Belek

In its present appearance, Belek appeared on the map in 1984, when the government program to develop tourism in Turkey came into force. The resort was constructed literally in a few years from scratch. It was initially conceived as expensive and fashionable, with a hotel not lower than four stars, excellent service, and infrastructure.

The uniqueness of Belek is that all natural landscapes have been preserved during its creation. Nature reserves around the resort are home to 574 species of plants and many birds, including rare ones. On Belek's beaches, the turtles of the endangered Caretta caretta species lay their eggs. Ecologists control the functioning of these tourist areas, and the nesting places are carefully protected.

In 1994, Belek got a new round of development with the opening of the National Golf Club. This noticeably raised the status of the resort, attracting new respectable tourists. By the end of 2019, there were 12 modern and upscale golf courses. Eight more are scheduled to open. The first line of hotels are architectural and design masterpieces with the appropriate infrastructure and service level. Thanks to the mineral springs, Belek also has the status of a SPA resort.

The high season of beach holidays lasts from April to October. The especially active inflow of tourists begins in early May when the water parks open. But the spring and fall heat in this area can be deceptive. With an average daytime temperature of +21°C, the nights in April and May and September and October are quite cold with a temperature of +10-13°C. But the evenings are perfect for leisurely walks and sightseeing trips. The golf season in Belek comes with the fall, when the heat goes down, and lasts until the end of winter.

Jazz lovers should come here in June for the International Jazz Festival. Its venue is the stunningly beautiful Aspendos Amphitheatre. And in August and September, the Opera and Ballet Festival is in the same location. International dance events are also not uncommon here. February is the time for the International Belek Salsa Festival, and May is dedicated to Oriental dancing and Oriental dreams.

• Get a perfect tan. Almost the entire coastline of the resort is divided among the hotels. The beaches are marked with blue flags, safe and equipped to the highest standard: sun loungers, towels, sun shelters, showers, restrooms, cafes, and bars. The guests get all this for free. Guests from other hotels should be prepared for the security guards to ask them to leave the area politely. The beaches on both sides of the coastline belong to the city. They are almost as good as their private counterparts, but getting to them is a bit more challenging.
• Join an elite sport by playing golf on one of the 12 courses in Belek. The National Golf Club, Antalya Golf Club, and Lykia Links Antalya are sure to please even the most demanding professionals. Beginners will love the teaching program offered by TAT Golf Belek International Golf Club.
• Have an adventure day at Köprülü Canyon National Park and Reserve. One can admire the beautiful nature here and go rock climbing, horseback riding, and rafting on the mountain river Köprüçay.
• Go on a safari through the picturesque surroundings of the resort on motorcycles, jeeps, or quad bikes.
• Taste authentic cuisine outside the hotel. You can do it in style in one of the popular restaurants in town (Adana Ocakbasi or Deniz). Or buy a traditional sesame bagel or doner kebab (fried meat on a flatbread) from a street vendor.
• Buy souvenirs at the bazaar between Aligentikaya and Atatürk streets. You should pay attention to the brightly painted dishes, jewelry with semi-precious stones, carpets, hookahs, traditional sweets, spices, and Turkish vodka raki.
• Relax and recover by visiting one of the many SPA centers at the resort, or spend a day in Turkish baths. They actively use the healing properties of local springs and thalassotherapy. 
• Have fun with the whole family at the Troy Water Park or The Land of Legends Theme Park.
• Allocate a day to visit the ruins of ancient cities near Belek.