, head to the Antalya Archaeology Museum. It’s one of the largest in the country and houses some impressive artifacts, including an ancient coin collection, statues of Roman emperors, and a hall of sarcophagi. If you don’t mind the 45-minute drive out of town, the Termessos Ruins just to the north of the city is a rewarding day trip. It features a surviving Ionian temple, a gymnasium, and an awe-inspiring amphitheater with views of the rocky hills leading down to the city and the sea in the distance.