Best resorts in Turkey: which holiday destination is right for you?
Turkey is an enduringly enchanting destination. With wonderful weather for longer than many places within such easy reach of the UK, this eastern edge of the Mediterranean offers sunshine, sandy beaches, great food and plenty of history by the bucket load.
If you've not been to Turkey, you may be wondering where to start. Do you go for the all-singing, all-dancing resorts or opt for something a little quieter with more of a traditional feel? Here, we look at nine of the best places to consider for your break to Turkey to help you narrow down your search.
Getting to Turkey: thankfully there are lots of options with the likes of Jet2holidays offering great value breaks* the length of Turkey's beautiful turquoise coast.
Kusadasi
Set sail for Kusadasi* to pair historical adventure with all-out fun. Turkey's biggest cruise port has a bustling bazaar that sells as many hammam towels, spice and ceramic lines as any in Istanbul.
Eight sandy strips lap the compact town, with Ladies Beach the windsurfing go-to. Need family splashes? Kusadasi is Turkey's waterpark capital. There are more keenly-priced slides, flumes and rapids here than anywhere else.
Save the biggest sight until last. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ephesus contains one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As the world's most intact Greco-Roman city, it offers a 500-acre history lesson for anyone studying the ancient world.
Bodrum
Visiting superyachts and chic celebrities render it Turkey's answer to St Tropez. Like the south of France, a ribbon of alfresco bars serve Chardonnay and chilled beers along Bodrum*'s waterfront.
The town is anchored by the Castle of the Knights of St John. Historians can tour the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, an outstanding collection of amphorae, gold coins and sunken ships.
The Bodrum Peninsula belongs to the Turkish A-list. Drive a 50 km circle around the headland via 4x4, Jeep or scooter to spot secret beaches, yacht hotspots and clubs that hop until dawn.
Marmaris
Are you ready to party? The population of Marmaris* leaps from 40,000 to 400,000 in summer, as the sun orbits Turkey's liveliest town. Like an Italian resort, rows of sun loungers line the 10 km sandy shore as jet skis, kitesurfers and banana boats zigzag out at sea.
Bar Street couples jugs of Efes beer with cuisine from four corners of the world. For a tranquil respite sail away: converted wooden fishing boats on the Kordon seafront promenade operate tours to the Cennet Adasi caves.
Trips include lunch, drinks and a swim at Kumlubükü cove. Pack some Euros, as day trip ships also run to the Greek island of Rhodes.
Olu Deniz
This postcard-perfect swoosh of sand has graced a thousand holiday brochures. For good reason. The golden peninsula shelters a unique double bay where waters shelve from turquoise to aquamarine.
Olu Deniz* is best seen on a parascending descent, which makes it the resort's most popular tour. Although, the view is equally beautiful with a cocktail in hand as the sunset kisses the Greek Islands beyond.
Fethiye
World class resorts plus ancient ruins equals Fethiye*. Here an ancient Roman city backs a buzzing Turkish town. Tastier still, a famous fish market allows visitors to haggle for sea bass - then have it cooked at their table minutes later.
Fethiye has always belonged to the sea. Water taxis are a form of transport and hop across to the beach of Calis, where James Bond sank cocktails in Skyfall.
Or take a boat tour into the dolphin-strewn bay. A trip to the 12 islands of Gocek includes a swim at the mineral water source of Cold Water Harbour.
Kas
Tarmac roads only reached Kas in the 1980s. Travellers from across Turkey and Europe rattled in by campervan - and never left. The overgrown fishing village pervades an aura of hippy chic, from flower-power boutiques to pavement cafés.
Contemporary visitors drive in to dive. As Kas is a two-hour car ride from both Antalya and Dalaman airports, the seas are fish-rich and crystal clear.
Archaeologists are in luck too. In 240 CE, a massive earthquake submerged a nearby Greco-Roman city. Tombs and temples lay in limpid water like an aquatic Pompeii. The site is ripe for a kayak tour.
Kemer
Come to Kemer* if you prefer a hotel that's big and bold. Like the resort itself, accommodation caters to a score of nationalities by linking luxury pools and spas with global cuisine.
One of the few temptations to leave your sunlounger is via a traditional wooden ship, which conducts barbeque snorkel tours to the tranquil surrounding bays.
Guests with a head for heights can rise even higher. From Kemer, a German-built cable car climbs up to snow-capped Mount Olympus. At 2,365 m, it's twice as high as Britain's Mount Snowdon.
Antalya
Antalya* is the everything resort. Firstly, it's the Barcelona of Turkey, a liberal seaside city stocked with shops, markets, restaurants and bars.
Secondly, it's the country's day trip capital. From the UNESCO-protected city of Aspendos to Jeep safaris to Manavgat waterfall, it's all here in one place.
Thirdly, Antalya's centrally-located hotels are immense. This allows visitors to stroll from luxury seafront accommodation to the buzzing city centre with ease.
Belek
Sheer class. Nowhere else in Turkey combines an exclusive collection of five-star hotels with mile upon mile of golden sand.
The Blue Flag beach backs onto several world-class golf courses, where the likes of Tiger Woods and Justin Rose tee off each year.
Belek*'s latest addition is the Land of Legends, Turkey's largest water park. From a watery rollercoaster to a family 'scuba mask' safari, it has it all. Prefer a more authentic flavour? The charming market town allows you to eat, shop and take a hammam with the locals.
Weather along Turkey's coast
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The above guide shows the weather in Marmaris*. You can also find out more about the weather at other resorts mentioned above and see when we think is the very best time to go for ultimate beach holiday conditions.
Found your perfect resort? Check out the latest deals on holidays to Turkey with Jet2holidays, which departs from airports across the UK.
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