Manavgat holidays

Holidays to Manavgat take you to an authentically Turkish city with a riverfront setting. And beyond, you've got sandy beaches, majestic mountains and spectacular Roman sights.

Relaxing retreat

Manavgat is an inland city in the popular Antalaya region of Turkey. It’s pretty famous for the river that runs through it, not to mention its waterfalls – and it’s all nicely set in the protected forests of the Taurus Mountains. As well as that, Manavgat makes a great base for beach trips to Side and exploring the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos.

Rivers and waterfalls

Manavgat’s major tourist draw is the river, with its cascading waterfall and crystal clear pools. There’s a beautifully landscaped riverside park which is great for evening strolls, and it comes with lots of restaurants, tavernas, cafés and bars. And there are plenty of toe-dipping opportunities along the riverbanks.

Boat trips and turtles

You can hop on a boat ride along the Manavgat river – passing sea turtles along the way – to the famous waterfall, which is accessorised by shady tea gardens. Once you reach the river mouth in Side, there are sandy beaches that offer a full spectrum of watersports. And while you get stuck into these, most boat tour operators will be busy preparing lunch for your return.

Best ancient ruins outside Rome

Speaking of Side – which is 20 minutes’ drive away – there’s a huge amphitheatre here, along with the dune-backed Temple of Apollo. There’s an equally impressive, 2,000-year-old amphitheatre and a hill-side acropolis at Aspendos, 45 minutes away. And completing the ancient trio is Perge, 90 minutes away, with a Roman amphitheatre that held 12,000 people in its heyday.