Altınkum Beach

Altınkum — literally 'Golden Sand' in Turkish — lives up to its name with a generous stretch of fine golden sand on the Turkish Aegean coast, consistently warm shallow water, and a lively resort atmosphere that makes it one of Turkey's most popular family beach destinations. Three connected bays offer a combined 1.5 kilometers of soft sand with water so shallow and warm it feels like a natural children's pool for the first 30 meters.

The ancient Greek Temple of Apollo at Didyma, one of the most important oracle sites of the ancient world, is just 3 kilometers inland — its towering Ionic columns are among the best-preserved in Turkey. The nearby ancient port city of Miletus and the spectacular Temple of Athena at Priene complete a triangle of extraordinary archaeological sites accessible from the beach. Altınkum's boardwalk bustles with seafood restaurants, ice cream parlors, and bars, creating a friendly holiday atmosphere.

The local Tuesday market offers fresh produce, spices, and textiles at excellent prices.