Lara Beach is situated 12km east of Antalya and has become a popular destination for beach lovers looking for luxurious hotels. The beach is the resort’s star attraction with its coarse, golden sand that stretches as far as the eye can see. 5 km away Lara Beach Resort is popular with locals for its small number of restaurants, bars and shops. It is an ideal choice for families as the beach shelves gently into the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean. Many of the beaches along this particular stretch benefit from Blue Flag awards for their safety, cleanliness and environmental friendliness.

LARA BEACH - ANTALYA HIGHLIGHTS & SIGHTS

GROOVED MINARET (YIVLI MINARE)/

Stands near a mosque (once a church) right at the centre of the town as a main landmark. The minaret erected on orders of the Seljuk Sultan Aladdin Keykubat I, has been used by most visitors since the 15th century. Near the minaret is Antalya’s Clock Tower and just beside it stands the Ali Pasa Mosque with wonderful Arabic inscription above the windows and door.

OLD TOWN (KALE ICI)

On a gentle slope down to the harbour, you enter a protected historical zone. Gentrification has done wonders for the preservation of the Ottoman building with their wooden balconies, large doors and courtyard gardens. Carpet shops, restaurants, pensions, leather and souvenir shops are a magnet for locals and tourists like. The harbour is very pretty and it was the port of Attaleia, founded by Attalus II of Pergamum in the second century B.C.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Just 1 mile west of the old town, here you will find a marvellous coin collection, super mosaics, marvellous silver and ivory Phrygian figurines are some of the objects arranged by theme and place. Displays of tiles, clothes, and musical instruments and reconstructed Antalya interiors are display in the extensive ethnographic section.

OLYMPUS

The city’s name came from mountain Olympus (Tahtali Dag) which measures 2377 meters. It is famous for its flames known as Yanartas (Chimera) by the locals and has been burning since immemorial in its foothills. It is a natural gas outlet. The ruins scattered around the flame are all that remain of a sanctuary built for Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire.

PHASELIS

Further north of Olympus, is the late addition to the Lycian League in the first century BC. It was long a prosperous part and it is set around three harbours, one extending to a sandy beach, perfect for swimming and picnics.

WATERFALLS

All the streams of the region aim at finding their way into the Mediterranean as they pour down the slopes of the Taurus Mountains, reaching their destination. Duden, Kursunlu & Manavgat waterfalls are well worth a visit on a day trip.

PERGE

10 miles east of Antalya, founded well before the coming of Alexander the Great (333 BC). When Romans took the city in 188 BC they built a 12,000 seated stadium and it is still very impressive today. The massive twin-towered gate, is the only existant Hellenistic building and rises above a colonnaded agora.

TERMESSOS

This ancient city, which lies on top of the mountains with national parks is found some 21 miles from Antalya. Termessos is Turkey’s most intriguingly placed archaeological site. Ruins are scattered, in-accessible and not marked, don’t miss the theatre.

ASPENDOS

Some 30 miles east of Antalya, much older than Perge, the best preserved Roman Theatre in the world is the Aspendos, which is the city’s outstanding monument. What was seen 1800 years ago when it was built, you can see today. It can hold an audience of 20,000 and it is still used for shows and concerts. Aspendos is a very special theatre, with its stage wall covered with rows of miniature temple fronts that held statues in their niches.

SHOPPING

Some of the best shopping may be found in the Kaleici district, near the city walls. Meander down through the side streets in the old quarters where it is possible to find anything your heart desires. Old Turkish kilims, original gold jewelry, leather products, handmade wooden items as well as traditional Turkish handicrafts.