Turkey’s ‘Turquoise Coast’ is a popular destination with tourists due to the beautiful beaches and cultural attractions. Antalya, Fethiye, Olu Deniz, Kalkan and Kas have been firm favourites for many years. Over the centuries, the legacies of the region’s many rulers have left behind some excellent archaeological sites: the Lycian Tombs, set high into the cliff-face between Fethiye and Antalya, resemble ornate rock-carved temples and are an astonishing 2,500 years old; the vast Roman amphitheatre at Aspendos is still used today for its annual ballet and opera festival; and the preserved ancient Greek cities of Perge and Termessos, perched high in the Taurus mountains, are also well worth visiting and date back to Alexander the Great’s invasion of the Persian empire.
Some of the best archaeological sites can be viewed from a cruise along the rugged coastline. For more leisurely pursuits, the town of Belek has some excellent golf courses and spa hotels.