Thursday, June 12 (Antalya) – Antalya, the southern region of Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea, is home to many towns and beaches. During our stay, Tali and I wanted to see as much as we could, while still having ample beach time to relax at the end of our trip to Turkey.
Phaselis has two beaches – one that is rockier and one that is more sandy. We relaxed on the rocky beach that was surrounded by ancient Greek ruins (see my post on "Touring Ancient Ruins and Flaming Rocks in Antalya" for more on the history). I liked this beach because it was small and quiet, and the water was very calm. There was one small area where you could buy drinks or souvenirs, but overall it was a very self-serve beach where people bring their own provisions.
Phaselis has two beaches – one that is rockier and one that is more sandy. We relaxed on the rocky beach that was surrounded by ancient Greek ruins (see my post on "Touring Ancient Ruins and Flaming Rocks in Antalya" for more on the history). I liked this beach because it was small and quiet, and the water was very calm. There was one small area where you could buy drinks or souvenirs, but overall it was a very self-serve beach where people bring their own provisions.
Beach in Phaselis lined by ancient ruins
The stretch of beach in Olympos / Cirali is a nice place to stay for a few days if you are looking for peace and quiet. There are hotels and restaurants lining the coast, but in a very low-key / laid-back way. There weren’t many people out and about which made for a really relaxing hour in the sun. The beach is nicer and larger than in Phaselis, and there was a mix of people who seemed to be staying at the hotels and those who just came from neighboring towns to use the beach.
Beach in Olympos surrounded by mountains and more ruins (to the right, not in photo)
Lara Beach in Antalya is known for its five-star resorts, many of which are constructed with themes like the Titanic. When we visited this beach, we somehow ended up in a different part and didn’t get to see the fancy hotels. But we still got to lay out in the sun and under an umbrella and experience a more popular and crowded beachfront. My favorite part of this beach was actually just inland of the sand. There is a big park with dozens of picnic tables set up. Next to each table is a brick oven for grilling your own barbeque! There is even a kiosk where you can buy all the grilling supplies (not the food, though!) to make a perfect beachfront BBQ!
Sprawling Lara Beach
Personal picnic areas and brick ovens for grilling at Lara Beach
I would have loved to visit the main beach at Lara Beach if I had more time, but I’m really happy with our beach-hopping along the coast!
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