Belek is a town on Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast, known for its beaches, thermal spas, and golf courses.
It's very popular with tourists because it's well located, close to archaeological sites including the Roman amphitheater, Aspendos and the ancient city of Perge.
In this article, you will find all the interesting things to do in Belek, especially the main attractions, like theme parks, golf courses, and beach resorts.
Additionally, if you want to escape from beautiful Belek for a day trip, you will also find the most popular day trips departing from Belek.
Let's start with the best things to do in Belek!
1. The Land of Legends Theme Park
Near Belek, a bit off the coast, is a huge entertainment center called the Land of Legends.
Upon entering the resort, you are taken into the world of fairy tales, and the concept continues throughout the entire facility. It's not for nothing that the resort is called the Disneyland of Antalya.
The huge water park offers a total of 55 water slides and an adventure park attraction with all imaginable rides, including gondola rides on the canal, popcorn, donuts stands, and fairy tale characters wherever you look.
A true paradise for children. Especially worth mentioning are the shows every evening with lights and lasers and the amazing shopping mall with more than 100 shops.
These activities attract millions of visitors each year and has been the #1 activity picked by tourists since it opened.
- Read more and book your stay in the Land of Legends Theme Park in Antalya on this dedicated page with special deals.
2. Stay at a Beach Resort
The Turkish Riviera offers more than 630 kilometers of coastline. With so much choice, it's often difficult to choose a beach.
Konyaaltı Beach is set against the imposing backdrop of the Taurus Mountains, Mermerli Beach, a stony sandy beach, is located right by the harbor and is accessible by the stairs of a restaurant, while Marmara Beach can only be reached by elevator.
Families will prefer Cleopatra Beach near Alanya, and the 18-kilometer Patara Beach near Kaş is known for its white sand.
Lara Beach will impresses you with its proximity to Düden Waterfalls, which plunge directly into the sea, whereas Olympos Beach stands out for its closeness to nature and wildlife.
Here you can spend the night in a tree house and watch the sea turtles. Kalkan is surrounded by high cliffs and has the charming flair of a fishing village.
Looking for affordable resort choices in Antalya? We have amazing selections created by professionals from the region. You can also check out our guide to the best beaches around Antalya:
3. Play Golf
Belek is located about 30 kilometers east of Antalya and is one of the biggest golf destinations in Turkey.
Over 320 days of sunshine a year create the best conditions for the sport, which has been steadily gaining in popularity over the last few years.
With more than 20 modern international standard facilities, it's the seaside resort with the widest choice for golfers on the Mediterranean coast and is considered a golfers' paradise par excellence.
Many resorts have their own golf courses, which can also be played under floodlights.
- List of the Best Golf Hotels in Belek
- Find out About the Best Golf Courses in Belek
- Here is our Guide to Sports in Antalya for more ideas
4. Ancient Aspendos Theatre
About 40 kilometers east of Antalya is Aspendos, famous for its Roman Theater dating back to the 2nd century AD.
It's considered one of the best preserved in the world and is still used as a venue during the summer months.
The International Opera and Ballet Festival is held here every year in June. In addition, the famous show "Fire of Anatolia" is performed in the theater of Aspendos.
Visiting a performance in the ancient theater is certainly an unforgettable experience. Definitely a very popular must-visit place in Belek.
- Read the fully detailed article about Aspendos in Antalya and learn all about it for your visit.
5. Day Trip to Antalya
Visiting Antalya, just 32 kilometers from Belek, for a day trip can be a great option to escape the beach-hotel routine. Explore the city starting from the old town of Kaleiçi, the historical center.
Hadrian's Gate in Antalya, Hıdırlık Tower, Yivliminare Mosque, Kesik Minaret, and Kaleiçi, with its narrow streets, historic houses, and ancient marina, covers an area about 1 km in diameter. It's quite easy to explore all of it on foot.
Don't miss Düden Waterfalls (Lower Düden Waterfall and Upper Düden Waterfall), and if you have time and feel like it, go to the Antalya Aquarium afterwards.
Here, in a total of 64 tanks and 40 themed aquariums, you can see around 5,000 fish and underwater creatures.
Particularly impressive is the world's largest tunnel aquarium, a 131-meter-long and 3-meter-wide tunnel that passes under the tanks and makes you feel as if you are swimming with the sharks...
- For more information about Antalya, read our complete Guide to Antalya's Old Town (Kaleiçi) and discover 22 of the best things to do in Kaleiçi Antalya.
6. Visit Manavgat Bazaar
Every day there is a market in Manavgat. The open-air market in the small county town, 75 kilometers east of Antalya, is one of the largest in the region.
The fixed, covered bazaar in the center of town is held every day. You can find leather, jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, spices, hand-woven carpets, and much more.
Every Monday and Thursday, an additional market is set up in the side streets, which is divided into two areas. In one, mainly clothes and textile products are sold.
Here you can find many famous label imitation products - which are not allowed to be imported into Germany. In the other part, farmers sell their regional products; here everything is about fruit and vegetables.
- More details about the famous Manavgat Bazaar in Antalya
- Also check out our guide to Markets and Bazaar in the Antalya Region in general. You will find treasures you should not to miss.
7. Visit Ormana and Altınbeşik
The village of Ormana is located in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, about 95 kilometers from Belek.
It is famous for its button houses, built only of stone and boards without nails or cement. Perhaps you would like to go mushroom picking in the mountains, where you might find the morel mushroom, the second most expensive edible mushroom in the world, after the truffle
From here, you can go to the famous Altınbeşik Cave and National Park in Antalya and have a visit. It translates to "Golden Cradle" and the cave is 5.5 kilometers long, the largest underground sea cave in Turkey and the third largest in Europe. You can go inside the cave in rubber dinghies.
We recommend renting a car to get to Ormana. If you don't want to do that, you can join one of the organized tours that leave from Belek and Avsallar.
8. Excursion to Pamukkale
Pamukkale is famous for its hot springs and white limestone terraces. Hot, calcium-rich water springs from the earth and pours over the cliffs. As it cools, dramatic travertines of hard, brilliant white calcium form pools.
Pamukkale gets its name from these natural formations; translated, it means "cotton castle". The terraces are 2,700 meters long and 160 meters high.
Right next to the travertines is the ancient city of Hierapolis, whose ruins mostly date back to Roman times. Hierapolis and Pamukkale have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1988.
Pamukkale is about 280 kilometers from Belek, in the province of Denizli. Day trips from Belek take about 14 hours, with 3 hours spent at the travertines. During this time, there is the possibility to swim in various thermal baths.
Visit our detailed guide for day trips to Pamukkale from Antalya. You will learn what to expect and how much time and money you need to do this excursion.
9. Rafting at Köprülü Canyon
Turkey's largest rafting center is 62 kilometers from Belek. Köprülü Canyon is a 366 km2 canyon and national park in Antalya. Here you will find white water and rapids of all sizes and levels of difficulty.
Rafting on 12 kilometers of ice-cold spring water under the scorching heat of the sun is a wonderful experience. Also, rafting can be done all year round here.
Within Köprülü Canyon lies Tazı Canyon, also called Eagles Canyon. It's a natural canyon formed by streams. To get there, you have to hike about 11 km through steep rocks high in the mountains to finally be rewarded with a fantastic view.
In recent years, Tazı Canyon has become a popular Instagram motif. The pictures with the large boulders bordering the 300-meter-high cliffs are the most popular.
Day trips are available if you are staying between Antalya and Belek. These are often a combination of rafting and canyoning adventures.
- More details about Köprülü Canyon in Manavgat
- More details about Tazi Canyon in Manavgat
- Check our full Guide to Rafting in Antalya
- More Canyons in Antalya
10. Olympos Teleferik Cable Car
Every 10 minutes, the red cabins of the cable car go from the beach in Kemer to Tahtalı Mountain, better known as Olympos.
With a length of 4,350 meters, the Olympos Teleferik cable car is one of the longest cable cars in the world. The ride up the 2,365-meter mountain takes about 10 minutes, the panorama is stunning, even the ancient remains of Phaselis can be seen.
From the top of the mountain, during good weather, you can even see Alanya.
In addition to the fantastic view, various sports activities are offered on the summit, including paragliding.
- Read more details about the Olympos Teleferik in Antalya
- Read more details about Olympos Beach in Antalya
- Read more details about the Ancient City of Olympos
11. Daily Tour to the Ancient City of Myra, Kekova Island, and St. Nicholas Church
With an organized tour to the ancient city of Myra, Kekova, and St Nicholas Church, you can spend an interesting day.
Myra is famous for its Lycian rock tombs, Roman theater, and the Church of St Nicholas, dedicated to the man who became the inspiration for Santa Claus. Later sainted, Bishop Nicholas of Myra is said to have been very active in helping the poor and needy.
Afterwards, enjoy a boat trip across the sea to the island of Kekova. Beneath the clear water, you can see the remains of Simena, a city devastated by earthquakes about two thousand years ago.
Myra is approximately 165 kilometers from Belek. Day trips from Belek take about 11 hours.
- Read more and get to know the Ancient City of Myra in Antalya before your visit.
- Complete article about visiting Kekova Island in Antalya.
- Learn everything about the Church of St Nicholas in Demre.
12. Manavgat River Cruise and Bazaar
The Manavgat River, one of the most important in the mediterranean region, flows through the middle of the city and then runs into the Mediterranean Sea.
Boat trips across the river start from the center of the city. They take about 3 to 4 hours and also pass by the impressive waterfall (read more about Manavgat Waterfall).
Here water plunges from 5 meter cliffs with an amazing spectacle. The high flow rate and speed of the river provide an ideal environment for rafting and similar water sports.
This area is home to many species of birds and fish. Mulberry trees, sycamore trees, willows, poplars, and elms flourish along the riverbank, where citrus orchards and greenhouses are also located.
- Read our Manavgat River Guide and learn about all the activities available around here.
13. Green Canyon Cruise
Near Manavgat is Green Canyon, which is one of the few canyons in Turkey that offer boat trips through the canyon.
The cruise takes you along the rugged rocky landscape over the Olymapınar Dam, which is one of the largest dams in Turkey, covering an area of 470 hectares.
The impressive canyon with its natural beauty and the Taurus Mountains provide the perfect backdrop.
At the various stops you can jump into the crystal clear water, swim in the emerald green lake and cool off. Usually, food and drinks are also included on these boat trips.
- Learn more about the amazing Green Canyon in Manavgat
- Have a look at other Canyons in the Antalya Region
- Do you like nature? Check out these 5 National Parks in Antalya
14. Side, Aspendos, and Manavgat Waterfall
On this full-day tour you will visit the famous coastal town of Side, which is primarily known for its beaches, but whose old town with ruins dating back more than 3,000 years is well worth seeing.
Most famous is the Temple of Apollo, whose 6 white columns are the town's landmark.
The Manavgat Waterfall is only about 8 kilometers away from Side. Here water plunges from 5-meter-high cliffs for an impressive sight.
Aspendos is famous for its Roman theater from the 2nd century AD. It is considered to be one of the best preserved in the world and is still used as a venue during the summer months.
From Belek, this day tour takes about 10 hours in total.
Check out more things to do in Side Old Town.
15. Jeep Safari in the Taurus Mountains
Jeep-Safaris are among the most popular tours in Antalya.
A full day excursion to the Taurus Mountains offers a welcome change from beach and sun bathing vacations. In the province of Antalya, these excursions are organized all over the region, your hotel can help you find one, for sure.
With a small group, you will drive in an open jeep into the mountains. Slowly the vehicle moves through the narrow and dusty roads through the pine forests, where some villages are hidden in the mountain range.
The safaris take you 900 meters above sea level. When you cross a riverbed, children especially enjoy the "water fights" between the jeeps. Lunch is served at a fish farm. Depending on the tour, there are also short breaks for swimming.
- If you prefer activities in the water, check our special guide to Water Sports in Antalya with all the details.
Now you know everything you need to know before going to Belek. These are the most important attractions in and around town.
If you liked this article, mention it in the comments below and make sure to check out other towns and things to do in the Antalya Province: