A Belek holiday is not just sea and sun. For anyone who wants to experience Turkish culture up close, the region offers a rich spectrum from the hammam to the bazaar, from Ottoman streets to the world's oldest temple.
The centuries-old hammam ritual — sauna, body scrub, foam massage and oil massage — is the most local way to shed holiday fatigue. Many guests try the hammam in the first days of their holiday to prepare their skin for the sun.
Kaleiçi, Antalya's historic core, offers a delightful half-day of exploration with its narrow lanes, restored Ottoman houses, the Fluted Minaret and Hadrian's Gate. Most city tours combine Kaleiçi with the Düden Waterfalls in a single day.
The weekly markets of Serik and Manavgat are the most authentic places for spices, olive oil, textiles and handicrafts. Bargaining is part of the culture — don't be shy, negotiate with a smile.
With a fly-and-return day tour to Şanlıurfa you can stand before Göbeklitepe, the oldest known temple in human history. Standing among 12,000-year-old megaliths may be the most striking memory of your holiday.
Let your muscles unwind after a day in the sun: a scrub on the heated marble stone, mountains of foam and an oil massage. Ten to fifteen minutes from Belek hotels, open every hour of the day.
For larger families and groups of friends: a 15-seat air-conditioned minibus with an experienced driver, reserved for you alone for 8 hours. You set the plan; the driver waits, and fuel and parking are on us.
Board a plane in Antalya to see the oldest known settlement on earth and fly home the same day: Göbeklitepe, Balıklıgöl and the bazaar of Şanlıurfa. Priced per person, passport required.
