Which destination suits your kind of holiday?
Would you like a beach within walking distance, a garden for long summer stays or a city apartment for frequent breaks? A holiday home in Turkey can offer each of these. Choosing the destination first helps you find a home you will enjoy using.
The Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara coasts have different attractions. This guide looks at eight places, from the beach towns of Alanya and Side to the bays around Bodrum and the streets of Istanbul.
Having a place of your own
With your own home, you can leave familiar things in place and return without searching for accommodation each time. As you get to know the neighbourhood, holidays can begin to feel less like a visit and more like coming back.
- A home within your budget: A compact apartment and a villa with a garden offer different possibilities. Allow for furnishing, upkeep and shared charges as well as the purchase price.
- The option to let: Renting out the home while you are away may contribute to its costs, although income varies. Tourism rentals of up to 100 days require a permit in Turkey, so establish what is possible for the property before planning around this income.
- Plenty to enjoy nearby: Established holiday destinations bring beaches, restaurants and excursions within reach, whether you are visiting for a few days or a longer break.
- Comfortable longer stays: Nearby shops, transport and healthcare help you settle into a routine when you have time to stay for a month or two.
From the Mediterranean coast to Istanbul
Alanya has the appeal of a beach holiday with a busy town close at hand. Cleopatra Beach, the castle and the Red Tower are familiar landmarks, while restaurants and walking routes line the waterfront.
There are boat trips, diving and excursions into the countryside when you want a change from the beach. Shops, sports facilities and healthcare also make longer stays practical. You can travel through either Gazipaşa or Antalya Airport.
If you are looking for a home in Alanya, you will find central apartments, residences with shared pools and villas on the hillsides. Decide whether being able to walk everywhere matters most to you, or whether you would prefer more space and a view above the town.
Antalya brings the variety of a large city to a holiday by the sea. Kaleiçi is a place for wandering through old streets and stopping at cafés, while the wider city offers shopping, cultural venues and everyday services.
You can spend a day on the beach, visit a waterfall or head to an ancient site in the surrounding area. Evenings might mean dinner by the old harbour, live music or a quiet meal near home.
A property in Antalya can work well for regular short visits as well as longer stays. Getting to know the neighbourhood is part of finding the right one: try the journey to the beach and spend some time on the streets where you might live.
Kemer is a place to enjoy the sea with wooded mountains just behind the coast. The cable car up Tahtalı Mountain and the shore around Phaselis offer easy ideas for a day out. Restaurants and shops in the centre keep things convenient when you want to stay nearby.
There are apartments and villas in Kemer in shared developments and on individual plots. Pools, spa facilities and beach access vary between homes, so check which of your favourite features are included.
Side has ancient remains woven into the holiday town. The Temple of Apollo stands by the water, and the old town puts restaurants and beach life close together. Trips towards Manavgat bring more variety to a stay.
An apartment with shared gardens and a pool can leave more time for enjoying the holiday. Such homes form part of the property choice in Side, alongside houses for buyers who would like their own outdoor space.
Bodrum is the name of both a town and a peninsula with several places to explore. Marinas, sailing and sheltered bays are part of its appeal. A lively town centre and a quieter coastal village can feel quite different, even within the same holiday region.
That variety makes looking for a home around Bodrum an opportunity to discover which setting you enjoy most. Visit more than one part of the peninsula before settling on an address, and allow for the different journeys from the airport.
Fethiye is a working harbour town with markets, cafés and shops used by residents and visitors alike. Mountains frame the area, and the surrounding coast offers plenty of outings. Ölüdeniz is one of its best-known places for a day by the sea.
Butterfly Valley, the Saklıkent gorge and the Lycian rock tombs offer more to discover. They are spread across the area, so think about where you would most enjoy spending ordinary days between excursions.
A garden or a generous terrace can become a favourite part of owning a holiday home. The apartments and houses in Fethiye include semi-detached homes and detached villas, with different amounts of outdoor space to look after.
Istanbul suits people who return for food, culture and the pleasure of exploring a city. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Spice Bazaar are among the landmarks. The Princes’ Islands provide a quieter change of scene.
An apartment of your own lets you discover another neighbourhood on each visit. When looking at homes in Istanbul, start with the places you want to reach easily. Convenient public transport may be more useful to you than a long list of facilities in the building.
Mersin is a substantial Mediterranean city with a coastline that continues towards a series of beach resorts. You can stay close to city restaurants and services or look further along the coast for a different holiday setting.
The marina is a pleasant place for dinner by the water. Kızkalesi and Susanoğlu are well-known coastal destinations, and the wider region has historic sites such as Aya Tekla. Distances matter if you plan to fit several outings into one stay.
There are new and older apartments as well as houses among the homes for sale in Mersin. Make time to explore their surroundings in person; it is a good way to imagine the holidays you could spend there.
Tell us how you like to spend your holidays, and we will help you find a place that feels right.
TERRA Real Estate ® is a licensed real estate company operating since 2004, holding the Official Authorization Certificate for Real Estate Transactions issued and supervised by the Turkish Ministry of Commerce. We can help you compare areas and arrange property viewings.
Call our office in Turkey on +90 242 512 25 00, contact us on WhatsApp at +90 532 341 67 54 (@terrarealestate), or send us a message with your plans. If you are already in the area, we can arrange collection from your accommodation for a free viewing with no obligation. You are also welcome at our Alanya office at Atatürk Blv. 62.