Konyaalti Beach, Antalya, Turkey

Konyaalti Beach (Turkish: Konyaaltı Plajı) is the long city beach on the western side of Antalya, running for more than 7 km along the bay from the cliffs below the Antalya Museum toward the port, with the Taurus Mountains rising behind it. Together with Lara Beach east of the city, it is one of Antalya’s two main beaches, and its water is clean and clear enough to fly the Blue Flag.

The beach is made of fine pebbles mixed with sand, and the sea gets deep quite quickly. Entry is free: you can spread a towel on the public stretches or rent a sunbed and umbrella from the municipal facilities and beach clubs. Along the shore there are free showers, changing cabins and toilets, lifeguards in summer, and a green seafront park with a promenade, cycle path, playgrounds and sports areas, closed to cars.

At the eastern end, below the cliffs, Beach Park has bars, restaurants and the Aqualand water park with Dolphinland, and the Antalya Aquarium is a short walk inland. At the western end the Tünektepe cable car climbs to a viewpoint above the bay. In high season the beach is busy, but it is wide enough for everyone, and many local families stay until late in the evening with food and tea.

Key points:

• Length: more than 7 km.
• Beach: fine pebbles and sand, Blue Flag.
• Entry: free; sunbeds and umbrellas for a fee.
• Getting there: tram to the Müze stop (Antalya Museum), the nostalgic line T2 from the old town or line T3, then about 10 minutes on foot down to the beach.
• Nearby: Beach Park, Aqualand and Dolphinland, the Antalya Aquarium, the Antalya Museum, the Tünektepe cable car.