Things To Do in Hisaronu

There’s a small fee to access the lagoon. But it’s well worth it to spend the day by this slice of paradise, with pine-clad white sands curving around a glistening blue pool. The water’s shallow a long way in so it’s a safe spot for swimming and snorkelling – you’ll see lots of fish because the sea’s so clear. But if you want to get further out, you can always hire a pedalo.

A 10-minute journey by bus takes you to the ghost village of Kayakoy. The stone houses of this UNESCO World Heritage Site have lain empty for the best part of a century. For a small fee, you can nose around the crumbling churches and faded street signs. Afterwards, you’ll find welcoming cafés in the new village – it’s just five minutes’ walk away and very much alive.

Hisaronu plays to the Brit pack. Most of the cafés and restaurants on the main street deal in home-from-home favourites like cod and chips, and Sunday roasts. You’ll find a few places flying the Turkish flag, though. If you’re eating in one of these, try the karnivarik – the local take on moussaka – with a glass of Uzumlu wine.

The queues for a table speak for themselves really. This place serves up Brit-friendly staples like liver and onion, and peppered steak. But the spicy kebabs get the thumbs-up, too. Portions are big, the staff are friendly and the kids keep coming back for the milkshakes.

It may not be Rio, but Hisaronu sure knows how to party. Part of Olu Deniz’s cultural festival, the carnival goes all out with a street parade of colourful floats in the town centre. Joining the knees-up are pop singers, folk dancers and cabaret acts. They’ve even had Boney M on the guest list.

By day, this friendly family-run place serves slap-up breakfasts and has a pool table and TV screens where you can watch sport. It’s open-fronted, so always feels cool and breezy. By night, it’s a neon-lit party bar, famed for its generous-sized cocktails and lively atmosphere. The fishbowl cocktails are a particular favourite, among those in-the-know.

Evenings in Hisaronu kick off in the bars, with a variety of entertainment – take your pick of live music, karaoke, drag acts, and Elvis impersonators. Towards midnight, Hisaronu really comes alive with pumping music, cocktails, foam parties and dancing on the bars. There are more laidback options near the fairground to the west of the town – outdoor seating and classic rock and pop give these places a relaxed feel.