Antalya isn’t known as the Turquoise Coast without reason. Beaches backing up to azure sea abound all along this spectacular coastal province. Depending on where you are and what kind of experience you want, there is most certainly a perfect beach for you. Read on for a beach report on some of the most famous beaches Antalya has to offer.
We will start with beaches near the city center, and then move on to beaches west and east of the city.
Close to City Center:
Konyaaltı Plajı
Lara Plaji
West of City Center:
Patara Plajı
Kaputaş Plajı
Çıralı Plajı
Adrasan Plajı
Phaselis Plajı
East of City Center:
Kleopatra Plajı
Side Plajı
Close to City Center
Konyaaltı Plajı
Konyaaltı Plajı is made up of seven kilometers of rocky beach with a boardwalk on the west side of the city. This is a great selection if you don’t like taking sand home with you and you want to experience a fun day at the beach with amenities like public bathrooms, parks, markets, cafes, and walking paths.
Lara Plajı
On the east side of the city, starting just past Lower Duden Falls, Lara Beach is a good option if you are staying on that side of town and want to spend a day enjoying brown, pebbly sand, somewhat shallower water, and gentle waves. There is a public beach, Lara Halk Plajı, where you can find a spot to bring your towel, chair and umbrella, or you can go farther east for some private club options where you can rent chairs and purchase food while enjoying beachfront space.
West of City Center
Patara Plajı
Anatolia’s longest beach (and one of our favorites) offers shallow waters, soft whiter sand, and protected sea turtles hatching between September and October. As it is found inside the park entrance of Ancient Patara, it is a must see if you enjoy historic sites.
Kaputaş Plajı
One of Antalya’s most famed and crowd-attracting beaches, Kaputaş Beach is a must stop for that perfect Instagram post of azure waters tucked into a picturesque cliffside cove. It gets busy and parking is scarce, so arrive early and be prepared to climb a lot of stairs.
Çıralı Plajı
If you are looking for a peaceful holiday village vibe, Çıralı offers just that. With some hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, and cafes close by, as well as the Ancient City of Olympos and the inspiring eternal flame of Yanartaş, Çıralı is a lovely couple night getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Be sure to check out the day boat cruises while you are there.
Adrasan Plajı
Similar to Çıralı, Adrasan offers a peaceful and less crowded change of pace from the busier city beaches. Found tucked into a beautiful cove, Adrasan offers a relaxing vacation worth spending a couple of nights and exploring. You will find cafes, boutique hotels, and campsites that offer an array of trips and activities.
Phaselis Plajı
If having a picnic and a dip in the sea in the midst of ruins is your idea of the perfect summer afternoon, don’t miss Ancient Phaselis. You have to pay to enter the ruins, and it is a super popular spot among Turks on the weekends (get there early or you will be waiting in a car line to enter for up to an hour), but you can’t beat the historical setting and the shaded areas Phaselis offers. The sand is pebbly on the western beach and cove, while there is a smaller rocky beach on the eastern side. There are restrooms, changing rooms, and a gift shop/cafe on site.
East of City Center
Kleopatra Plajı
When on the east side of the province in Alanya, Kleopatra Beach is a fabled spot full of cafes and pebbly sand. For a small fee you can rent a beach chair and umbrella, or find a spot in between cafes for free. Be sure to take the teleferik up to Alanya Castle while you are there.
Side Plajı
Take a tour of Ancient Side in the morning and then spend the afternoon enjoying the sandy beach in picturesque Side. Options include clubs with chairs you can rent and food you can order, or public beach space closer to the ruins. The water is shallow and kids can go out fairly far, which makes for hours of water fun. Don’t expect a lot of amenities unless you rent a spot near a beach club, and also don’t be shocked by the exorbitant food prices in Side.
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[…] With a population of around 1.2 million people, the Antalya city center has reliable and economical public transportation that can take you just about anywhere you might want to go. For this reason, you shouldn’t need to rent a car to see places within the city. Car rentals are helpful if you plan on visiting some of the fantastic ruins or beaches outside of the city center. (For a run-down on the best beaches to visit, read this post.) […]
[…] Konyaaltı Beach and Promenade– Newly built in 2018, the boardwalk along the beach on the Konyaaltı side of the city has much to offer young and old. Plan on spending several hours with your kids enjoying the seaside promenade. (For information about beaches, check out our beach post.) […]
[…] We understand it can get quite busy in high tourism season, so we recommend going in early Spring or late Fall before crowds get too big. You will miss out on the pool area, but there are so many other places to swim in Antalya. (Namely, the beach.) […]
[…] you are already enjoying Lara beach next door, SANDland could be an enjoyable break from the sea. But, the sculptures are not covered […]