Important note! The resort of Alanya has its own international Airport Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (code: GZP). However, this airport is very small, there are very few flights here. According to statistics, only 1 out of 5 Russian tourists flies to rest in Alanya through this airport, and 4 out of 5 fly to Alanya through Antalya airport (code: AYT).
Therefore, in our table, we give the travel time to Alanya from Antalya airport. Prepare mentally to drive to the hotel for a long time. Or, deliberately choose a tour with an arrival at Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (code: GZP).
* - time indicated from Antalya airport
Comments to the table are superfluous, and so everything is obvious.
Assortment of entertainment
Antalya has the most entertainment, and this is logical. After all, Antalya is not only a resort, but also a provincial capital and a million-plus city. Local residents also want to have fun. Antalya has a water park and a dolphinarium, a large oceanarium, and a sand sculpture park. Deserved 5 points out of 5 possible.
There is only one entertainment facility in Belek, but what a great one! One of the largest amusement parks in Turkey "Land of Legends". Here is a water park with dozens water slides, an amusement park, a large shopping gallery, more than a dozen bars and restaurants, and even has its own circus tent. We put Belek 4 only for the reason that there is only one park.
In Kemer there is a DolusuPark water park, you can climb Mount Tahtali or see Mount Chimera. Solid 3 points.
There are several local water parks in Alanya, you can see the Dalmatas cave and Sipadere canyon. The range is weak, therefore 2 points.
There are no large water parks in Side. For entertainment, you can go to the Manavgat waterfalls. Therefore, only 1 point out of 5 possible.
On the other hand, going to a good water park in another resort is not a problem now. You just need to buy the appropriate excursion from the guide at the hotel. Prices are quite affordable - usually $ 30-40 per person.
The cultural program
There are few cultural attractions in Antalya. You can only see Old city and the antique gate of Hadrian. The situation is saved by the Antalya Museum, which contains interesting archaeological finds from all over the province. Therefore, 2 points out of 5 possible.
Belek does not have its own cultural attractions, except for the Park of Religions. However, not far away are the excavations of the ancient city of Perge (30 kilometers) and the ancient city of Aspendos (20 kilometers). It is convenient to get there by taxi. 4 points.
In Kemer, there are small and moderately interesting excavations of the cities of Phaselis and Olympus. Therefore, 2 points.
In Alanya, lovers of antiquity have something to see. It was once the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate. You can see the Kyzyl Kule tower, a medieval fortified shipyard, Alanya Castle and Archaeological Museum... 5 out of 5 possible.
In Side The cultural program also saturated. The Temple of Apollo has been partially preserved here, it is very interesting to see the local amphitheater, there is a magnificent museum in the building of ancient baths. 5 out of 5 possible.
Turkey is currently one of the countries where tourism is developing best.
This is due not only to the excellent climate and historical sites, but also to the availability of appropriate infrastructure.
In this article, we will look at popular resorts like Belek and Side and compare what is better and where.
In contact with
Popular resorts of this state considered Belek and Side... They are somewhat different from each other, so travelers need to compare all the factors that are important to them before setting off.
Belek- it popular resort Turkey, which can delight vacationers beautiful clean sandy beaches... The coast of the village is more than 20 kilometers.
The main differences between Belek and many others tourist places consists in the absence of elevation differences and in the presence of gentle descents into the water.
The resort is located not far from Antalya, as a result of which it is very convenient to get to it. Belek beaches are marked for their ideal cleanliness UNESCO Blue Flags.
That is why tourists are very fond of this resort, which is facilitated by the presence pine forests directly near the water.
Side it is radically different from Belek. There are two beaches in this village, the more western of which attracts more tourists.
This is due comfortable conditions and gentle descents into the water... But at the same time, both places are filled with vacationers during the High season.
That is why, if a person wants privacy, he can be offered locals go to turtle beach. There are much fewer travelers on it, but at the same time they can be visited by exotic hosts who came out of the sea.
Distance between cities
The Mediterranean Turkish resorts of Side and Belek are actually not very far from each other. The distance between them on the road is only 46 kilometers.
Stop public transport can be anywhere in the city, not just at the bus station.
Flights are quite frequent - once in half an hour or an hour, a bus always leaves from one resort to another. The trip in the end will take no more than 30-40 minutes.
In order to correctly choose the place where to spend your summer rest- Side or Belek (which is better), it is necessary to compare several of the most important factors of a particular resort.
Among them, experts distinguish prices, hotel stock, availability of attractions, state of beaches, weather, features of the sea and possible ways entertainment.
We would like to bring to your attention a few more leisure options:,.
Prices
Average statistical prices in Belek and Side about the same... But it should be noted that the first resort is intended for a more sophisticated and high-quality rest.
That is why on it you can find some services that most tourists cannot afford. In Side, a similar situation is somewhat less common, since the city is primarily designed for a typical vacationer who has an average financial income.
Belek is a resort designed primarily for wealthy tourists who love luxury hotels. That is why most of the hotels in this settlement have 4 or 5 stars. This is reflected both in the living conditions and in the characteristics of the guest service.
Most of the expensive and most comfortable hotel complexes in Belek are located on the first coastline – directly off the coast or on it. More modest three-star apartments are located on the second or third coastline.
Side also has a very significant hotel fund, consisting of hotels with 3, 4 and 5 stars. In parallel with this, any tourist can choose cheaper options for themselves - apart-hotels.
sights
As for the attractions in Belek and Side, it is worth noting that the first resort is not rich in historical monuments - they are absent in it. But at the same time, in the vicinity, tourists can visit the ruins of ancient cities- Aspedos and Perge.
In addition, there is a beautiful national park called "Köprülü Canyon". It is characterized by beautiful landscapes, wonderful cypress groves and dense eucalyptus forests.
In Side, for the long history of its existence many architectural objects have been preserved, such as:
- archaeological complex, in which the remains of the baths, temples and columns of Ancient Greece were left;
- theater ruins where gladiator battles were held;
- temple of Dionysus, erected by the ancient Romans.
Thus, if visiting historical cultural sites plays a certain important role, it is better to choose Side over Belek.
Belek has only one long sandy beach. It was awarded the Blue Flag by UNESCO, which is why it enjoys significant popularity. His distinctive feature is the absence of steep descents and ascents.
As for Side, at this resort there are three different beaches... They all have their own distinctive features.
A tourist can choose for himself a rather popular sandy beach with no elevation differences, a less popular coastline characterized by uneven relief and a remote area where turtles come out of the sea to bask.
For comparison, find out about other beaches in Turkey:,.
Weather
The weather in Belek and Side is about the same. Four months a year at these resorts, the average temperature is over 30 degrees Celsius. This applies to June, July, August and September. In April, May, October and November, temperatures rise above 20 degrees.
In July and August, the rainfall in the resorts does not exceed 2 millimeters. From April to July and in September, this figure is also insignificant - only 20 millimeters.
Weather conditions are the main indicator for tourists who decide to relax in Turkey. Get to know the climate in different regions and in different time year:, in,.
Sea
Both in Belek and in Side, the descent into the water is very gentle... At the same time, at the first resort, due to the more turbid gray sand the sea seems a little polluted.
As for the water temperature, from May to November it ranges from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
Due to the fact that Belek is designed primarily for those tourists who like to relax at a high level, this resort is full of appropriate types of entertainment. Among them it is worth highlighting the following:
- golf;
- historical sights;
- nature monuments;
- discos;
- a large number of shops, etc.
As for Side, the list of possible entertainments is about the same. But at the same time, the number of cultural attractions in this resort is smaller. Any tourist in the city can buy souvenirs, jewelry, etc.
It is impossible to determine where it is actually better to rest - in Belek or Side. This is due to the fact that some vacationers may like the first resort, and the second - the other. A similar situation is influenced by a lot of various factors, the main of which is the subjective perception of certain conditions by a person.
To the average tourist in both Belek and Side it will be very interesting.
As for travelers who need to spend their time culturally in nature reserves and museums, they need to choose a second resort. Those who like recreation at a higher level should choose Belek.
To make it easier for you to choose which resort to go to rest, see the photo below. 
Conclusion
As Belek is a wonderful Mediterranean Turkish resort, so is Side. Each of them has its own characteristics, which may appeal to some tourists and be completely indifferent to others.
That is why today to choose a leader between data settlements impossible. Prior to the trip, you should prioritize certain priorities, and then compare which resort best suits them. Only this approach to the choice can help in determining the most optimal place for rest.
In contact with
Most tourists choose the Mediterranean coast of Turkey for their holidays. It is here that the largest tourist centers countries - Antalya, Kemer, Belek, Side and Alanya, with hundreds of different resort complexes and related tourist infrastructure.
In general, in this article we will try to figure out which is still better - Antalya, Kemer, Belek, Side or Alanya?
Antalya
Antalya or Antalya is a large and rapidly developing city with a developed network modern hotels, many restaurants and coffee shops, all kinds entertainment centers and nightclubs, with water parks and countless shops.
But this is still more of an urban resort than a beach resort, since most of the hotels here are of an urban type. Therefore, the picturesque nature in Antalya is not particularly to be found, nevertheless, it is an urban area.
Antalya is divided into several tourist areas... Guests of the hotels located in the Konyaalti area enjoy the municipal pebble beaches.
Tourists staying in hotels located in the central rocky part of the city use the platform beaches. And guests of full-fledged resort complexes in the new districts of Lara and Kundu have their own sandy beaches.
Kemer
Kemer is a large resort area located about 40 kilometers south of Antalya. There is a rich nightlife and very beautiful nature- dense vegetation and coniferous forests coexist with picturesque mountains, and the rocky coastline with numerous pebble beaches, along which a large number of various hotels (from modest and inexpensive to fashionable) are built.
One of the advantages of Kemer is pebble beaches and a clean, transparent sea. And for those sensitive to rocks and pebbles, virtually all hotels have their own diving piers. Some hotels have their own sandy beaches, but the entrance to the sea is still a pebble.
The Kemeri resort area consists of the city of Kemer and several adjacent districts - Beldibi, Goynuk, Kirish, Camyuva and Tekirova.
Belek
Belek is a prestigious resort area located about 37 kilometers east of Antalya. Nightlife there is almost none here, and if there is, then, as a rule, only on the territory of resort complexes.
Prices for hotel accommodation here are slightly higher than in Antalya, as their level is also higher (mostly some good and chic "five").
It is also worth noting that Belek is one of the most famous golf centers in Turkey. There are many golf courses and hotels specializing in such tourists.
There is no picturesque nature and mountains here, the vegetation is mostly "hotel", but to give credit to some resort complexes, the territories resemble parks, in general it is beautiful. The beaches in Belek are sandy, which is why turbid water in the afternoon is not uncommon here.
Most often, vacation in Belek is chosen by connoisseurs of good service, families with children and couples.
Side
Side - small resort town on the coast Mediterranean Sea located 75 km east of Antalya. It is also a “museum under open air», The main archaeological zone of the region.
There are hotels in Side for every taste and budget: from multi-storey five-star resort complexes to modest aparthotels, but all of them are mostly "simpler" than in Belek.
In addition to the very center of the city of Side, to its resort area There are several adjacent districts that have been gaining more and more popularity among tourists in recent years - Cholakli, Kumkoy, Sorgun, Titreyengol, Kyzylagach and Kizilot.
The beaches in Side are sandy, which is why turbid water in the afternoon is not uncommon here. It is difficult to call the local nature especially picturesque, dense vegetation is found mainly only in the territories of hotels.
Alanya
Alanya or Alanya - is located almost 140 kilometers east of Antalya and is the most remote resort area from it.
The coastal strip of the resort is very open and apart from the vegetation with palm trees in the hotel areas, there is little greenery in Alanya as a whole.
The resort area of Alanya includes the regions of Incekum, Konakli, Avsallar, Okurcalar and Mahmutlar, and is generally designed for poor tourists. There are a lot of young people here and a rich nightlife.
Most of the hotels in Alanya are small, many of them are located across the street from the beach. The beaches are mostly sandy, gentle, narrow, with yellow sand, and are very convenient for families with children.
Summarize
It turns out that in all the Mediterranean resorts of Turkey you can have a wonderful rest, and to the question "which is still better: Antalya, Kemer, Belek, Side or Alania?" you will have to answer yourself. After all, the choice primarily depends on your personal preferences and expectations.
Who have long appreciated its golden beaches, and the cleanest sea, and rich excursion programs, and the famous "all inclusive" system. Therefore, asking a question, such as which is better, or, potential travelers are trying to find out only the nuances of a holiday in either Turkish resort.
It is necessary to take into account two more points, the first - these resorts are located in close proximity to each other, if you wish, you can relax in one and regularly visit the neighboring one. The second point is the age difference - Belek, as a resort began to develop only in the 1990s, and Side, founded by the ancient Greeks, has long been included in the list of popular Turkish resorts.
Belek or Side - who has the best beaches?
Belek resort will delight lovers of sandy beaches - its golden sandy coast has a length of more than 20 kilometers. The beaches are distinguished by the absence of elevation differences and gentle slopes into the water. In the vicinity, it is this resort that is ready to offer ideal cleanliness, marked by UNESCO specialists with the Blue Flags. Many mothers vacationing with babies will appreciate not only the "sterility" of the sand and the gradual transition to depth, but eucalyptus and pine forests that grow almost on the very shore.
Side resort has two beaches, which is interesting, they are radically different from each other. The western one is more popular because it is considered safe, has a flat bottom and a gentle slope. In the high season, both territories are filled with tourists; the guest who dreams of at least relative seclusion can be advised to find the third, turtle beach. There are an order of magnitude less vacationers on it, and exotic owners (turtles) sometimes come out to meet.
Hotel fund
Belek is a resort for wealthy tourists who like to relax at the highest level. Majority local hotels- owners of 4-5 * on the facades, each of them has a huge adjacent territory, perfectly organized, convenient for recreation and entertainment, including such rare ones as golf or horse riding. The second important point is that fashionable hotel complexes are located on the first coastline. On the second or third, more modest 3 * hotels were built, but the cost of living in them is much lower.
Side has a rich hotel fund, there are large complexes and small hotels with 3 to 5 * on the facades. Other accommodation options are also popular at this resort, in particular, many guests live in apart-hotels, which are much cheaper than their fashionable "colleagues".
Entertainment and attractions
Belek is known as a resort with expensive entertainment, like playing golf, trips to local shops and the market are popular, where the attention of tourists, first of all, is attracted by gold and silver, men's and women's jewelry with precious stones... There are no historical sights in the city itself, but they can be found in its vicinity, for example, the ruins of the ancient city-states, Aspedos and Perge. Among the natural monuments, the Köprülü Canyon, a national park, which will be remembered by guests for its stunning landscapes, cypress groves and eucalyptus forests, stands out.
Side was founded by the ancient Greeks, some of the ancient buildings have survived to this day. Therefore, rest in this city is recommended to those travelers who adore history and are ready to spend days on excursions to monuments and historical sites. Popular attractions include the following:
- an archaeological complex with the remains of temples, baths, columns;
- the ruins of a colossal theater used as a battleground for gladiators and as cult building;
- the temple of Dionysus, built by the ancient Romans.
But not only by the ancients architectural masterpieces attracts Side, this city has many modern entertainment designed primarily for young and young audiences. There are discos, dance halls, where you can have fun until the early morning, restaurants receive visitors, where skilled chefs will cook trout, which is a local specialty, almost in front of the client's eyes.
Comparison of the two Turkish resorts confirmed that even the Almighty cannot determine a clear leader. Therefore, focusing on small differences between them, those tourists will go to Belek who:
- want to relax luxuriously;
- love wide sandy beaches;
- are not interested in historical excursions;
- they adore nature and beautiful places.
Beautiful Side will be chosen by travelers who:
- would like to be able to choose a place of residence;
- plan to spend a lot of time on excursions;
- love dancing and delicious seafood.
Belek
Rich vegetation, picturesque landscapes. The resort is located in the zone National Reserve... Dense pine forests, air permeated with pine needles, clear sea, nature reserves and National parks... A world class resort. The climate in Belek is typical for Turkey, but due to the presence of pine forests, the heat is more easily tolerated.
Side
The landscape and landscapes of Side vary from village to village. In the area of the village of Tetrengel there are numerous pines, lush vegetation. But the closer to Alanya, the more deserted the landscapes, less greenery. Bathing season lasts the same as in Belek.
Beaches
Belek
Most of the beaches are awarded Blue flag for cleanliness. Most of the beaches have a smooth sandy entrance to the sea, convenient for families with children. The swimming season lasts from early May to early October.
Side
Side beaches vary from village to village. Most of the beaches are sandy - pebble, with a gentle slope into the sea. There are also small pebble beaches.
Distance to airport
Belek
Belek is close to the airport - 30 km. The transfer takes no more than 40 minutes.
Side
The transfer takes about 1 hour on average. To the villages located closer to Alanya no more than 1, 5 hours. Distance from Antalya - 55-70 km.
Hotels
Belek
Belek is a developing elite resort with prevailing 5 * deluxe hotels. There is practically no 4 * here. Most of the hotels have a huge territory and are located on the 1st line. Prices for tours to Belek are the highest in the country. Belek hotels are self-sufficient - all infrastructure is located on their territory. All hotels have huge green areas. In order not to disturb the ecological balance, forests are not cut down, but become a part of the hotel landscape. Most of hotels are open all year round. Wealthy tourists usually rest in Belek. There are many tourists with children due to the excellently developed children's infrastructure of the hotels.
Side
Here you can find hotels of different categories - from economical city 3 * to good 5 *, but there are not many elite hotels here. In Side itself, you can find very cheap options for young people with a municipal beach and within walking distance of clubs. About cheap hotels 3 * Side read in our TOP-7 best hotels 3 *. There are many excellent club hotels with a large territory with affordable prices. In general, tours in Side are much cheaper than in Belek. Entertainment is found not only in the hotels themselves, but also outside them - in the villages and the city. The territory of the hotels varies from very tiny in the city to the huge in the club 5 *. Most of the hotels are closed for the winter. The hotels in Sile are mainly for the middle class.
Entertainment, nightlife
Belek
In the village of Belek itself, there is no good clubs... All the best discos are on the territory of fashionable 5 + *. If you are resting in an inexpensive 5 *, then you can visit discos of elite hotels for a fee. There is practically no entertainment outside the hotels, there are few good cafes with reasonable prices. Few shops. You need to understand that Belek is not a city, but a small one resort village with all the pros and cons that come with it. In Belek, most of the good 5 * have a developed entertainment infrastructure. For children's leisure all conditions have been created - the hotels are equipped with excellent amusement parks and water parks.
Side
Side city - ancient antique city with preserved monuments of the past. There are also many bars to be found here, and there are a couple of good clubs. The variety of entertainments makes the rest in the city hotels of Side popular among young people. When buying a tour to an inexpensive 3-4 * hotel near the city or in one of the villages, you can be sure that there will be something to do outside the hotel, even if the animation of the hotel does not satisfy you. As in Belek, quality 5 * Side hotels offer entertainment for children such as amusement parks and aqua parks.
