Didim holidays

Didim holidays bring together Blue Flag beaches, ancient temples and lively markets.

Up and coming

Didim is plotted in the western part of Turkey, in the Aegean Region and right on the coast. It’s much more laidback and slower-paced than other tourist hotspots like Antalya, Bodrum and Istanbul. It’s growing in popularity though, thanks to its bright blue Aegean coastline and lively beach club nightlife. Plus, it’s got lots of historical sights to see. There’s the Apollon Temple – one of the best-preserved temples remaining on earth – and the ancient Greek city of Miletus.

Blue Flag beaches

Altinkum Beach is only a 10-minute drive from the town centre, and has been awarded a Blue Flag to boot. It’s the ideal spot for swimming and paddling for kids, thanks to its gently sloping sea floor. The water gets deeper further out, too, making it ideal for watersports like jet-skiing and paddleboarding. Plus, for adults, there are nightclubs and restaurants all along the shoreline. The same distance away is a livelier number – Blue Point Beach Club. It has no sand, just a wooden pier decked out with sunloungers, and at night DJ performances bring the place to life.

Historical ruins

Before tourists discovered Didim’s beach scene, it was best known as the home of the Apollon Temple. It’s one of the best-preserved temples and there are still giant columns showing off its traditional Greek architecture. The rest of ancient Didim is buried under the town centre, but the ancient city of Miletus is about a 30-minute drive away, and has an open-air museum with the still intact theatre being the focal point.

Waterpark daytrip

If you’re a bit of a thrill-seeker, then a day at Aqua Fantasy Waterpark may be just what you’re after. It’s about an hours’ drive away, but you can also get a transfer from Didim to the waterpark if you want someone else to take the wheel. There are plenty of slides and chutes, including one that goes up to 80 kilometres an hour. For littler ones, there are wave pools, fountains and shallow spots just for them. The whole park centres around a Disney-style castle where lots of the slides shoot out from.