Shopping: Sleek new malls, noisy street markets and backstreet

bazaars provide constant excuses for retail roving in

Antalya. For serious shopping sprees, put Antalya town

first on your list. Its old town is wall-to-wall carpet, jewellery

and trinket shops. Cue rows of swan-necked coffee

pots. Trays loaded with chunky silver and gold bracelets.

And shelves groaning with spices, leather bags and

‘kilim’ rugs. When it comes to what to buy, Turkish

carpets come out tops. In wonderfully rich and deep

shades, these intricately woven silk or wool masterpieces

will enliven even the most neutral of living rooms. You’ll

find similar bazaars in Manavgat, Side and Kemer. Every

resort also have their own stores selling

everything from tourist fluff to luminous beach gear and

funky clothes. The two main streets of Konyaalti

Caddesi and Isiklar Caddesi are packed with jewellers,

carpet emporia and fashion outlets. And if you’re still sold

on glitzy trinkets and designer togs, head for the Migros

Mall. This glossy shopping centre on the edge of town is big

on boutiques and upmarket department stores.

Restaurants: This chunk of coast is brims over with

restaurants. There are tantalising kebab houses.

Ottoman-style cafes. Fast food joints.  Steak and

seafood palaces.  Of course, the bigger the resort,

bigger the choice. In Antalya, Kemer and Side, can

surprise your palate with a different taste sensation

every day. Sizzling doner kebabs one night.  A la

carte French. Manavgat is great for dining out too,

with restaurants serving fresh trout caught from the

very river they overlook. Regional specialities include

‘gozleme’ - scrumptious fried aubergines served with

cool yoghurt – and mussels stuffed with pine nuts.

And fresh fish and seafood are fixtures nearly

everywhere. Cue lemon-soaked calamari, tasty

octopus stews and succulent slabs of tuna

sprinkled with fresh parsley. Oh, and don’t miss out

on authentic ‘shish’ kebabs from a ‘kebapci’. Fresh

cubes of lamb, chicken or beef laced onto wooden

skewers and grilled over hot charcoals, they’re a

far cry from the Saturday night versions back home.

And one last tip. The top local beer is ‘Efes’. Served

icy cold, this light and refreshing lager really hits the

spot when the sun’s hot.

Activities: If you ever get bored of golden sandy beaches,

crystal clear sea and the breathtaking scenery, Antalya is

packed with stuff to do. There are daily trips organised

anything from 3-Island excursions to Jeep Safari. For

something a bit different, you can try a rafting trip in Antalya

An exciting day out which gives you the opportunity to race

the rapids whilst viewing the breathtaking cedar forests of

especially the Koprulu Canyon national Park. Antalya

Archaeological Museum is considered to be one of the best

museums in Turkey. Visiting there really is like taking a step

back in time and the amount of extremely well preserved

artefacts is astonishing. Without doubt it is a 'must do' while

in Antalya. There is also a good museum in Side as well close

to the Amphitheatre. Whatever you're in to Antalya will be a

haven you would want to return year after year.

Nightlife: Belly dancing shows. Cocktails by the sea.

Heavy-duty nightclubs. The Antalya area will tickle everyone’s

fancy come nightfall, whether you’re looking to down the

tempo or raise the rafters. If you’ve come here to party,

Antalya town is the hottest ticket by far. This is the region’s

premier nightspot and it draws big crowds in summer. The

heart of the action is the Kaleici, the old town, where you’ll

find numerous dancespots playing high-decibel techno, R&B

and dance music. If all that sounds too much, check out one

of the bars - they often double up as discos. Or for something

quieter, stroll down to the waterfront. Station yourself at a bar

and chill out over a glass of ‘Efes’ to the whisper of the waves.

Another party Mecca is Kemer. All along the waterside, you’ll

find frenetic clubs and bars to take you through the night. And

at Side too, the mood’s more hit-the-floor than hit-your-pillow.

Head for the harbour where animated bars and crowded

waterholes await. Fancy a more authentically Turkish evening?

Then in all the resorts, the hotels oblige with regular theme

nights and music shows. We’re talking Turkish folklore nights

with brightly costumed belly dancers twirling on stage.

Tambourine-thumping Turku music.