Altinkum is split into three principal ‘beach’ areas – First (Main) beach, Second and Third Beaches
The First Beach is the focal point for the resort, being the most accessible. Its long promenade gently curves around the bay, encouraging romantic couples of every age, family groups, gaggles of flirtatious boys and girls, to stroll up and down this sociable avenue. The many bars and restaurants provide ideal stop off points to sit and watch this strolling world. From left to right, and up into Dolphin Square, the choice of eateries is plentiful.
Sunbeds and umbrellas can be hired daily on the beach. Place yourself in front of your favourite restaurant and the waiters will bring your drinks out to you. With drink and food vendors parading the length of the beach at regular intervals, you won’t have to move all day.
At night, the promenade comes alive with the fusion of traditional Turkish folk music played live in many of the bars. Turkish and Western pop and dance music seeps out onto the street from several of the nightclubs that stay open till the early hours of the morning. Yet a little further up the promenade, the evening becomes more tranquil and sedate, with a number of restaurants and bars creating a much calmer ambience – an ambience where quiet contemplation of the fantastic views across the bay are interrupted only by your waiter refilling your glass.
The beach here is long and broad and sandy. During peak season Turkish and English families share the expanse of beach. The shallow sea waters are dotted along the break with young children enjoying their first taste of beach life. Further out groups of gossiping men cool off in the salty waters that reach no higher than waist height for a good hundred or so metres.
The Second Beach is tucked away behind some of the larger hotels and apartment blocks. Small yet perfectly formed, it is fed by its own many neighbourhood bars and restaurants.
The Third Beach is located away in a small inlet a little further round the bay from the main resort. There are a couple of now infamous restaurants right on the beach that also provide a free bus service that will take you back to you own apartment.
There are many more small coves and bays dotted up and down this particular bit of coastline. For those with a sense of adventure, you could hire a car and suss out your own little beach – you’d probably find a few ‘undiscovered’ gems that would give you peace and solitude hour after hour if that is what you wanted.
As you grow familiar with Altinkum, you will also get to know other resorts and areas associated with the town. Here are just a few…
Didim/Yenihisar – this is the main town that feeds the holiday resort that is Altinkum. Didim is a busy, thriving year round town which also houses the now famous Saturday market.
Yesilkenti – is a small vllage right on the tip of the peninsula. Leave Altinkum with the sea on your right, and you enter Yesilkent with it on your left. It is made up of principally large traditional Turkish villas set in quiet, mature residential streets that are closed to most traffic. Gentle, charming, minutes to the beach, Yesilkent is ideal for those looking for peace and quiet, yet with the liveliness of the resort just a short bus or taxi ride away.
Mavishehir – another small, very traditional Turkish holiday village, with its own beach, park, market and café life.
Akbuk – a long, sprawling resort that hugs the coastline south of Altinkum for several miles. There are a number of great sea food restaurants and pide (Turkish pizza) places that have uninterrupted sea views. Many say that Akbuk is following fast in Altinkum’s wake in terms of tourism and property investment and development.