Last updated: August 2026
Turkey holidays offer one of the most exceptional combinations of value, climate, beaches and history available anywhere in the world.
From the turquoise bays of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts to the extraordinary mosques and bazaars of Istanbul, Turkey consistently delivers more per pound than almost any comparable European or Mediterranean destination.
Turkey holidays suit every type of traveller. Families find outstanding all-inclusive hotels with long sandy beaches and calm warm water.
Couples discover boutique villages with rooftop restaurants and extraordinary sunsets. History enthusiasts explore ancient ruins that span 8,000 years of continuous civilisation.
Golfers access championship courses with guaranteed sunshine from March to November.
The beach season runs from late April to late October — longer than Greece, Spain or Croatia. The sea reaches 28°C in August.
Value for money is consistently exceptional. And the food — fresh fish, grilled meats, mezze, wood-fired pide and extraordinary sweets — is among the finest in the Mediterranean world.
Turkey holidays deliver more sunshine, more history and more value than almost any other holiday destination in the world.
The country has 8,000 kilometres of coastline, over 300 days of sunshine per year across most resort areas and a hotel industry that has invested heavily in quality over the past two decades.
The value proposition is hard to beat. Turkey holidays consistently outperform Greek islands, the Algarve and the Balearics on price for equivalent or higher quality.
The Turkish Lira exchange rate has made this advantage even more pronounced in recent years, with meals, excursions and local products particularly inexpensive by UK standards.
The ancient history is extraordinary. Turkey was home to some of the most important civilisations in world history — the Hittites, the Lydians, the Greeks, the Persians, the Romans and the Byzantines all left monuments of remarkable scale and quality.
Turkey holidays put you within reach of more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other single destination in the Mediterranean.
The food is outstanding. Turkish cuisine — fresh fish from the Aegean and Mediterranean, wood-fired flatbreads, slow-cooked lamb, mezze of thirty varieties, and pastries soaked in honey and pistachios — is one of the world’s great culinary traditions. Eating in Turkey is genuinely pleasurable at all price points.
The hospitality is genuine. Turkish culture places great emphasis on welcoming guests, and the warmth of interaction with local people — in restaurants, markets, hotels and chance encounters — is one of the most consistently mentioned reasons UK visitors return to Turkey year after year.
The Turkish Aegean Coast runs from the Greek border south to the start of the Turquoise Coast, encompassing some of Turkey’s most established and diverse holiday destinations.
Bodrum is the most cosmopolitan resort on the Aegean — a whitewashed town around a medieval crusader castle with a world-class marina, excellent restaurants and a sophisticated nightlife scene. The Bodrum Peninsula has over a dozen distinct resort bays, each with its own character.
Kusadasi is the gateway to Ephesus — one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the world — and offers a long beach, good nightlife and easy access to the Aegean’s islands by ferry. Turkey holidays based at Kusadasi suit those who want beach and culture in equal measure.
The Bodrum Peninsula resorts — Turgutreis, Yalikavak, Bitez and Ortakent-Yahsi — offer quieter, more boutique alternatives to central Bodrum for Turkey holidays focused on relaxation and natural beauty.
The Turkish Mediterranean Coast is Turkey’s busiest holiday zone and home to the country’s largest international airport at Antalya. The coast runs east from Kemer to Side, combining spectacular mountain scenery, ancient ruins and some of Turkey’s finest beaches.
Antalya is both a major holiday resort and a sophisticated city. Its beautifully preserved old town (Kaleici), the Roman harbour and Hadrian’s Gate give it cultural depth that pure beach resorts cannot match. Nearby Aspendos, Perge and Termessos are three of Turkey’s most impressive ancient sites.
Belek is Turkey’s golf capital with more than ten championship courses. Lara Beach, with its 5km of fine sand just 15 minutes from Antalya Airport, is the premier all-inclusive destination. Side combines two sandy beaches with the dramatic Temple of Apollo at its seafront tip.
Turkey holidays on the Mediterranean Coast offer exceptional value for the quality of hotel and beach available — consistently outperforming equivalent resorts in Greece and Spain on every metric except relative familiarity.
The Turkish Turquoise Coast — running west from Marmaris through Fethiye to Kalkan — is named for the extraordinary colour of its water: a vivid blue-green created by the clarity of the sea and the light limestone seabed below.
Marmaris is the main resort, with an 8km beach, a magnificent marina and a lively bar and restaurant scene. Icmeler, just 8km around the bay, offers a quieter, more family-friendly alternative with exceptionally calm water.
Fethiye is the Turquoise Coast’s cultural heart — a working market town with magnificent Lycian rock tombs and the best gulet harbour on the coast. The Blue Lagoon at Olu Deniz, 15km away, is one of the world’s most beautiful natural features.
Kalkan is the most upmarket resort on the coast — a boutique hilltop village with rooftop terrace restaurants, luxury pool villas and access to Patara Beach, arguably the finest stretch of undeveloped sand in Turkey.
Turkey holidays in Kalkan appeal to those who want natural beauty and excellent food over mass-market hotel facilities.
Istanbul holidays offer one of the world’s great city experiences: a metropolis of 15 million people straddling two continents, with a skyline of domes and minarets that has been photographed more than almost any other cityscape on Earth.
The Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar are all within walking distance of each other in the Sultanahmet district — arguably the densest concentration of world-class monuments in any city.
Turkey holidays combining Istanbul with a coastal resort give the best of both worlds in a single trip.
Istanbul is served by Istanbul Airport (IST) — Europe’s second-busiest — with direct flights from virtually every UK airport. The city is an ideal two-to-five night extension to any Turkish beach holiday, or a standalone city break at any time of year.
Turkey holidays benefit from one of the most reliable climates in Europe. The coastal resort areas receive between 280 and 320 days of sunshine per year. The beach season runs from late April to late October across most resorts.
May and June are excellent months for Turkey holidays. Temperatures are warm (25–30°C), the sea is swimmable from mid-May, resorts are active but not at peak capacity and prices are lower than July and August. Spring flowers are in bloom and the countryside is at its most colourful.
July and August are the hottest and busiest months. Temperatures regularly reach 35–40°C inland, though sea breezes keep the coastal resorts more comfortable. All hotels, restaurants and activities operate at full capacity. Families with school-age children typically travel in these months.
September and October are consistently rated the best months for Turkey holidays by repeat visitors. The sea is at its warmest (25–27°C), temperatures are comfortable (25–32°C), the resorts are less crowded and prices drop noticeably from August peaks. October is excellent for walking, sailing and sightseeing.
Istanbul is excellent year-round. Summer (June–August) is hot and busy. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable sightseeing conditions. Winter is mild by northern European standards and hotel prices are at their lowest.
Turkey holidays offer access to a depth and variety of ancient history that no other single Mediterranean destination can match. This land has been continuously settled for over 10,000 years and was the heartland of some of the ancient world’s greatest civilisations.
Ephesus (near Kusadasi) is one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. The Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre (capacity 25,000), the colonnaded main street and the Temple of Artemis remains are extraordinary in scale and quality.
Aspendos (near Antalya) has the finest preserved Roman theatre on Earth — still used for opera and ballet performances. The stage building, with its original second-storey arcade, stands virtually intact after 1,800 years.
Troy (near Canakkale) is a site of legendary resonance — the real city that inspired Homer’s Iliad. Nine successive city layers, spanning 4,000 years of occupation, have been excavated on the hill of Hisarlik.
The Lycian rock tombs along the Turquoise Coast, the Byzantine churches of Istanbul, the Hittite capitals of central Anatolia and the cave churches of Cappadocia add further extraordinary layers to any Turkey holiday itinerary.
Turkey has five main international airports serving holiday visitors from UK airports. Choosing the right gateway is key to an enjoyable Turkey holiday experience.
Antalya Airport (AYT) is Turkey’s second-busiest international airport and serves the entire Turkish Mediterranean Coast — Antalya, Kemer, Lara Beach, Belek and Side. Flight time from UK: approximately 4 hours. Direct flights from most major UK airports.
Dalaman Airport (DLM) serves the Turquoise Coast — Marmaris, Icmeler, Fethiye and Kalkan. Flight time from UK: approximately 4 hours. Direct flights from major UK airports throughout summer.
Bodrum-Milas Airport (BJV) serves Bodrum and the Bodrum Peninsula. Flight time from UK: approximately 4 hours. Charter and scheduled flights from UK airports.
Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) serve Istanbul and act as hubs for onward connections. Flight time from UK: approximately 3.5 hours. Year-round direct flights from London and regional UK airports.
All airports have efficient transfer services to their respective resort areas. Turkey holidays are well served by UK tour operators including TUI, Jet2 and easyJet, as well as Turkish Airlines for scheduled services.
| Main holiday airports | Antalya (AYT), Dalaman (DLM), Bodrum-Milas (BJV), Istanbul (IST) |
| Flight time from UK | 3.5–4 hours depending on airport |
| Time zone | GMT+3 (no daylight saving) |
| Currency | Turkish Lira (TRY); euros and pounds widely accepted in resorts |
| Best beach months | May–October; peak Jul–Aug |
| Sea temperature | 20–22°C Jun · 27–28°C Aug · 24–26°C Sep |
| Visa | Turkish e-Visa required — apply online at evisa.gov.tr before travel |
| Language | Turkish; English widely spoken in resorts and Istanbul |
| Main coast regions | Aegean Coast, Mediterranean Coast, Turquoise Coast |
| Top city break | Istanbul — 3.5 hours from UK |
Look for ABTA membership, ATOL protection or ABTOT cover — these schemes protect your money if an operator ceases trading before or during your holiday. For a plain-English guide to what each scheme covers, read our holiday protection guide.
Yes, the main Turkish holiday resorts are safe and welcoming destinations for UK visitors. Antalya, Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye, Istanbul and all the main coastal resorts have well-established tourism infrastructure and millions of UK visitors travel there safely every year.
The FCDO travel advice page provides up-to-date guidance. Travel insurance is always recommended.
Yes, UK citizens need a Turkish e-Visa before travel. This is applied for online at the official evisa.gov.tr website and is typically approved within minutes.
The e-Visa allows stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It is not available on arrival and must be obtained before departure.
The cost is modest and the process is straightforward.
Lara Beach (near Antalya), Side, Icmeler and Marmaris are consistently rated the best family destinations for Turkey holidays. All four offer sandy or shingle beaches with calm water, large family-friendly hotels with all-inclusive options, and short airport transfers.
Lara Beach has the shortest transfer from Antalya Airport at just 15 minutes.
May, June and September offer the best combination of warm weather, swimmable sea, active resorts and lower prices for Turkey holidays. July and August are hotter and more crowded but all facilities are at full operation.
October remains warm and is excellent for those who prefer quieter beaches and lower hotel rates. Istanbul is good year-round.
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