Things To Do in Altinkum

This wide beach has clean, soft sands that shelve gently into the Aegean Sea, making it safe for little ones to paddle. And they’re so clear, you’ll see the fish around your ankles. Watersports fans head to the harbour at the far end where the doughnuts and banana boats are unlikely to break the bank. Sun-seekers, meanwhile, make the most of the free sunloungers. With waiter service, you won’t need to move an inch, except maybe to go for a dip.

When the sun goes down, Altinkum likes things quite lively. There are plenty of bars along the promenade, but the biggest hit of night-time fun can be found in Yunuslu Park – AKA Dolphin Square. Here you’ve got a good quota of places doing cocktails, bingo and karaoke. Later, the dance crowd head to the open-air Medusa nightclub in Yali Street for big beats and laser lightshows.

The town has scores of souvenir shops and market stalls lining the seafront and all the way up Ataturk Street. They stay open late, and evenings are often the best time to strike a bargain. You’ll find great prices on gold jewellery, faux designer clothes, and imitation Rolex watches. You’ll need to sharpen your haggling skills for the best deals. There’s also a shopping centre on Ataturk Boulevard, where you can pick up the embroidered tablecloths and bath towels made in the region.

For the past decade, Didim has hosted this annual Peace Festival. It’s all about promoting friendship between Turkey and Greece, and scores of Greeks come to join in. There’s a race from Apollo’s Temple to Altinkum, plus boat races and folk dancing. It ends with a music festival on the beach – which pulls in a crowd of around 15,000 and a heck of a lot of peace torches.

The resort’s eating places are set up with varied menus so you’ll get Italian and Indian sharing space with traditional Turkish. If you’re going local, try the dolmades – stuffed vine leaves – and moussaka. The prom-side restaurants come with the highest price tag, but there are cheaper options in the streets behind Ataturk Boulevard.

Meze features heavily on most menus in Altinkum – the tavernas lining the promenade are some of the best places for it. Stuffed vine leaves, grilled halloumi, falafel and borek sausages are just some of the dishes that keep on coming like a conveyor belt out of the kitchen. If you can still eat more, order a plate of baklava with a glass of apple tea – or elma cay – it’s the local answer to PG Tips.

Altinkum comes with modern shopping malls, but bargain-hunters are better off going into Didim for the Saturday market. It’s all spicy aromas, colourful fruit and good-natured banter here – but you can cut to the chase and go straight to the jewellery and designer fakes. You can haggle in sterling, euros or Turkish lira – just make sure the stallholder knows which one it is.

The must-see sight round here is just on your doorstep at Didim. The Temple of Apollo may not be in its prime anymore, but it’s still a real looker as far as ruins go. Apparently, it was once home to a high priestess – a sort of Mystic Meg who dabbled on the dark side – and you can still see the sacrificial altar today.

At this seafront restaurant, you can tuck into platefuls of home-cooked classics like steak and chips, and apple crumble – with everything in generous-sized portions. The food is almost a sideline here, though. At Pinocchio’s, it’s all about group participation – so expect to be called on for the karaoke, dancing and sing-a-longs.

Swan Bar has been around for over 25 years – so they know a thing or two about giving customers a good time. It’s a family-friendly kind of place, with weekly raffles, sport on the box and a dancefloor that comes with disco lights and smoke machines. Burgers and chips keep the kids happy, and the fishbowl cocktails go down well with the adults.

Altinkum’s Third Beach is smaller and quieter than its bigger siblings, but its warm welcome extends as far as your hotel – several bars and restaurants here offer a free pick-up service from where you’re staying. Otherwise it’s a 20-minute walk or five-minute dolmus ride. You’ve got child-friendly shallow waters here, and a decent quota of sunloungers, watersports and on-hand refreshments.