Belek is famous for golf and hotels, yet the area actually has some of Antalya's longest and best-kept sandy beaches. Add the coves, river mouths and islands you can reach with a short boat trip, and the options multiply. Here are the spots worth trying for a proper swim.
The public beach just south of Belek centre is ideal for families with children thanks to its fine sand and gently deepening sea. Mornings are calm, sunbeds and showers are available, and the Blue Flag sections are regularly inspected for water quality.
The Kadriye side is livelier than Belek, lined with beach clubs and watersports stations. It is the most practical area if you want to try jet ski, parasailing and similar activities.
Boat tours departing from Belek harbour stop for swimming in coves you cannot reach from the shore. Charter a private boat and you set the route yourself, enjoying a day away from the crowds. Swimming in the cool river mouth is a completely different experience on a hot summer day.
Suluada, off the coast of Adrasan, is the most talked-about island on social media with its white sand and turquoise water. It is visited on a full-day tour from Belek with lunch served on board. In summer we recommend booking a few days ahead.
Leaving from Adrasan Beach, the boat heads for Suluada, the island whose white sand and turquoise shallows earned it the Maldives nickname. A full hour of swimming in the main bay, then two more coves and lunch on deck.
Belek harbour is ten minutes away, and from there the boat is yours for five or six hours: beaches, the river mouth, a rod for anyone who wants one, and lunch ordered à la carte.
A calm six-hour cruise that starts on the Aksu River and sails as far as the spot where the Düden Waterfall tips off the cliffs into the sea. Two swim stops and a Turkish lunch on board come with it.
