This is the fourth time I have returned to Turkey. I first came to Antalya in 2010, and I want to emphasize that every time I get to know this country from a new perspective. Trips to Turkey are always full of vivid impressions, hospitality and national flavor. This time we bought a tour with a friend quite spontaneously - it was difficult to refuse the offer, and we wanted to relax for a long time. Having packed all the essentials within two days, we were looking forward to our flight at the airport. The excitement was pleasant, because we flew to a previously unknown resort - Belek. Unlike Alanya, where, as the travel agent has argued more than once, economy class hotels and generally simpler, Belek promised us an incredible premium vacation in a beautiful room overlooking the sea.
Airports near Belek
- Antalya
- Isparta
The vast majority of tourists and those who just need to be in Belek arrive at the main international airport of Antalya. In addition to it, there are several more regional airports, but their communication is mostly local.
It is better to fly through Isparta airport in case of emergency or force majeure. Since to Belek you will have to cover a distance of 150-170 km (depending on where you live), which will significantly increase both material and time costs.
Moreover, the prices for tickets to Antalya are always democratic, so there will be no point in such savings. You can book and buy air tickets, for example, here or search for relevant offers in the browser search engine. Moreover, the airport of Antalya and the resort of Belek are separated by only 23-40 km of the way, depending on the chosen hotel.
Antalya airport
The airport is very well maintained and beautiful, besides it is the main point where tourists arrive at the resorts of the Mediterranean coast, such as Tekirova, Kirish, Goynuk, Beldibi, Belek, Side, Alanya and others. In Europe, it is the 15th airport in terms of the number of passengers served per year.
It is impossible to get lost at the airport, signs are everywhere, security and help desk. In addition, the locals understand Russian without any problems. Taxis are waiting in line at the exit from the airport building. Tourist transfers are located further away. All visitors are greeted with appropriate signs.
How to get to Belek from Antalya airport by bus
Public transport from the airport to the resort is not provided, except for a group transfer ordered in advance from the tour operator or the meeting party.
There is no direct drive to the resort of Belek. Using the Havaş buses, you can get to the center of Antalya. Most flights arrive at Terminal 1, the distance between the terminals is rather big.
The Havaş bus stop is located opposite the Domestic departure passenger entrance. Leaving the station area, you need to turn right and walk along the airport building. According to the schedule, buses No. 600 leave every 30 minutes from 8.00 to 23.00. The exact timetable, corresponding to an interval of half an hour, is indicated on the information boards at the airport.
In addition, there are route taxis - Dolmus, which are no different from a regular minibus. They will deliver to the nearest public transport stop. This type of transport is very often overcrowded.
The final point of public transport in Belek is a bus stop called Belek Otobüs Durağı. In Antalya, it is best to take a bus or dolmush to Belek opposite the Deepo shopping center, where minibuses and transit buses are connected. These are Belek-Bartin and Belek-Edirne. They run every 45-60 minutes. The latest flights Belek - Bartin: departure at 21.45, arrival in Antalya - 22.21, Belek - Edirne: departure at 21.45, arrival - 23.00. Both routes go through the center of Antalya and gladly pick up late tourists.
Buying a ticket
You can buy a ticket at the Belek Otobüs Durağı bus stop or at the Deepo shopping center in the center of Antalya, as well as at the Antalya bus station.
Fare
One-way fare on Havas buses is 10 liras (about 3 euros). Travel to Dolmush will cost 13 liras (3.8 euros). The price of a bus ticket from the center of Antalya to Belek is 5 lira (1.5 euros).
How to get to Belek from Antalya airport by taxi
The taxi rank is located right outside the airport exit on the right. The cars have a distinctive yellow paint job. The parking lot has a Russian-speaking administrator and a stand with all basic prices. Travel time from the airport to the resort is no more than an hour, depending on the traffic load.
Taxi fare
For taxi services, you will need to pay no more than 100 Turkish liras (29-30 euros).
How to get to Belek by rented car from Antalya airport
Renting a car at the airport will not be difficult. The cost of renting a car per day ranges from 80-100 Turkish liras (23-30 euros) when it comes to a small car.
Isparta airport
The airport is small, smaller than Antalya airport, but also has international status. There are more local population at the airport, fewer tourists. There are no problems with a taxi, unlike public transport. It is not provided here. Free trade shops are much more modest than in Istanbul and Antalya.
But this beauty can be seen in the province of Isparta:
How to get to Belek from Isparta airport by bus
There are no regular buses from Isparta airport to Belek resort. The exception is when a tourist operator meets visitors at the airport on a group transfer.
How to get to Belek from Isparta airport by taxi
Travel time from the airport to the resort is 2-2.5 hours, depending on road conditions and traffic jams.
Fare
For a taxi ride, you will have to pay about 500 Turkish liras (145 euros).
How to get to Belek by rental car from Isparta airport
The car rental service is located at the airport, the rates for car rental are at the stand and correspond to 80-100 liras (23-30 euros) per day. A car at a level higher than a subcompact and small-sized car will cost 120-150 Turkish liras (35-45 euros).
If you plan your trip in advance, you can avoid many unwanted nuances. This time, although we bought a ticket in a hurry, we finally decided to try to rent a car for free movement around Belek. We did not regret it at all, because on the way we managed to enjoy the incredible landscapes and be left to ourselves, we got to the Kurshunle waterfall (about 20 km away) - I really liked it! We booked the car the day before departure. We took care of good roaming in the trip in advance, so it was not difficult to book a car. The prices and conditions of this service can be viewed on special resources on the Internet. You can rent a car here or on other similar sites.
Belek is a very small resort town on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the province of Antalya, which almost entirely consists of large hotels. It is in Belek that all-inclusive vouchers are often sold. But what can you do here other than spending all your time on site? You can go to with a lot of entertainment, especially since it is very close. Below I will tell you how you can easily and quickly get from Belek to Antalya.
The distance between the two largest resort towns is only 42 km - sheer trifles by Turkish standards.
This is how the route looks on the map:
2. How to get there
2.1. By bus
The most "predictable" option: at the bus station in Belek (called Belek Otobüs Durağı) buy a ticket and take a bus or minibus to Antalya.
In addition, you can "catch" the desired bus at any point on Turizm cadessi street, simply by waving your hand. Minibuses in this direction run approximately every 15 minutes. Regular buses (for example, from KamilKoc) - every hour at 8.00, 9.00 and so on until 20.00.
How long does it take to get to Antalya? In terms of time, the bus journey takes 40-50 minutes, and the cost will cost about 30-40 liras.
By the way, “transit” buses also go through Belek to Antalya - from, and.
2.2. By taxi
In time, a taxi ride to Antalya airport will take about half an hour and will cost 50-60 liras. Note that Belek is considered an expensive resort relative to the nearest Alanya or. Therefore, taxi services here will cost much more than, say, in Alanya.
If you do not want to look for a taxi in the city, you can pre-book an individual transfer via the Internet at (cost from 40 euros).
2.3. Hotel transfer
Most hotels in Turkey have their own buses that take tourists directly to the airport, so if you do not need Antalya itself, but its airport, then you can go on a special transfer. You need to order this service in advance. But if you are on a package tour, then the transfer will already be included in the price of the tour, so you should not worry about it additionally.
And if you need to go directly to Antalya, the hotel will offer you a taxi service. Taxis from the hotel are usually more expensive than regular government taxis that can be hailed on the street.
2.4. As part of the excursion
Hotel guides will certainly insist on this option, citing the fact that public transport in Belek runs rarely and is packed to capacity during the season.
In fact, this is not at all the case. The distance between the cities is small, buses and minibuses run regularly in this direction, and the journey itself is inexpensive. In my opinion, it is much more convenient and cheaper to get from Belek to Antalya on your own.
But if you are going to Antalya on specific excursions, and not just walk around or, for example, go to shopping centers, then in some cases it will be more profitable to go as part of an excursion than to get there on your own. Because in the case of an independent trip around Antalya itself, you will also have to move independently, spend extra time on moving, and as part of the excursion, all the logistics have already been thought out for you. The only thing worth considering is that all organized excursions necessarily include visits to shops that you may not need at all, and you will have less time to visit the sights.
2.5. By rented car
If you have international license, then renting a car would be an ideal option to drive from Belek to Antalya for one day. You will not be tied to the transport schedule, and getting around in Antalya will be much easier than dealing with local transport.
You can see the cost of booking a car and order a car (cars are available in Belek costing from 38 euros per day).
2.6. With fellow travelers by car
3. Where to buy tickets
Bus tickets can be bought either at the bus station in Belek or directly from the driver.
4. How to get from Antalya bus station to the city center
The final point of the bus from Belek to Antalya is Antalya Otogarı bus station. Although there are buses that go to the airport or to.
This is how the entrance to the Antalya bus station looks like:
The easiest way to get from Otogar to the city center is by light rail. We leave the bus terminal, focusing on the AntRay signs, turn left and go around the terminal to the tram stop.
In time, a tram ride from Antalya Otogarı to Ismetpasa station in the center of Antalya will take half an hour. Tickets can be bought at the turnstiles at the Otogar tram stop.
Detailed information about Antalya bus station can be found in the article "".
Just in case: from the bus station to every 30-60 minutes bus number 600 (route Havalimani - Otogar) leaves. Travel time is about an hour, and the regularity of the flight depends on the time of day.
5. Conclusion
In my opinion, it is more convenient and cheaper to get from Belek to Antalya by bus or local minibus. Both vehicles run regularly and often, and the journey takes less than an hour. You can take a dolmush or a bus not only at the bus station, but also near the hotel or on the main street of Belek, simply by waving your hand to the driver.
A taxi to Antalya is unreasonably expensive, and the excursion involves an unnecessary waste of time collecting passengers from all hotels on the way and a mandatory visit to Turkish shops.
How did you get from Belek to Antalya? What excursions did you go on? Write in the comments!By the way, if you are just going to Antalya, but have not yet chosen a hotel, then I advise you to look at the hotellook search engine (there you can find the best deals from 40 booking systems) or choose one of these hotels with a high rating:
Just 45 kilometers from Antalya, the cozy town of Belek is located: it is famous not only for its sandy beaches and warm sea, but also for the best golf courses and themed clubs in Turkey. The road from the resort capital of Antalya to Belek will not take long, but despite this, all tourists choose different types of transport. The easiest way, of course, is to order a transfer from Antalya to Belek, below we will tell you about everything in detail.
Pricing table on the transfer Antalya Airport - Belek
Transfer type
Description
Micro Inexpensive transfer for a couple or a family with a child. RUB 2403
Economy Cheap option. Maximum: 4 people, 3 bags. RUB 2403
Comfort For long-distance travel in comfort. RUB 2928
Business A comfortable car for business trips. 13212 RUB
Premium Premium cars for VIP clients - Mercedes, BMW 7, Audi A7. RUB 28,075
Minivan 4pax Ideal for 4 people, 4 pieces of luggage. 2478 RUB
Minibus 7pax Minibus for 7 persons, 7 places for bags. RUB 2703
Premium Minibus 6pax Business class transfer for a group of 4-6 people. 2478 RUB
Minibus 10pax A universal option for a group of up to 10 people. RUB 2778
Option for independent tourists - taxi
There are a lot of taxi rental agencies and private taxi drivers in Antalya. The numbers of the first are widely represented on the Internet and at the receptions of large hotels, and private traders can be found near train stations, airports and markets.
Pros of taking a taxi
- Prevalence, simple order form. There is nothing easier than calling a taxi service and ordering a car.
- Comfort. Having ordered a car, you will be the only passengers - the whole salon will be at your disposal.
- Speed. A car travels from Antalya to Belek in about 30 minutes.
Minuses
- Price. Gasoline prices in Turkey are high, which means that a taxi ride will cost you a lot. The cost of the trip is from $ 50. And if you need to travel from 21.00 to 7.00, you will have to pay at the night rate, which is one and a half times more expensive.
- Security. Taxis are extremely inconvenient for families with children. After all, it is very rare to find a car equipped with a child seat. And Turkish drivers often have problems with technical inspection ...
- Not all taxi drivers thoroughly know the area and some simply refuse to take customers directly to the hotel.
Option for budget travelers - bus
There is a lot of such transport in Antalya: you can opt for dolmus (a kind of minibuses) or any intercity bus, the terminal station of which is Belek Otobüs Durağı.
Pros of public transport
- Low cost. On average, the price of a bus is 10 liras, and you can get even cheaper with dolmus.
- Availability. In order to take a minibus or bus, it is not at all necessary to buy a ticket in advance at the station. It is enough to get to the highway, and then wave your hand and explain to the stopped driver where you need to get.
- Immersion in color. If you decide to get to know Turkey from the inside - then this way of getting around is just for you. Local residents often use public transport, and the bus stops at several other settlements along the way.
Minuses
- Comfort. This transport is for true lovers of extreme sports: it is usually hot and stuffy inside the buses, and all the seats can be occupied.
- Speed. A bus to Belek takes about twice as long as a transfer or taxi.
- Security. Public transport in Turkey is in a rather poor condition. And not a single tourist is safe from the fact that the bus breaks off right in the middle of the highway.
Option for wise tourists - transfer
A personal driver will meet you right near the airport, help you load things and quickly take you to the door of any hotel.
Benefits of travel by transfer
- You can pre-order a car directly on the website. At the same time, choosing the make of the car, the number of people who will be with you and indicating the presence of children (so that the service can provide you with child seats).
- All cars are on a special register and are guaranteed to be inspected!
- The price is fixed, paid on the spot, the driver will not be able to cheat anything.
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How to get to Belek
Antalya International Airport, closest to Belek, is located 30 km west of the resort. Direct flights from Moscow are made by Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlans and other companies (travel time is 3 hours 30 minutes, the cost of a round-trip ticket is from 280 USD). Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines, VIM Airlines and Nordwind Airlines fly from St. Petersburg to Antalya (4 hours 10 minutes, from 350 USD). Prices on the page are for October 2018.
From the airport to the city
There is no direct bus service between the airport and Belek, the easiest and most comfortable way to get to the resort is to take a taxi. The journey takes 30-40 minutes and costs 60-120 TRY. The budget option is to take city bus No. 600 (2 times per hour, 45-60 minutes, 32 TRY) or the bus of the private company Havas (office website in English, 1 time per hour, 13 TRY) to get to the bus station in Antalya and there take a bus or dolmush to Belek (4 times per hour, 50-60 minutes, 26-39 TRY).
Another way to get from the airport to the city is by bus or taxi to the bus stop on the D400 Antalya - Manavgat highway (located 3 km from the airport), where all buses and dolmushi that go to Belek stop.
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For many, the road to Belek passes through Istanbul, from where you can fly to the resort by Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines (up to 30 times a day, 1 hour 20 minutes, one way ticket from 150 TRY) or take a bus of the METRO company (office website in English) to the bus station in Antalya (6 night flights, 10-11 hours, 117 TRY), then by local transport to Belek.
Search for flights to Antalya (the nearest airport to Belek)
Transport
The village is connected with the surrounding towns by dolmushi, the final stop of which is at the intersection of Turism Caddesi and Molla Fevzi Caddesi streets. They can be stopped on the street with a wave of the hand, the driver gets the money for the trip (10-20 TRY depending on the distance). At the intercity bus station on the street. Turism Caddesi (near the roundabout) bus stops following the routes Ankara-Alanya, Afyonkarahisar-Manavgat, Bursa-Alanya, Kastamonu-Manavgat, Manavgat-Eregli, Serik-Chamlyhemshin and Canakkale-Alanya. True, only 1-2 times a day. If necessary, you can go to the regional center Serik (7 km from Belek), located on the busy D400 highway. Dozens of intercity routes from all over the country pass through its bus station every day.
The most unusual form of public transport in the resort is a leisurely tractor with a trolley adapted to transport people. From morning to evening, he collects tourists from hotels on the first line of the beach and takes them to the village of Belek free of charge.
In front of each hotel in the resort there is a taxi rank and a fixed-price stand. The cost of the trip to the bus station in Serik is 13-20 TRY, to the center of Antalya - 46-65 TRY, in Side - 52-65 TRY, to Kemer - 98-125 TRY, to the archaeological zone of Perge - 33-46 TRY, in Aspendos - 20-33 TRY, combined trip Belek-Aspendos-Perge-Belek - 130 TRY. The night tariff is 50% more expensive. You can pay for travel in dollars, euros and Turkish lira.
There are no municipal service and private bike rental companies in Belek. Many hotels (Limak Arcadia Golf & Sport Resort, Belek Beach Resort, Maritim Pine Beach Resort and others) offer bike rentals starting at TRY 28 per hour or TRY 60 per day. There are also unusual examples, for example, a 4-wheeled bicycle for 4 riders.
Belek Maps
Rent a Car
If you need a car for the whole period of your vacation, it is convenient to rent it right at the Antalya airport. For one-time trips around the surroundings - to the ruins of Aspendos and Perge, in Side or shopping centers, it is better to use the hotel's offer - there is a rental office in almost all of them. The lowest prices are in local companies. An economy class car Renault-Clio will cost you TRY 214 per day or TRY 1400 per week. You can pay in cash, but in this case you will have to leave a security deposit of TRY 600-2800. There are also international offices in Belek Avis and Europcar. Renting a car of a similar class is more expensive here - 417 and 1800 TRY, respectively, but there is no need to worry about its technical condition.
The cost of a liter of A-95 gasoline is 6.25 TRY, diesel fuel - 5.50-5.90 TRY. The fine for speeding is 154-90 TRY, for parking under a prohibition sign - from 70 TRY, for not wearing a seat belt - 50-70 TRY.
All parking lots in Belek are free, there are almost no traffic jams. The local police practice the installation of portable speeding radars on the roads. At some distance behind them, a mobile post is located, stopping and ruthlessly penalizing violators. For those who do not know Turkish, the police have prepared a "cheat sheet" in English.
Connectivity and Wi-Fi
To save on calls to Russia, you should buy a SIM card from local mobile operators. Largest Turkcell offers the largest coverage in Turkey. Vodafone has good coverage in cities and resorts, but in rural areas it can be disconnected. The wide coverage area and affordable prices of the Avea operator have made it popular among young people and tourists. Sims are sold at operators' offices, supermarkets and newsstands for 10-30 TRY. At the same time, a tariff package is purchased at the cost of 10-50 TRY, which includes a certain number of minutes of calls and Internet traffic. With Avea's Alo Avrupa tariff package (TRY 29), a call to Russia costs only TRY 0.17 per minute.
According to Turkish law, a phone imported into the country must be registered at the operator's office, which costs 150 TRY. Otherwise, after 60 days, the local SIM card will be blocked.
You can call Russia from street payphones using Turk Telecom cards, which are sold in all stores. A 50 TRY card is enough for 60 minutes of calls to landlines or 30 minutes to mobiles. Free WI-Fi is available in all hotels, in most restaurants, cafes and bars, on many beaches.
Belek Hotels
The pride and main attraction of Belek is the five-star hotels lined up on the first line. Each of them looks like a small state with its own territory, beach, swimming pools and a bunch of everything necessary for complete detachment from the outside world. True, living in such a state is not cheap - at the peak of the season, a double room costs at least 920 TRY per day. As an undeniable bonus - all-inclusive meals.
4 * hotels are almost not inferior to their more "star" brothers. Their main disadvantage is their distance from the sea. And although everyone has their own beach, you have to get there either on foot (10-15 minutes) or by taking the hotel's free shuttle. All inclusive rates are TRY 855 per night. This is probably why numbers in "four-stars" are the most scarce in Belek.
3 * hotels in Belek can be counted on the fingers of one hand. They are located 10 minutes' drive from the sea, and a full board room starts at 420 TRY. Despite the modest prices and small areas, hotels always have a restaurant and a swimming pool.
Beaches
The coastal strip of Belek with a length of 16 km is almost completely divided between 5 * hotels. Their wide beaches with golden sand and gentle entry into the sea are framed on one side by pine and eucalyptus forests, on the other - by the purest blue sea. Every evening the sand is cleaned and leveled with special machines. The infrastructure of the beaches includes a lifeguard service, awnings and sun umbrellas, beach towel racks, sun loungers, changing rooms, showers, toilets, cafes and minibars. Guests of all-inclusive hotels can use all this absolutely free of charge.
"Strangers" from other hotels are easily recognized by the color of their bracelets and are decisively driven out by the guards.
For guests of hotels on the second line and the residents of Belek themselves, there are two public beaches - in the east and west of the coastal strip. You can get to them by dolmus, which run every 30 minutes, or free shuttles from hotels. The cleanliness and infrastructure of these beaches is not much inferior to the "five stars". True, for umbrellas, sun loungers, lunch in a cafe, cocktails in a bar and other beach pleasures you have to pay separately. But there are football and volleyball grounds, picnic areas in the shade of pine trees, go-kart tracks and a variety of water activities - windsurfing, kiting, aquabikes, bananas and bagels. Renting an umbrella and two sun loungers on a public beach - 43 TRY per day, banana rides - 56 TRY, flying behind a boat by parachute - about 200 TRY.
Shopping
Respectable Belek is not the cheapest place to shop. Prices here are about 25% higher than in neighboring Antalya. Shopping can be done without leaving the hotel territory - each of them has shops, boutiques and souvenir shops. Better yet, go to the village of Belek itself. Its streets are, in fact, one large counter with a huge selection of jewelry, quality clothing from leather, fur, textiles. An unusually large assortment of blouses, jeans, tops, skirts and, of course, swimwear.
Local specifics - shops selling golf apparel, accessories and sports equipment.
In addition to Turkish brands, there are also world brands, but their prices are excessively high. Many of the stores represent famous Turkish retail chains such as LC Waikiki. Almost every one has a Russian-speaking staff. You can pay in Turkish lira, dollars, euros and even rubles.
With such an abundance of shops, it is difficult to leave Belek without souvenirs. Among the most popular are all kinds of ceramics, Turkish sweets, embroidered slippers with curved noses, Turks for brewing coffee with a copper bottom, fruit teas and traditional tulip-shaped cups for them. On Saturdays, from 9:00 to 15:00, a bazaar is held on the streets that diverge from the mosque. At Mehmet Akif Ersoy Caddesi, there is a brisk trade in vegetables and fruits, and on Ataturk Caddesi Street - things. The initial price, as elsewhere in the East, is conditional, but Belek's sellers, accustomed to wealthy buyers, are reluctant to make concessions.
Cuisine and restaurants
It is difficult to stay hungry in all inclusive hotels in Belek. But sooner or later, many have a desire to break out of these tenacious embraces. For this there are a la carte restaurants, the menu of which includes the best dishes of world cuisine - from Turkish and European to Japanese and Mexican. But do not forget - Belek resort is very expensive, and the prices in such restaurants bite. A romantic dinner with signature dishes from the chef, with a sea view and wine will cost 300-500 TRY per person.
Even if a service charge is included in the à la carte restaurant bill, this money is unlikely to reach the waiter. Therefore, a tip is quite appropriate.
Reasonable prices and authentic cuisine can be found outside of hotels. There are several interesting restaurants and cafes in the center of Belek, enjoying a high reputation among tourists. One of the most popular is Adana Ocakbasi, which specializes in meat dishes. Especially good in it are tavuk shish-kebab chicken kebab, fried kanat izgara wings, caburga-kebab lamb ribs and, especially for vegetarians, vegetable sebzeli-kebab. Lunch here will cost you quite humane 100 TRY. Deniz restaurant cooks fish and seafood, and Pinokyo cooks lasagne (TRY 30) and spaghetti (TRY 20-23), and no worse than in Italy itself. You can have a snack on the go by buying a bagel with sesame seeds from street vendors (2-3 TRY) or doner kebab - fried meat wrapped in a cake (10-12 TRY).
Entertainment and attractions of Belek
It is wrong to believe that Belek is an exclusively beach holiday. In 30 km from it lie the ruins of ancient Perge, founded by the Achaean Greeks who fled from the defeated Troy. Like 2000 years ago, the entrance to it lies through the South Gate with huge round towers. From them begins a colonnaded street leading to the agora, where popular meetings were once held and the incendiary speeches of the Apostle Paul sounded. Under the rule of Rome and the patronage of the goddess Artemis - "Queen of Perge", the city experienced its heyday. A significant part of its buildings belongs to this era: baths, the remains of temples and fortress walls, nympheries, a theater and the largest stadium in Asia Minor.
From the East Gate of Perge, the road begins to the ancient Sillyon, which lies on a plateau about 80 m high. This city of ancient Pamphylia was hardly touched by the shovel of the archaeologist and, turning off the beaten path, it is easy to feel like Indiana Jones. In 1969, Sillyon was badly damaged by a landslide, which demolished part of the amphitheater; care should be taken when examining it.
The Aspendos Amphitheater, which is 18 km from Belek, is perfectly preserved. By its gigantic size, one can judge how big this city was in ancient times. Today, performances and concerts are still being staged on the 2,000-year-old stage. Behind the amphitheater, down the side of the mountain, are scattered ruins of agora, thermal baths and basilica. And below on the plain is the largest aqueduct in Anatolia, "made by the slaves of Rome."
The hit of the season is the annual International Opera and Ballet Festival, where the best theater groups of the world perform.
Aspendos lies in the lower reaches of the Kopruchay River, which in its upper reaches makes its way through a picturesque mountain canyon. At the narrowest point, the ancient Roman bridge Oluk, 27 m high, is thrown across it. Köprüçay is a popular rafting destination (price from a hotel with transfer, lunch and insurance starts from 140 TRY; on the spot it is about 10% cheaper). The descent starts 100 m from the Roman bridge, where the river widens to form a quiet backwater. The length of the route is about 11 km, the category of difficulty is 2-3 points on the international scale.
6 things to do in Belek
- Enjoy the sea, sun and clean air at one of the best resorts on the Turkish Riviera.
- Grind your heels on the different-sized sand of the local beaches, which burns on a hot afternoon and gives you coolness if you dig deeper.
- Taste delicious trout, which is found in abundance in the local river Kopruchay and, accordingly, is often served at the table of tourists arriving in Belek.
- Admire the Köprülü canyon, which stretches along the river for 14 km. By the way, this is just one of the seven picturesque gorges formed by the mountain river.
- Go to a semi-wild beach 8 km from the city, belonging to the Robinson Club Hotel and, if you're lucky, get on a guided walk through the picturesque surroundings.
- Dare to rafting - however, with experienced instructors, the water adventure promises to be more exciting than really dangerous.
Spa centers
In the names of many Belek hotels there is the word “spa”, which means that for relaxation and restoration of mental strength, their guests can recover from their room right in slippers and a bathrobe. However, customers "from the street" will also be welcome here.
The spa at the resort is not cheap, but some hotels include some of the procedures in the list of free services. In addition to the usual spa treatments, thalassotherapy is actively used here. Algae, mud and sea water intensively saturate the skin with microelements, accelerate metabolism, strengthen immunity and promote weight loss.
The cost of treatments in the spa at the Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa: hot stone massage - TRY 400, foam massage in the hammam - TRY 180, seaweed wrap - TRY 440, thermolifting - TRY 600, face or breast care - TRY 320.
The treatment programs include the most popular courses: "Anti-cellulite", "Weight loss", "Antistress", "Anti-tobacco", "Detox", "Antiallergy", "Young mother". Their optimal duration is 6-10 days. Among the most effective procedures: Balinese massage, intense shiroabhyanga massage, which has a positive effect on the hormonal system and is especially recommended after childbirth, Charcot's shower and afusion massage under seawater jets with variable pressure and the use of aromatic oils. Turkish baths give the spa centers an oriental flavor, many of which are quite worthy of the Ottoman sultans.
Golf in Belek
Belek quite rightly claims the right to be called the golf capital of Turkey. Its 8 golf clubs meet the highest international standards and are designed with the natural beauty of the local landscape in mind. One of the best is the National Golf Club (official site in English) with two courses for 18 and 9 holes, built for international tournaments. He has repeatedly occupied the honorable lines of all kinds of ratings, including the 4th place in the "List of the 100 best golf courses in the world." National is intended primarily for professional players, and its high status is confirmed by a strict dress code and corresponding prices (2400 TRY for two for 6 hours of training).
The golf season in Belek begins in September, lasts all winter and ends with the onset of the summer heat.
Beginners can take a closer look at Tat Golf Belek International Golf Club, where special express programs have been developed for those who first picked up a golf club.
Belek for children
A visit with children to the Troy water park in Belek is the sacred duty of every self-respecting parent. It is really made in the style of Homeric Troy - with towers, walls, the legendary wooden horse 25 m high, antique amphoras and animators dressed and armed in the ancient Greek style. Every day it is besieged by thousands of tourists from all the surrounding resorts. However, unlike its prototype, the modern "Troy" opens the gates for everyone who pays for the entrance (the price of an adult / child ticket is 370 / about 200 TRY). In addition to a variety of slides for children and adults, waterfalls, standing wave pools and other attractions, there is a dolphinarium in the park. Shows with dolphins, sea lions and walruses at 11:00 and 14:30. For 170 TRY you can take a photo with a dolphin, and for another 500 TRY you can ride it.
Mild winters, an abundance of sunny warm days and indoor pools help maintain a steady flow of tourists even during low season. From the end of October to May, the hotels are filled with golf lovers - at this time the weather is just perfect for them. But in the evening, a warm jacket can come in handy.
Belek is located 45 km from Antalya, which makes Antalya International Airport the closest airport to the resort. There are several ways to get from Antalya airport to Belek: order an individual transfer, get to Antalya bus station, from where you can go to Belek by bus or use a taxi service. So, let's go in order: there are many transfer companies operating in the direction of Antalya Airport - Belek, but all are united by the fact that the transfer must be ordered in advance by filling out the form on the website or by contacting by phone.
The websites of most companies provide all the necessary information (prices, number of passengers, cars, etc.), for example, Via Transfer - www.viarentacar.com, AntalyaTransfer - www.antalyaairporttransfer.ru and BelekTransfer - www.belektransfer.com.
The second way is more economical, but more time-consuming and labor-intensive; it requires you to get to the Antalya bus station, and this can be done by Havas or Antalya Büyükşehir Belediye Otobüsleri buses, as well as a taxi, where you can change to a bus to Belek.
A taxi ride from the airport to Belek will cost you from $ 80, the cost should be negotiated in advance.
In the case of a vacation in Belek, choosing between hotels, villas and apartments, you should probably choose the first. Most of the Belek hotels are 4-5 stars, located on the 1st line, and have a huge area often equipped with tennis courts, several swimming pools and, of course, golf courses. The following hotels are considered the best hotels in the resort: Adam & Eve, Gloria Golf Resort, Rixos Premium, Gloria Verde Resort & SPA, Cornelia De luxe, Susesi De Luxe, Ela Quallity and IC Santai.
There are only a few "three-ruble" hotels in the resort and, basically, they are located on the second or even third coastline. Book now hotel in Belek it is possible on such Internet resources as: Booking. com or Ebookers.com, as well as directly on the website of the selected hotel.
You can choose and book a villa or apartment in Belek on the following sites: VillaRenters (www.villarenters.com) or AntalyaHomes (www.antalyahomes.com), and of course, you should make a reservation in advance, saving your money and time.
Belek transport
From public transport in Belek there are only dolmushis and taxis. On dolmus you can move around the resort and between the villages of the resort, also some dolmush can take you even to Antalya, Kemer or Side. Please note that dolmushi do not go at night, so if necessary, you will have to take a taxi. The fare in dolmus starts from 2 Turkish lira or 1 US dollar. Some hotels provide their guests with free services to Antalya or nearby villages, some hotels charge a small fee for this.
Taxis in Belek look traditional for Turkey - they are yellow cars, which are easy to identify. The fare should be based on the principle of landing and each subsequent kilometer of the route, but since Belek is a resort town, it is better to agree on the price in advance before landing.
Most of the beaches in Belek are owned by hotels, which makes them free for hotel guests. In addition to the developed infrastructure and high level of service, the beaches of Belek can boast of a considerable number of "Blue Flags". The coast of Belek stretches for almost 20 km, and pine and eucalyptus forests are almost close to the beaches.
Sandy or sandy-pebble, the entrance to the sea is gentle, and the water is crystal clear. On the beaches of Belek, sea turtles lay their eggs, which is why some of the resort's beaches are nature reserves.
There are no cultural and historical attractions directly in Belek or in the nearby resort settlements. The only thing that can be considered a natural monument is the Canyon Kaprulu National Park, which covers an area of about 500 hectares.
The park is a cypress-eucalyptus forest, where several species of unique birds are found, such as the Tuto Alba owl and the Caretta Caretta turtles. In the park, you can not only walk and enjoy communing with nature, but also go horseback riding, mountaineering and some water sports, such as rafting on a mountain river.
Not far from Belek is the ancient city of Perge, built in the 7th century BC. Today, only ruins remain of the ancient city, namely the sacrificial altar to Artemis, the ancient city center - Agora, a monumental gate, an amphitheater for 12 thousand spectators and the remains of Roman baths.
Also nearby is another ancient city - Aspendos. The main attraction of Aspendos is the well-known antique theater, built in the 2nd century BC and able to accommodate 17 thousand spectators and 500 musicians of the orchestra. To this day, the theater hosts various concerts and festivals every year. In addition to the theater, the stadium, basilica, 3 necropolises, agora and baths have been preserved in Aspendos.
Outbound excursions in Belek coincide with outbound excursions of other resorts on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, namely: an excursion to Pamukkale and Cappadocia, an excursion to the cities of Demre, Mira and Kekova. They also often offer boat trips and a sightseeing tour of Antalya.
Belek Attractions
Belek is a quiet and calm resort without a vibrant nightlife, as, for example, in Bodrum or Marmaris, however, Belek cannot be compared even with Antalya or Kemer.
Of course, the resort has bars and small discos, but there are no large nightclubs, and, basically, all "life" is concentrated on the territory of hotels. Hotels regularly host discos on their territory, and large hotels often invite celebrities to give concerts. The hotels also offer horse riding, individual and group sports, water sports and, of course, golf as entertainment.
The best golf courses not only in Belek, but also in Turkey are: National Golf Club, Gloria, Robinson Nobilis and Tat Golf International.
