Things To Do in Lara Beach

The hotels serve a packed menu of sports, both in and out of the water. The sea here is warm and shallow, making it excellent watersports territory, and you can try your hand at jet-skiing, parasailing or windsurfing. And if you’d rather stay dry, you can rent a catamaran and explore the coast – or there’s always beach volleyball.

Honey-making is an art form around these parts, and the Turks produce some of the sweetest of the sweet stuff. The focus of their beekeeping pride is this annual festival, which takes place in the Gundogmus area of Antalya. It’s a great excuse to sample different varieties from the country’s top producers. And the honey makes a perfect take-home gift, too.

A free shuttle bus scoots you over to this two-storey shopping centre. It’s got 70 stores where you’ll find loads of big-name brands along with traditional souvenirs. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants, and when you’ve cleaned up at the shops you can have a steam and polish in the Turkish bath here.

Known as ‘Turkey’s biggest little festival’, SunSplash feels like a private beach party which just so happens to feature music from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay and Mad Professor. Only 500 tickets get dished out each year so you’ll need to be quick, though. A day pass costs 130-230 Lira.

The Düden River makes a rather dramatic exit just west of Lara Beach, hurling itself from the top of a 40-metre cliff into the sea. You can visit the falls on land, but the best way to see them is on a boat trip from the harbour at Antalya. You’ll get the most impressive view in late spring when the river is at its fullest.

The plush Titanic Resort has several smart restaurants. You’ll find this one on the decked terrace overlooking the sprawling swimming pool below. Food-wise, you’re looking at classic Italian dishes. Here it’s all about the attention to detail, from the cappuccino powder on the tiramisu to the authentic wine list. It’s open for late-night snacks between midnight and 3am, too.

The hotels have in-house minimarkets and gift shops, or you can take the free shuttle bus to the Sultan Bazaar. Considered one of Turkey’s best shopping malls, it’s got over 70 shops. Here you’ll find designer brands sitting alongside traditional souvenirs, like hand-painted ceramics. And when you’re done shopping, you can have a Turkish bath at the hammam.

The watchword at the hotels is choice, which means you’ll find sushi, Italian and everything in between at their in-house restaurants. One night you can take your pick from the buffet, the next you can try local specialities like fresh kebabs or gozleme, a Turkish take on pizza. These are a class apart from the ones you’ll find back home.

Dine in the style of the Yoruks – a tribe of Turkish nomads – at this quirky eating place. It’s a spacious tent with picnic-style tables inside and out. The menu here is simple. You can choose between stone-baked pizzas or gozleme – savoury Turkish pancakes filled with goodies like spinach and feta cheese. After dinner, you can relax in one of the hammocks you’ll find hanging around nearby.

If you’re staying in one of the major hotels, you’ll probably get your own private chunk of beach. If you don’t, though – or you just fancy a change – the main strip offers an added dash of watersports like jet skiing and parasailing. And you’ll never be far from a beach bar – some will even deliver drinks and snacks direct to your lounger.

This bar sits on stilts over the swimming pool, with views over the beach. It’s the heart and soul of the hotel and draws an all-day crowd. In the afternoon they come for burgers and salads. Later on, it’s about the cocktails and entertainment. The disco kicks off at around 10.30pm and goes on until about 2am.

The hotels really go to town when it comes to nightlife, energetically putting on all sorts of quiz nights, live shows and discos. Venue-wise, you’ll find you can take your pick from poolside bars and chic cocktail lounges. Or, for a taste of real Turkish nightlife, you can always cab it into Antalya.