Belek
Belek is a beach resort in Pamphylia on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, about 40 km east of Antalya. Its big selling point is golf - some dozen courses line the coast, and Turkey's principal tournament is held here as part of the European Tour.
The nearby ruined cities of Aspendos and Perge indicate the ancient civilisations of this area, but Belek lacks a harbour or defensible redoubt, so it was unimportant until modern times. It's governed as part of Serik town within Antalya Province, and in 2022 had a population of 9102. It includes the neighbourhoods of Kadriye and Boğazkent.
Get in
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See Antalya for long-distance travel routes. International visitors mostly arrive at the airport (AYT IATA) and are bussed the 40 km direct to their hotels. Independent travellers might hire a car there or take a taxi, since the airport is east of the city and you can avoid backtracking via downtown.
Bus BA22 runs from Antalya Meydan to Belek and Boğazkent every 20 min from 06:20 to 21:30. You need the Antalyakart public transport card to use this or any other city bus, see Antalya#Get around for details. Or look for a dolmuş.
Buses between Antalya, Manavgat (for Side) and Alanya scoot past on D400 inland and don't come in to Belek. You could get off at Serik and find a taxi or dolmuş.
Get around
[edit]Belek is designed to deter any thought of stepping beyond your package resort. And it's not the sort of place where you stroll along the prom enjoying the sunset and the aroma of oxidised fish from the harbour cafes. Hotels run shuttles to their golf courses and other amusements such as the theme park. Bus BA22 connects Belek town and Boğazkent but runs along Turizm Cd 1 km inland from the beach hotels.
See
[edit]- 1 Town centre is all modern, an extended retail plaza selling overpriced tat. The clocktower would be the focus if it had one, with fake archways alongside. The mosque adjacent is also modern but built and decorated in traditional style.
- Boğazkent 10 km east at the end of the resort strip is a dull modern grid.
- 2 Aspendos is a must-see, a well-preserved Graeco-Roman city with a large amphitheatre. See Antalya for details, but it's closer to Belek, about 15 km north. You pass the historic and decidedly wonky Aspendos bridge on the way.
- Perge ancient city is likewise described under Antalya.
Do
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- Beaches are sandy, but some patches have shingle intermixed.
- Boat trips and activities such as sea-fishing are based in the creek east end of the strip towards Boğazkent. They may pick up from jetties along the strip.
- Golf courses and clubs west to east are Cullinan Links, National[dead link], Antalya, Carya[dead link], Sueno Pines and Dunes, Cornelia Prince and Queen, Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Gloria and Robinson Nobilis.
- Turkish Airlines Open is the country's professional golf tournament, part of the European Tour. It's usually played in November on one of the Belek courses.
- 1 Land of Legends Theme Park, Atatürk Cd 104, Kadriye, ☏ +90 212 336 5700. Daily 10:00-19:00. Large amusement park with wild-knuckle rides, water park, "tropical lagoon", eating places and retail. Adult (or over 12) 1850 TL, child (4-11) 1480 TL.
- 2 Troy Aqua, İleri Başı Mevkii, ☏ +90 242 715 1122. Daily 10:00-17:00. This is a free-standing waterpark.
- Football: there isn't a town team, but there's a football academy for youngsters to try out. Once they're done losing 3-1 to a line of traffic cones, you can watch Süper Lig top-tier games at Antalya or Alanya.
Buy
[edit]- Belek town centre is wall-to-wall retail.
Eat
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Those staying on the beach strip eat at their hotels, probably with full board included in their package, so there are no free-standing restaurants there.
Belek town has a dozen budget places within shouting distance of the clocktower. No stand-out, and you wouldn't venture into town just to sample them, but they're open into the small hours for late travellers.
Drink
[edit]Same story as restaurants: the beach strip hotels have bars but there are no free-standing pubs. Belek town has a dozen or so cafes selling alcohol.
Look out for local wines: you'll see vineyards on the hills as your plane comes into land, and Doluca is next to the airport.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Cullinan Belek, Üçkum Tepesi Cd 4, ☏ +90 242 505 0500. Rave reviews for this resort hotel at the west end of the golf strip.
- TUI Magic Life, Tat Golf Belek, Kadriye (200 m east of Cullinan), ☏ +90 850 281 0113. Great scores for this clean efficient hotel with lots of activities. B&B double 5000 TL.
- 2 Titanic Deluxe Golf Belek, Üçkum Tepesi Mevkii Beşgöz Cd 72/1, ☏ +90 242 710 4444. Smart efficient golf hotel.
- Kaya Belek and Kaya Palazzo (adjacent) midway along the golf strip get mixed reviews.
- Regnum Carya another 500 m east is clean and value-for-money.
- 3 Land of Legends Kingdom Hotel, Atatürk Cd 1, Kadriye, ☏ +90 212 336 5700. Slick family-oriented hotel next to the LoL theme park. B&B double 4500 TL.
- 4 Papillon Belvil, Taslıburun Mevkii, ☏ +90 242 710 0900. Large beachfront hotel with lots of activities.
- 5 Calista Resort, Taslıburun Mevkii, Belek, ☏ +90 242 710 0101. A five-star hotel with 600 rooms. Spacious, clean and well-run, with separate sports annexe. B&B double 6000 TL.
- 6 Cornelia Diamond Resort, Turizm Cd 2/A, ☏ +90 242 710 1600. Upscale resort hotel, some gripes about facilities not open. B&B double 5000 TL.
- Susesi Luxury Resort is an all-inclusive hotel next to Cornelia Diamond.
- 7 Ela Excellence Resort, Iskele Mevkii, Belek, ☏ +90 444 1352. Great scores for comfort, service and facilities. B&B double 4000 TL.
- Adam & Eve Hotel will suit couples who like to party.
- 8 Rixos Park, Turban Cd 31, ☏ +90 242 715 2100. Comfy enough but poor service. B&B double 2500 TL.
- Cornelia Deluxe Resort, Belek İleribaşı Mevkii (next to Rixos Park), ☏ +90 242 719 1500. Great service and comfort. B&B double 5000 TL.
- Papillon Ayscha 200 m east of Rixos Park scores well on comfort and service.
- 9 Rixos Premium Belk, off Turizm Cd, ☏ +90 242 710 2000. Plush family-oriented hotel by Gloria golf course.
- 10 Robinson Nobilis, Acisu Mevkii, ☏ +90 242 710 0300. Swish golf hotel, comfort and service are what you'd expect for these prices. B&B double 10,000 TL.
- Sherwood Dreams Resort is a budget place 500 m west of Crystal Waterworld, many poor reviews.
- 11 Crystal Waterworld, 33rd Sk, Boğazkent, ☏ +90 444 0558. Friendly helpful hotel near the beach, lots of activities for children. B&B double 2000 TL.
- Belek Beach Resort is good value. It's on 40th Sk Boğazkent by Crystal Waterworld.
- Tui Blue Belek is an adults-only hotel in Boğazkent near Crystal Waterworld. Small rooms and the place is showing its age.
Connect
[edit]Belek and the coastal strip have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of July 2023, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.
Go next
[edit]- Antalya is a modern city but with a good museum and several old mosques.
- Side the next resort east has the extensive ruins of a Roman city.
- Manavgat has impressive waterfalls but is mostly the transport hub for reaching Side.
- Alanya further east has an ancient citadel perched on a crag above the harbour.
| Routes through Belek |
| Marmaris ← Antalya ← | W  E |
→ Manavgat → Mersin |