Altinkum

Holidays to Altinkum in Turkey give you 2 resorts in one. You get a fancy marina and lively nightlife on the spot, while walk-to neighbour Didim is all traditional restaurants and Roman ruins.

A meeting of old and new

Altinkum sits on the coast of Turkey’s Aydin province. It’s a bit of a 2-for-1 deal here. The resort itself is a relatively modern number that comes with a shiny new marina and plenty of lively bars and clubs. But then the place blends effortlessly into its walk-to neighbour Didim, a more traditional set-up with tucked-away restaurants and Roman ruins. And of course such a perfect pairing wouldn’t be complete without a beach – or 3, in fact.

Triple-beach action

With sand hugging both sides of town, Altinkum gives you one whole kilometre to play with. First Beach – as it’s aptly called – comes with a long promenade that’s packed with bars and restaurants. You’ve got a good quota of sunloungers, pedalos and jet-skis for hire here. Then there’s the brilliantly named Second Beach. Tucked away to the east, this one has scaled down on the watersports and eating places. As for Third Beach, that’s near the marina.

Daytrips to Ephesus

About an hour and a half’s drive and you’re at the ancient city of Ephesus. At this vast 3,000-year-old site, you can still see the scars of chariot wheels on the marble streets. There’s what’s left of a 25,000-seater amphitheatre, a library that used to hold 12,000 scrolls and several gymnasiums – sort of Roman-style fitness centres. You’ve also got any number of monuments and temples – plus a rather intriguing brothel.