Lara Beach

Lara Beach is a wide, sandy strip running east from central Antalya, completely open to the public despite the row of colossal themed hotels behind it. The sea is clean, the sand soft, and the backdrop of faux Kremlin towers, Venetian canals and Ottoman palaces gives the place a surreal edge. Most tourists are locked into their all-inclusive packages, leaving plenty of free shoreline for everyone else. The beach itself is long enough that you can walk away from the denser clusters of sun loungers and beach clubs. In peak summer it gets busy, but mornings and late afternoons feel distinctly local. The water is typically calm and shallow, making it good for a swim. There are showers, changing cabins and places to rent chairs if you need them, though prices drop steeply if you arrive early. Stick around for sunset when the view across the bay softens the kitsch hotel facades and the sky reflects off the sea.