Altinkum means ‘Golden Sands’ and with its beautiful beaches which gently shelve into the inviting turquoise blue Aegean, you will know where it gets it name from. The beaches are ideal for children and non-swimmers as the waters are shallow and clear. There are plenty of water sports, pedalos, banana boat rides and donut rides all at a reasonable price. There are numerous boat trips you can take from the small harbour that runs along the beach front. You can even arrange diving courses and fishing tours.
You don’t even have to leave your sun lounger to get refreshments, there are plenty of people who will serve you a soft cold drink, the famous apple tea or even a Nescafe and they will bring it to you. There is also fresh fruit for sale. The shops and bars are a minute away so you can even get hot food (jacket potatoes etc) cold beers and take them onto the beach. This beach is known as the ‘Main Beach’ and can be reached by a 5 – 10 minute walk from our beautiful apartment.
There is also a more quieter and secluded beach in the area known as ‘Third Beach’. This can be reached by a 5 minute walk from the apartment. It is smaller than main beach and is very peaceful. There are lots of water sports, banana boats etc., there are three bars/restaurants who will bring your drinks etc., to your sun lounger so no need for you to move. They will even take you home at the end of the day as they all provide a free mini bus service. You can also arrange for them to pick you up the following morning to take you to the beach at no charge. Some say that this beach is one of the best in Altinkum.
Night Life in Altinkum:
Altinkum literally vibrates in summer as bars, pubs and clubs are lined in downtown Altinkum with different kinds of music and entertainment. It is not overbearing and there is something for everyone ranging from discos and lively bars to the more relaxed where you can have a quiet drink. Altinkum is as lively or as quiet as you like it. The harbour and Dolphin Square is lined with lively venues, you can also opt for one of the back street bars, which are much quieter. There are numerous restaurants and a wide range of different cuisines – ranging from English, Italian, Mexican, Turkish, Chinese to name but a few.
There are plenty of Turkish speciality dishes which we recommend you try as they are delicious. If you order the Turkish dish which is cooked in a traditional clay pot you will have the full treatment of it being brought out with fire, dancing etc., something not to be missed. All are reasonably priced. You can even get the good old Sunday roast which is excellent value. There are many beachfront restaurants and cafes where you can dine under the clear moonlit skies overlooking the waters edge. The Medusa Nightclub is an open air club in Altinkum which has a laser show and the latest up-to-date music. The Medusa Nightclub can be found along Yali Street, just past the all the restaurant. Just walk along the main promenade walking away from the harbour and follow the road upwards and you cannot miss it.
Shopping in Altinkum:
Altinkum (also known as Didim) runs a weekly market which is held on a Saturday. The local dolmus will take you there they come every 5 – 10 mins. It is a very large market and worth a visit. Here you can buy a huge variety of things, the fresh fruit and vegetables are especially good and extremely cheap The main resort shopping centre is Dolphin Square, near the centre of the resort front.
There are also a large number of shops on the seafront. All the shops are open late at night when the area becomes its liveliest. This is your opportunity to pick up a real bargain, especially if you are good at haggling! If you fancy designer clothes but can’t normally afford them then many good copy designer items are on sale. If you are looking for jewellery then you will find that the quality of the gold here is excellent with the prices much cheaper than at home.
Altinkum Aqua Park:
This water park is just outside Altinkum. It was built in 2004 and has proved to be very popular with English tourists. The water park is just outside of Altinkum, set on a hill on the way to Soke market , The aqua park was built in 2004 and has proved to be popular with English tourist , not as big as Kusadasi Adaland aqua park but not as far to travel , only 15 mins by local bus.
Things to do in Altinkum:
Altinkum’s main attraction are its three long, sandy beaches, that stretch from a small harbour at one end of a gently shelving bay to a rocky cliff at the other. All of these beaches offer watersports, including windsurfing, jet skiing and banana boat rides.
Away from the beaches, Altinkum, runs a large weekly market which is held each Saturday. The local buses – called ‘dolmus’ – run regularly to the market throughout the day from several points around the town. The main resort shopping centre is Dolphin Square, and there are also a large number of shops on the seafront which stay open late at night when the area is at its liveliest.
Other attractions in and around Altinkum include the Apollo Temple, which can be found in the ancient town of Didim, a 5 or 10 minute bus journey away. It is a very impressive site and definitely worth a visit.
The ancient site of Ephesus is also a magnificent day out for those who like their historical sight-seeing. This is the second largest ancient site in the world and allows visitors to soak in the atmosphere of Roman times.
Another impressive site is the unique Pamukkale, which captivates visitors with its frozen waterfalls. The thermal waters here have been used for therapeutic treatments since the Roman period.
For a more active sight-seeing tour, you can embark on a jeep safari, which takes you through traditional Turkish villages, as well as olive groves and hillsides and finally to turquoise bays where you can swim.
Family fun is available at two excellent aqua parks. Adaland Aqua Park, located in the town of Kusadasi, is a 50 minute drive from Altinkum and is Europe’s largest water park. If you’d rather not venture that far from the resort, there is also Altinkum Aqua Park, located just outside the town centre, a 15-minute bus ride away.
Whether you are a beginner or a certified diver, the crystal clear waters in Altinkum offers a variety of diving. You can expect to see various marine life ranging from moray eels, octopus, barracudas and lobster to dolphins. Altinkum’s scuba diving centre, Oskenos, offer courses for all abilities.
While not as raucous as other major Turkish resorts, it won’t take long to find after-dark entertainment in Altinkum. Nightlife is centred mainly in Dolphin Square and in the bars along the sea front promenade, where everything from disco dancing, karaoke and belly-dancing to bingo and pool is on offer. Clubbers are catered for during the height of the summer season at Medusa, an open-air night club, while another favourite is the Panorama Cafe Bar with amazing good service.