Antalya

Why go

Go to watch the sunset on Antalya’s old harbour, and don’t leave before trying some Piyaz, a crushed sesame seed salad dish that happens to be a local speciality.

When to go

Early spring in Antalya offers pleasant, mild days, making it possible to ski the Taurus Mountains in the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon. By July, however, the region is scorching. Siestas are virtually mandatory.

Best for

Sightseeing , Nightlife , Beaches , Budget

How to get there

Antalya is served by Bayındır International, 20km from the city centre. There are flights from London Heathrow to Istanbul, Ankara and Hamburg and onward connecting flights to Bayındır.

Shopping

Antalya’s population of 600,000 nearly triples during the summer, but not all retail experiences are geared towards western consumers looking for laptops between mojitos on the beach. Tolerate the kitschy flags of the world strung from the corrugated ceiling of what passes for Antalya’s covered bazaar – Turkey is famous for leather and gold, and the salesman in Antalya are pretty docile compared to their colleagues in Istanbul. Stores along the main drags in the city centre stock western brands and will gladly take your sterling.

Alternative Perspectives

St Nicholas of Myre – a bishop from the Antalya province town known today as Demre – is not only the inspiration for Santa Claus but the patron saint of thieves.

Must see

It’s truly easy to grab a spot on Konyaalti beach and cling to it until the sunscreen runs dry, but no visit to the sea would be complete without a day trip to the ruins, mountains and waterfalls that ring the city. Consider Perge or Termessos.

Family activities

With playgrounds and go karts, not to mention Aqualand where you can swim with dolphins (11am-3pm) – Antalya Beach Park is the place to start. While Antalya 2000 (Fener mah, Özgürlük BulvarÏ Laura, Alışveriş Merkezi, No:136, +90 (0)242 324 4000) only has three movie screens, chances are good that one will be showing the latest Hollywood blockbuster. There’s also the city park. Finally, Lara Beach is hosting an ‘Anatolian Legends’ theme exhibition for sand sculptors from around the world between 14 June – 15 October 2006 (10am-midnight, +90 (0)242 349 5351, www.larasandcity.com).

Sports activities

Golf , Diving , Windsurfing , Surfing , Sailing

Local customs

Tipping. A tip of ten per cent is customary in restaurants and some places will add between five and ten per cent to the bill. Cab drivers don’t expect to keep the change and may even round in your favour.

Etiquette. Queues in Turkey are usually chaotic affairs. Some might even call them optional, given that Turks generally jostle around kiosks rather than queuing up. Do the same if you don’t want to stand there waiting on principle.