Antalya

Beaches

Gumbet's sheltered bay stretches for about a mile in a deep curve between two wooded headlands. It is fringed by a tiled promenade shaded by palms and bordered by cafes and bars. The narrow band of sand itself, swept daily, is rather gritty (not suitable for building castles) and covered with rows of sun loungers and umbrellas.The sea is warm and shelves quite gently. Similar beaches stretch westwards all along the peninsula.

Alanya is straddled by two glorious shingle beaches that are popular with locals and visitors alike. There are plenty of sun loungers to choose from (set in clusters all along the coast with plenty of additional space on the beach if you want to avoid the crowds) and the breathtaking Taurus Mountains provide a stunning backdrop.

Calis Beach , near Fethiye, is an informal, relaxing spot with excellent water sports, and is ideal for families. The coarse sand stretches for 2.5 miles and there's a pedestrianised road lined with hotels, cafés and restaurants along the waterfront.

Cleopatra's Beach, Alanya is one of Turkey's largest resorts, with two good beaches, an old fortress and great facilities. Cleopatra's Beach, on the western side of the peninsula, is one of the best-known beaches. Sandy and more secluded than the other beach on the eastern side of town, it still gets crowded in high season.

Gemile Bay If Ölüdeniz is too commercial for you, try the secluded beach in Gemile Bay, also near Fethiye. The bay is a picturesque, unspoiled cove with great views of St Nicholas Island. You can take a boat across to see the ruins.

Içmeler Beach curves around an inlet in the bay of Marmaris, surrounded by green hills. Içmeler itself is newer, smaller and quieter than the bustling resort of Marmaris. The beach is half a mile long, with a traffic-free promenade stretching all the way round the bay and wooded hillsides at each end. It is excellent for swimming, water sports or just lazing under a sunshade admiring the view. Excellent facilities and amenities.

Ölüdeniz is a picturesque resort area with beautiful mountain views, crystal-clear water and a long shingle beach curving away from the resort promenade down to a calm blue lagoon with plenty of safe, shallow water for kids. The promenade has lots of bars, restaurants and cafés; there are loads of umbrellas and sun-loungers for hire, and a wide range of water sports is available.

Patara Take a drive east of Ölüdeniz to find Patara, rated Best Beach in the World by the Sunday Times. The beach is nine miles long, making it the longest in the Mediterranean. It's a child-friendly strip with medium-grain brown sand, set against ancient ruins and swooping dunes. The only building visible is a small café at one end; sun-loungers and parasols are available for rent, but there are no water sports.

Turtle Beach, Dalyan also known by its Turkish name Iztuzu, is a national conservation area and one of the last breeding sites in Europe for the protected loggerhead sea turtle. It is several kilometres long, with scenic surroundings, brownish sand and shallow water. A small café provides refreshments, and sun-loungers and umbrellas are available. Accessible via an enjoyable 20-minute public boat ride from pleasant, relaxed Dalyan town, which has a gorgeous riverside location overlooked by the Lycian tombs carved into the rock face opposite.