Side and Kemer: highlights, hotels and restaurants

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Side and Kemer highlights… The last time I was in Turkey was in 2009. At the time I was in love with an American who lived in the beautiful town of Dalyan. So it won’t surprise you that I went back for a second time not much later. It was not a success… The adventure with the American was a letdown, but Turkey stole my heart. When the American romance ended, half the village came to my rescue: to provide lodging, to arrange free trips and offer welcoming meals. Turkish hospitality at its finest. I felt very much at home here.

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Corendon Playa Kemer | Side and Kemer highlights | hotels

Back to 2022. After these “exhilarating” previous trips earlier to Turkey, I returned with Corendon in May. To a different region this time; Antalya. I remember the scent of the country, the fantastic cuisine with delicious mezzes and can’t wait to go back again.

Hotel Kemer
With Corendon Airlines we fly to Antalya from Amsterdam in 4 hours, where we are picked up by our guide Kendi. The first stop is hotel Corendon Playa Kemer: an ultra-all-inclusive 5-star resort in Kemer. To be honest, I’ve never stayed in an all-inclusive hotel before, but it’s incredibly nice here. The food is fantastic and you can dance until 00:00 every night with free gin-tonics, because: all-inclusive! The cabanas look like they come out of a high-end magazine and the rooms are fully equipped. Important to say that the music can be heard in your room untill 00:00. The hotel has an excellent à la carte restaurant! Ideal when you want to try something different for a night.

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Corendon Playa Kemer & fishermen | Side and Kemer highlights | best things to do

Sights Kemer
In the Kemer area you will find many things to do. For example, from here you can visit Olympos, an old Roman city, with its ancient, Lycian sarcophagi. Turkey has many remains from the Ottoman Empire (13th to early 20th century). Olympos is situated on a beautiful river side. After your visit, you can dive into the crystal clear water at Olympos Beach.

Another fun activity is a visit to the top of Mount Tahtali by cable car. From here you have a beautiful view over the Taurus Mountains! A boat trip along the Turkish Riviera is also highly recommended.

Olympos beach | Side and Kemer highlights | best things to do

THE BEST RENTAL CARS IN ANTALYA

Have lunch at Ulupinar Selale restaurant, surrounded by waterfalls, and enjoy a delicious meal. The location is so special! Another highlight of our visit to Kemer is Qualista beach club. What a beautiful spot! In the evening there is often live music and a DJ. The cocktails are dangerously good and the menu is excellent.

Restaurant Ulupinar Selale and Side | Antalya region

Hotel Side
Our next stop is Side. Here we stay at the beautiful Ali Bey Resort. When I open the door to my room, I am amazed by what I see. What a palace! This resort is also ultra-all-inclusive. It has multiple pools, including highly appreciated “kids free zones” and a beautiful beach. We drive around in golf carts on the grounds full of flowers and special trees. In the evening we dine in the excellent à la carte restaurant and order a couple more “inclusive” drinks at the bar.

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Best things to do in Side
Side has an impressive old town, full of remains from Roman times. The Temple of Apollo is magnificent. In addition, Side has a lively tourist center with a lot of good restaurants, such as the recently opened, extremely photogenic restaurant Gua. We enjoy a delicious dinner here with matching drinks.

The ancient city of Side and restaurant Gua | Side restaurants

Adventure seekers will have a lot of fun in this region. In the Taurus Mountains, you can go on a safari in the Köprülü Canyon National Park. Visit the impressive Tazi canyon before 10 in the morning, to avoid the crowds! What a view you have here! Then go rafting on the bright blue Köprüçai River. So much fun!! Click HERE for more cool activities near Side.

READ ALL ABOUT MY STAY IN CAPPADOCIA

Two kilos heavier and with a suitcase packed with new memories, we fly back home with Corendon Airlines. Turkey is a fantastic destination. The lovely hotels where we stayed have given me a new perspective on all-inclusive concepts. The Turkish cuisine is absolutely delicious, nature is impressively beautiful and you can visit many remains from Roman times. It felt like coming home again.

MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN ALACATI