As the heartbeat of Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast, Antalya is both a modern and thrilling city and a picturesque, laid back and beautiful resort town. World-class nightlife, the ancient Roman/XX Harbour and all the treasures a waterfront paradise would need make it one of the world’s favorite sea-and-sand destinations.

With a backdrop of the Beydaglar Mountains, the sparkling Med and the lushly forested slopes leading to it, Antalya and the resorts outside the town offer stunning landscapes to relax and play. The long and colourful history of this part of world is also on display at the centre of town in the old city, where a maze of narrow, cobbled and vine-covered lanes eventually lead down to the stone-walled harbour. Heritage is also on display at the nearby Greek ruins of Phaselis and Termessos, as well as at Olimpos, where a series of hillside natural gas vents create eternal flames that once helped ancient sailors navigate at night along this rocky coast.

Antalya is also the preferred destination for golfers in Turkey, and perhaps in the entire Middle East. Resorts such as Gloria Golf offer championship courses designed by top architects, in both 18- and 9-hole lengths.