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ABOUT ALTINKUM

Altinkum is a friendly family resort with many visitors returning year after year. The local people are friendly and love the English tourists. You will get to know them quickly and they enjoy nothing better than chatting over a glass of Turkey's famous 'apple tea'. Don’t be surprised if you return year after year to visit your new found friends! The holiday resort of Altinkum has also been recommended by World Health Council because of its lovely climate, low rate of humidity and lovely sand. Altinkum is also a good place to visit for those suffering from asthma.

Altinkum means 'Golden Sands' and with its beautiful beaches which gently shelve into the inviting turquoise blue Aegean, you will know where it gets it name from. The beaches are ideal for children and non-swimmers as the waters are shallow and clear. There are plenty of water sports, pedalos, banana boat rides and donut rides all at a reasonable price. There are numerous boat trips you can take from the small harbour that runs along the beach front. You can even arrange diving courses and fishing tours. You don’t even have to leave your sun lounger to get refreshments, there are plenty of people who will serve you a soft cold drink, the famous apple tea or even a Nescafe and they will bring it to you. There is also fresh fruit for sale. The shops and bars are a minute away so you can even get hot food (jacket potatoes etc) cold beers and take them onto the beach. This beach is known as the 'Main Beach' and can be reached by a 5 – 10 minute walk from our beautiful apartment.

There is also a more quieter and secluded beach in the area known as 'Third Beach'. This can be reached by a 5 minute walk from the apartment. It is smaller than main beach and is very peaceful. There are lots of water sports, banana boats etc., there are three bars/restaurants who will bring your drinks etc., to your sun lounger so no need for you to move. They will even take you home at the end of the day as they all provide a free mini bus service. You can also arrange for them to pick you up the following morning to take you to the beach at no charge. Some say that this beach is one of the best in Altinkum.

Altinkum (also known as Didim) runs a weekly market which is held on a Saturday. The local dolmus will take you there they come every 5 – 10 mins. It is a very large market and worth a visit. Here you can buy a huge variety of things, the fresh fruit and vegetables are especially good and extremely cheap The main resort shopping centre is Dolphin Square, near the centre of the resort front. There are also a large number of shops on the seafront. All the shops are open late at night when the area becomes its liveliest. This is your opportunity to pick up a real bargain, especially if you are good at haggling! If you fancy designer clothes but can't normally afford them then many good copy designer items are on sale. If you are looking for jewellery then you will find that the quality of the gold here is excellent with the prices much cheaper than at home.
When shopping for provisions, there are two main supermarkets -GIMA and MIGROS, which caters for most people's tastes, having a wide variety of well-known food, toiletries and kitchen goods. Gima is located between the seafront and the town centre and Migros at the start of the town centre.

Obviously there is the beach, you can take numerous boat trips from the harbour. There are plenty of shops, a small shopping centre where you can buy very good value leather goods, jewellery (which we highly recommend), don't forget to haggle. You can buy all your usual souvenirs and the famous fake designer gear which looks very authentic. There are numerous days trips you can take and there are plenty of places you can book them if you do not feel like venturing out yourselves.
There is a very good water park in Altinkum which is a 15 minute drive away, see details below..

Ephesus (Efes) is a magnificent day out. This is the second largest ancient site in the world. Ephesus is the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean and among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely 'soak' in the atmosphere of Roman times. In Ephesus you can find Virgin Mary's House.       >>> click for detail

Pamukkale which is unique in the world with its cascading water form cliffs forming crystallized, dazzling white and frozen waterfalls. The thermal waters have been used for therapeutic treatments since the Roman period. It is an amazing site and not to be missed. Here you will also find the Cleopatra's Spa where you can bath in the therapeutic waters.

Taking you through the olive groves and hillsides to other turquoise bays for swimming. See typical Turkish villages where you will experience the true Turkey. You will get wet and covered in dust so don’t where anything too nice, it is a really exciting and fun day out. Don't forget your hat.

This water park is just outside Altinkum. It was built in 2004 and has proved to be very popular with English tourists. The water park is just outside of Altinkum, set on a hill on the way to Soke market , The aqua park was built in 2004 and has proved to be popular with English tourist , not as big as Kusadasi Adaland aqua park but not as far to travel , only 15 mins by local bus

A Turkish bath is one of the nicest and most relaxing things that you can go and do whilst in Turkey Starting with a lovely hot sauna where you feel like you are going to just pass out eventually from the heat, to the warmed marble table where you receive first your rub down to get rid of old skin (ideal to start your tanning off) and then on to the soap foam massage where you feel like telling the guy never to stop. You can also have a head shampoo massage and after some relaxation time, the oil massage which was to die for. Feeling relaxed and revitalized at the same time it is not able to be described, but something you have to experience when visiting

Night Life
Altinkum literally vibrates in summer as bars, pubs and clubs are lined in downtown Altinkum with different kinds of music and entertainment. It is not overbearing and there is something for everyone ranging from discos and lively bars to the more relaxed where you can have a quiet drink. Altinkum is as lively or as quiet as you like it. The harbour and Dolphin Square is lined with lively venues, you can also opt for one of the back street bars, which are much quieter. There are numerous restaurants and a wide range of different cuisines – ranging from English, Italian, Mexican, Turkish, Chinese to name but a few. There are plenty of Turkish speciality dishes which we recommend you try as they are delicious. If you order the Turkish dish which is cooked in a traditional clay pot you will have the full treatment of it being brought out with fire, dancing etc., something not to be missed. All are reasonably priced. You can even get the good old Sunday roast which is excellent value. There are many beachfront restaurants and cafes where you can dine under the clear moonlit skies overlooking the waters edge. The Medusa Nightclub is an open air club in Altinkum which has a laser show and the latest up-to-date music. The Medusa Nightclub can be found along Yali Street, just past the Summer Garden Restaurant. Just walk along the main promenade walking away from the harbour and follow the road upwards and you cannot miss it.