In every country with a developed tourism industry, there are cities that have the status of elite resorts. These include Belek, Turkey. This resort has absorbed much that modern tourism has to offer: luxury hotels, clean beaches, attractions, endless entertainment, sports events and convenient infrastructure. You can learn more about Belek and its capabilities in our article.
General information
Belek is a small resort town in southwestern Turkey, located 40 km east of the center of Antalya and 30 km from the international airport. Its population is just over 7,700. This is a fairly young resort, which has already established itself as one of the most elite in Turkey. It is famous for its extensive golf courses, luxury hotels, and recently the Rixos hotel chain built a large water park, The Land of Legends.
It is hard to imagine that three decades ago Belek was a wild area planted with eucalyptus and pine groves, on the territory of which Carret’s turtles found their home. This region is home to more than 100 of the 450 bird species represented in Turkey, including many exotic and rare birds. Although the resort itself is quite young, it is surrounded by attractions with a long history (Aspendos, Side and Perge).
Today, Belek in Turkey, whose hotels are often included in the tops of the best hotels in the country, offers tourists a developed infrastructure with an abundance of shops, cafes and restaurants, nightclubs and water parks, thereby providing the best conditions for a comfortable holiday. It will be interesting for both passive tourists who are used to a leisurely beach holiday, and active travelers who are fond of sports and excursions. And the close location of the resort to Antalya only expands the list of opportunities for tourists who have come here.
Attractions and entertainment
The sights of Belek are located both in the city itself and in its surroundings. Among them you will find ancient monuments, natural corners, and entertainment facilities. And you may be particularly interested in the following iconic places:
City center and mosque
Upon arrival for a vacation in Belek, first of all, you should get acquainted with the city itself and walk along its central streets. Here you can see the miniature mosque, built in the late 20th century, and the clock tower located next to it. The city center is a well-groomed area with flowerbeds, where there are numerous shops for every taste, as well as restaurants and cafes. Since Belek is considered an elite destination, prices here are slightly higher than in other resorts in Turkey.
Ancient Pamphylia: Perge and Aspendos
In various resorts of Turkey, there are many ancient monuments that remind of the former glory of great civilizations, and Belek is no exception. Just 30 km north-west of the site is the ancient city of Perge, and according to archaeological excavations, it was formed in 1000 BC. e.Here is a large Roman amphitheater that can accommodate up to 15 thousand spectators, Hellenistic gates, as well as the ruins of the city walls, the acropolis and the Byzantine basilica. The famous Roman baths, lined with marble slabs and decorated with ancient sculptures, are also preserved in Perga.
- During high season, the attraction is open daily from 8: 00 to 19: 00, from October to April from 8: 00 to 17: 00.
- The entrance fee is $6.
And 17.5 km northeast of Belek, you can find another trace of antiquity. Built in the 10th century BC after the end of the Trojan War, the city of Aspendos was in the hands of both the Greeks and the Romans, experienced an incredible rise and a tragic collapse. Its main attraction is a huge amphitheater built in the era of Marcus Aurelius, which can accommodate more than 15 thousand people. It is noteworthy that the theater is active, in high season there are dance performances and an Opera and Ballet Festival.
- The attraction is open daily from 8: 00 to 17: 00 from October to April and from 8: 00 to 19: 00 from April to October.
- The entrance fee is $6.
Ancient City of Side
Another interesting attraction is the ancient city-museum of Side, located 44 km south-east of Belek. Some buildings date back at least 2 millennia. The ruins of the Temple of Apollo are still preserved in Side, but even these ruins look quite majestic against the background of the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The city also has a large Roman amphitheater, port baths, basilica ruins and an archaeological museum. The historic complex offers many restaurants and shops, yacht tours and skydiving.
- You can visit the ruins of the temple of Apollo for free at any time
- A combined entrance ticket to the museum and amphitheater costs $8. In high season, these attractions are available daily from 8: 00 to 19: 00, from October to April-from 8: 00 to 17: 00.
A detailed description of the city and its attractions is presented in this article with photos.
Duden waterfalls
One of the most beautiful natural attractions that you can see during your holiday in Turkey in Belek is the Duden Waterfalls, located in Antalya. The Lower Duden waterfall is located 10 km east of the provincial center and is a stormy stream that falls into the sea from a height of 40 meters. And in the northern part of Antalya, Upper Duden is located, consisting of several waterfalls surrounded by an emerald park. More information about the attraction can be found here.
Manavgat Waterfall
If you are puzzled about what to see in Belek, we recommend that you go 46 km east of the city, where there is another picturesque attraction-the Manavgat Waterfall. A seething stream of mountain river waters, falling from a steep threshold, forms a unique waterfall 40 meters wide and 2 meters high. From here, you can enjoy magnificent views of the pristine nature of Turkey. Near the rapid river there is a green park, where there are several restaurants and shopping shops. More information about the attraction can be found here.
The Land of Legends Aquapark
In 2016, this water park appeared in Belek. Initially, the owners of the Rixos hotel chain planned to open Disneyland, but due to pressure from France, the only European owner of the famous amusement park, they reformatted the project into a hotel and water park. The huge entertainment complex accommodates more than 40 water attractions with 72 slides. The park is divided into thematic zones, each of which is designed in the style of a particular fairy tale.
Here you will find a variety of restaurants, an alley with boutiques, a 5 D cinema, bars, spas and even an artificial volcano. Turkey’s first five-star children’s hotel was built in the “Land of Legends”. In the water park, you can go scuba diving in a spacesuit, swim with dolphins and surf in a special pool.
- The water park is open daily from May to October from 10: 00 to 17: 00
- An entrance ticket for an adult (12+) costs $70 in June-September (in low season – $25-40), for children under 12 – $56 in high season and $20-32 in low season.
- Official website: https://thelandoflegendsthemepark.com/ru/.
Golf
Looking through the photos of Belek, you will undoubtedly come across pictures of golf courses: after all, the resort has long become the center of this sport. There are 8 golf clubs located here, the most famous of which is the National Golf Club, designed more for professionals than for beginners. Here, the price for a six-hour class is $250 per person. TAT Golf Belek International Golf Club is more suitable for beginners to master this game, where instructors offer express training, the cost of which starts from $70 per person. The golf season in Turkey starts in September and lasts all winter and spring until the onset of heat.
Antalya
Undoubtedly, the lion’s share of attractions that you can see during your vacation in Belek is located in Antalya. Among them, the Old Town area, the Archaeological Museum, the Aquarium, the Sandland Sand Sculpture Museum, Lara Beach, Kurshunlu Waterfalls and others deserve the most attention. We will talk in more detail about the sights of Antalya in a separate article.
Beach
The Blue Flag coast of Belek stretches for more than 16 km, and its territory is divided between local hotels. However, the resort also has a public Kadriye beach, where anyone can relax for free. The coastline here is covered with soft golden sand, both large and small. The area is characterized by shallow water, the entrance to the sea in Belek is gentle, the depth begins only after a few meters. In some places on the bottom there may come across small stones that are not sharp. This is quite a safe place to relax with children.
On the public beach in Belek in Turkey, there are sun beds and umbrellas that can be rented, the toilet can be used for free, the latter, by the way, are kept clean. There are numerous restaurants and cafes along the entire coast. Water sports, jet skiing and skydiving are available at an additional cost to beachgoers. There is a beach volleyball court and a lifeguard service on site. Nearby is a green park with children’s playgrounds, sports grounds, and picnic areas.
Hotels
Belek is the realm of five-star hotels, and some of them have the status of the best in all of Turkey. There is a huge selection of 5 * hotels located on the first coastline and having a private beach. There are very few 4* and 3 * hotels in the city, and they are far from the sea, which can make your vacation very difficult. In high season, the cost of accommodation in a double room in hotels of different categories starts from:
- In a 3* hotel-from $50 per night
- In a 4 * hotel-from $60 per night
- In a 5 * hotel-from $100 per night
Consider three fairly popular hotels where price and quality are best combined.Robinson Club Nobilis
Booking rating: 9.2.
The cost of staying in a double room in high season is $300 per night. The price includes two full-board breakfasts, lunch and dinner.
The hotel is located about 500 meters from the beach and has its own golf course. On the territory there is a large spa center, several outdoor pools with slides. The hotel rooms are equipped with all necessary appliances, including air conditioning, TV, mini-bar, hair dryer, etc.
Positive
- Large and well maintained territory
- Close to the beach
- Varied food, themed dinners with costumes are arranged
- Friendly attitude of the staff
- Interesting evening shows
Minuses
- All drinks are paid for
- Wooden decking on the beach needs updating
- The hotel is aimed at German tourists
Xanadu Resort Hotel — High Class All Inclusive
Booking rating: 9.3.
Prices for a double room in high season start at $480 per night. The price includes all inclusive meals.
The hotel is located on the first line of the sea with 415 m of private beach C. There are also several swimming pools on the territory, one of them is decorated in an antique style, and another for children. The hotel offers activities such as parasailing and windsurfing, a tennis court, a basketball court, and a fitness center. Rooms here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and a minibar.
Positive
- Top-level service
- Clean rooms and high-quality cleaning service
- Large well-groomed territory and beach
- The abundance of dishes offered, high-quality alcohol
- Nice hotel for a family holiday
Minuses
- The Internet is malfunctioning
- Some slot machines are malfunctioning
Sentido Zeynep
Booking rating: 8.7.
The cost of staying in a double room in the summer months starts from $190. The price includes meals.
The hotel has three outdoor pools, a spa, several restaurants and a private sandy beach. On-site leisure options include a tennis court, a golf course and a gym. The rooms are equipped with necessary appliances, air conditioning, TV and mini-bar.
Positive
- Friendly staff
- Clean sea and beach, convenient pier
- Excellent conditions for sports activities
- Diverse cuisine
Minuses
- Room service is affected, and bed linen is not always changed
- Discotheque noise from a nearby hotel
Weather and climate
Belek is characterized by a hot Mediterranean climate with long warm summers and short rainy winters. The swimming season at the resort starts in May, when the water temperature warms up to 21-22 °C, and the air temperature reaches 26-27 °C. The warmest and sunniest months here were July, August and September. During this period, the thermometer does not fall below 31 °C, and the water in the sea pleases with a mark of 28-29 °C.
The month of June is also very comfortable for recreation, with an average daily temperature of 31 °C and fresh evening air of 22 °C. The beaches of Belek will pamper tourists with their warm sea and in October, when the water and air temperature is kept in the range of 25-26 °C. But during this period, precipitation is likely, which can last no more than 3 days. For more detailed information about the weather in Belek, see the table below.
| Month | Average daytime temperature | Average temperature at night | Sea water temperature | Number of sunny days | Number of rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13,1 °C | 8,2 °C | 18 °C | 16 | 7 |
| february | 15 °C | 9,4 °C | 17,2 °C | 16 | 4 |
| March | 17,6 °C | 11 °C | 17 °C | 22 | 4 |
| april | 21,3 °C | 17,6 °C | 18,2 °C | 24 | 2 |
| May | 25,4 °C | 17,4 °C | 21,3 °C | 28 | 1 |
| June | 31,1 °C | 21,7 °C | 25 °C | 30 | 0 |
| July | 35 °C | 25 °C | 28,3 °C | 31 | 0 |
| august | 35,2 °C | 25,1 °C | 29,4 °C | 31 | 0 |
| september | 31,6 °C | 22,2 °C | 28,4 °C | 30 | 1 |
| october | 26 °C | 17,9 °C | 25,4 °C | 27 | 3 |
| November | 20,4 °C | 13,8 °C | 22,3 °C | 24 | 3 |
| december | 15,4 °C | 10,1 °C | 19,7 °C | 20 | 5 |
How to get to Belek from Antalya Airport
If you are fascinated by the photos of the beaches of Belek in Turkey, and you decide to go to the resort on your own, it is important to know in advance how to get there. There are no direct buses from Antalya Airport to the city, so you can get there either by taxi, pre-ordered transfer, or by public transport.
On the Internet, you can find many companies that provide transfers to all destinations in Turkey. So, the price of a trip from the airport to Belek by economy class car starts from $25. Of course, at the air harbor itself there are taxis that will willingly take you in the right direction, but the price tag in this case may be higher and average $35-40.
If you do not want to spend money on the road, you can use public transport, but this will take you longer. Before reaching Belek, you need to go to the main bus station of Antalya, which can be reached from the airport by bus number 600 for $1.5. The bus arrives twice an hour. Once you arrive at the bus station, you can easily purchase a ticket for Dolmush to Belek, which departs from Antalya every 20 minutes. The cost of such a trip will be no more than $4, and the journey time will take about 50 minutes. This is probably the end of the ways to get to the resort of Belek, Turkey.
