Things to Do in Belek: The Complete Guide

Belek is Turkey's capital of golf and luxury, a polished resort area of championship courses, five-star all-inclusive hotels, Blue Flag beaches and the giant Land of Legends theme park, all set in fragrant pine forest about 35 km east of Antalya. It is calmer and more upscale than the livelier resorts, and there is more to do than you might expect. Here are the best things to do in Belek.

Golf in Belek

Belek is the reason Turkey is a serious golf destination. It is home to a cluster of championship courses designed by big names, carved through the pines and kept in excellent condition, with golf hotels geared entirely around the game. The season runs long, with spring and autumn the prime playing months and summer manageable early and late in the day. Even non-golfers notice how green and manicured the whole area feels.

The Land of Legends

Belek's headline family attraction is the Land of Legends, one of the largest theme parks in the region, combining rollercoasters, a huge waterpark, shows, a dancing-fountain spectacle and a designer shopping avenue. It is right on Belek's doorstep and a full day out in itself, drawing visitors from all along the coast.

Beaches

Belek's beaches are long, sandy and Blue Flag, backed by pine forest and the resorts. Clean, spacious and well maintained, they are ideal for families and for relaxed days between rounds of golf or theme-park visits. The gentle sand and shallow entry suit children well.

Ancient sites nearby: Aspendos and Perge

Belek is superbly placed for two of the coast's greatest Roman sites. Aspendos has the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world, still used for performances and unforgettable to stand in. Perge, closer to the airport, is a vast site of colonnaded streets, a stadium and baths. Both are short drives from Belek and make a rewarding half day away from the beach, ideally with a car and driver who can wait for you.

Nature and river trips

Beyond the manicured resorts, the Köprülü Canyon national park to the north-east offers white-water rafting on the Köprü river and walks among pine forest and Roman remains, a popular active day trip from Belek. The Kurşunlu Waterfall nature park, back toward the airport, is a calmer green escape of pools and shaded paths.

Spas, dining and relaxation

Belek's luxury resorts are known for their spas and hammams, and a day of thermal pools, massage and a traditional scrub is very much part of the Belek experience. Dining is strong too, from resort à la carte restaurants to the shopping-avenue eateries at the Land of Legends. It is a place that does relaxation and comfort exceptionally well.

Köprülü Canyon and active days out

For a change from the beach, the Köprülü Canyon national park north-east of Belek is the coast's white-water rafting centre. Day trips take you up into pine-forested hills to raft the cool Köprü river through the gorge, past a Roman bridge and ancient remains, usually with lunch by the river included. It is a fun, refreshing and family-friendly adventure and one of the most popular active excursions from the Belek resorts, easily arranged with a tour or a private day trip.

Beaches and the outdoors

Belek's coast is a long ribbon of sandy Blue Flag beach backed by dunes and pine, giving it a natural, spacious feel despite the luxury resorts behind it. The area is also known for its wildlife and nature, including loggerhead turtle nesting on some stretches, and the flat, green landscape is pleasant for cycling and walking between the resorts and courses. It is an outdoors-friendly base that balances the manicured resort world with real nature close by.

Best time to visit Belek

Belek works well across a long season. Spring and autumn are prime for golf and comfortable for sightseeing at the nearby ancient sites, while summer is peak for the beaches, the Land of Legends waterpark and family holidays, if hot at midday. Winter is quiet and mild, good for a golf-and-spa break at lower prices. Our guide to the best time to visit Antalya helps you match the season to your priorities.

Who Belek suits

Belek is ideal for golfers, for families wanting a polished all-inclusive base with a world-class theme park nearby, and for couples after a calmer, more upscale holiday than the busier resorts. It is less about lively nightlife and more about quality, space and comfort. If you want livelier evenings, Alanya or the city are a better fit.

Where to stay in Belek

Belek is defined by its large, high-quality all-inclusive resorts, many set in their own grounds along the beach with pools, spas, à la carte restaurants and, in the golf hotels, direct access to the courses. There are adults-only and couples-focused resorts for a quieter stay, and sprawling family resorts with kids' clubs and waterslides, so it is worth matching the property to your group. Because the resorts are spacious and set back in pine forest, Belek feels calm and green rather than crowded, which is a big part of its appeal. Our guide to Antalya's all-inclusive areas compares Belek with the alternatives.

Spas, wellness and evenings

Belek does relaxation exceptionally well. Its resorts are known for extensive spas and traditional hammams, where a day of thermal pools, a steam, a scrub and a massage is a holiday highlight in itself, and wellness is a genuine reason many people choose the area. Evenings tend to be about resort dining, shows and a stroll rather than lively bars, in keeping with Belek's calmer character, though the Land of Legends shopping avenue offers a livelier night out with restaurants, entertainment and its fountain spectacle just up the road.

Combining Belek with day trips

Belek's position makes it a fine base for exploring. The ancient sites of Aspendos and Perge are close, the Köprülü Canyon rafting is a great active day, the Kurşunlu Waterfall nature park is nearby, and the city of Antalya with its old town and museum is a short drive west. Even the more distant sights, from Side to the Düden waterfalls, are within comfortable reach with a car and driver, so you can balance resort relaxation with real sightseeing across a week.

Dining and food in Belek

Dining in Belek revolves around the resorts, many of which offer extensive buffets and a choice of à la carte restaurants covering Turkish, Italian, seafood and other cuisines, often as part of ultra all-inclusive packages. Beyond the hotels, the Land of Legends shopping avenue has a wide range of restaurants and cafes for a night out, and there are local eateries in Belek town for a more everyday, better-value meal. As ever in Turkey, it is worth venturing out at least once for authentic local food rather than eating only at the hotel, and a Turkish breakfast or a seafood dinner is a good place to start.

Practical tips for a Belek holiday

Belek is an easy, comfortable base, but a few tips help. Because the resorts are large and spread out in pine forest, getting between the hotel, the beach and the town can involve a shuttle, a bike or a short taxi, so check what your resort provides. For the golf, book tee times in advance in the busy spring and autumn seasons. Carry some cash for tips, local cafes and market stalls, and remember that although the resorts are self-contained, the ancient sites, the Land of Legends and the city of Antalya are all within easy reach with a car and driver, so you can mix relaxation with real sightseeing across your stay.

Booking golf and planning your days

If golf is central to your trip, book tee times in advance, especially in the busy spring and autumn seasons when the courses are at their most popular, and check whether your hotel has a golf package or preferential access to particular courses. Many golf resorts arrange transport to the courses and can sort equipment hire, so ask when you book. Around the golf, leave room for the beach, the spa and a day trip or two, as Belek's calm pace suits a mix of activity and relaxation across a week.

Is Belek right for you?

Belek is ideal if you want quality, comfort and calm rather than a lively, bustling resort. Golfers, families wanting a polished all-inclusive base with the Land of Legends nearby, and couples after a relaxed, upscale holiday all find it a great fit. It is less suited to those seeking a buzzing nightlife or a lively town atmosphere, which Alanya or the city provide better. If a spacious, green, high-quality resort area with world-class golf, sandy beaches and easy access to major ancient sites appeals, Belek is one of the finest choices on the whole coast, and its short 35-minute transfer only adds to the appeal.

How to get to Belek

Belek is about 35 km east of Antalya Airport, a comfortable 35-minute drive on the fast O-21 and D400 roads, making it one of the easier resort transfers. A private transfer takes you door to door at a fixed price with free child seats, ideal after a flight. See prices on our Belek transfer page and the full destinations page.