There are holidays where you come home feeling like you need another holiday.
And then there are holidays where the biggest decision of the day is whether to swim in the pool before or after lunch.

Belek is definitely the second kind.

Located on Turkey’s beautiful Mediterranean coast, just a short drive from Antalya, Belek has become one of our favourite destinations for a proper family escape. Think huge family resorts, warm turquoise water, endless swimming pools, waterslides, sandy beaches, kids’ clubs, delicious food and just enough adventure to keep everyone happy.
It’s the kind of place where the children disappear into a splash park while you finally finish your book.
And honestly? That’s a pretty good holiday.

Belek with kids: why we love it

Before visiting Belek, we wondered whether it might feel too resort-focused.
Would we get bored?
Would the children actually want to leave the hotel?
The answer to the second question was a very definite no.
Belek is one of those destinations where the resorts are almost destinations in themselves. Many are enormous, beautifully landscaped complexes with several swimming pools, children’s pools, playgrounds, water slides, sports facilities, kids’ clubs and direct access to the beach.
You could quite easily spend a week without leaving your resort.
But that doesn’t mean you should.
Because once you venture outside those gates, there is another side to Belek waiting to be discovered.
And that combination is what makes it such a great family destination.

Where is Belek?

Belek sits on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, in Antalya Province, approximately 35 kilometres east of Antalya Airport.
The transfer from the airport is one of the things we particularly love about travelling here with children.
After a long flight, the last thing anyone wants is another four-hour journey.
Instead, you’re on the road and before long the landscape changes from airport traffic to palm trees, pine forests and enormous resort entrances.
And then you arrive.
The children spot the pool.
Suddenly nobody is tired anymore.
Well… almost nobody.

The Belek resort experience

If you’ve never stayed at an all-inclusive family resort in Turkey before, prepare yourself.
They can be huge.
We’re talking multiple swimming pools, waterslides, restaurants, snack bars, ice-cream stations, entertainment stages and enough activities to fill several days.
At first it can feel slightly overwhelming.
Then you realise that’s exactly the point.

The swimming pools

For the children, the swimming pool is usually the main attraction.
And Belek does pools very well.
Many family resorts have separate children’s areas with shallow water and small slides, while older children can head for the bigger waterslides.
Our days quickly developed their own rhythm.
Breakfast.
Pool.
Snack.
Pool.
Lunch.
Pool.
Ice cream.
Pool.
Dinner.
And somehow the children still had enough energy for the evening entertainment.
I’m not sure where they find it.

Belek’s beaches: warm water and plenty of space

Eventually, even the most enthusiastic pool lover needs a change of scenery.
Luckily, Belek’s coastline is beautiful.
The area is known for its long sandy and pebbly Mediterranean beaches, backed in places by pine forests and resort gardens.
The sea is warm during the summer months and the coastline gives families plenty of space to spread out.
One of my favourite moments is walking down to the beach in the late afternoon.
The heat has softened.
The sun is beginning to drop.
The children are still digging holes in the sand.
And suddenly the frantic pace of the morning disappears.
It’s just one of those simple holiday moments that you remember.

The kids’ club: holiday magic for parents too

Let’s talk about something that parents sometimes feel slightly guilty admitting.

Kids’ clubs are brilliant.

Not because we don’t want to spend time with our children.
Quite the opposite.
But family holidays are much more enjoyable when everyone gets a little time to do what they want.
At many Belek resorts, kids’ clubs offer organised activities, games, crafts and outdoor adventures.
While the children are busy making new holiday friends, parents can finally sit down.
Maybe with a book.
Maybe with a cocktail.
Maybe just with a coffee that actually gets finished while it’s still hot.
That last one deserves its own holiday category.

Belek with older kids

Belek isn’t only suitable for little ones.
With older children and teenagers, there are plenty of ways to make the holiday more adventurous.
Depending on your resort and the season, you can find activities such as:

• Water sports
• Tennis
• Football
• Beach volleyball
• Cycling
• Waterslides
• Boat trips
• Rafting excursions
• Horse riding
• Quad biking
• Golf

And if your children are anything like ours, the waterslides may become a daily negotiation.
“Just one more time!”
Ten slides later…
“Can we go again?”

A day away from the resort: discovering ancient Turkey

This is where Belek surprised us.
Because behind all those luxurious resorts is a part of Turkey filled with history.
One of the best excursions from Belek is to Aspendos, famous for its incredibly well-preserved ancient theatre.
Standing inside the theatre and imagining thousands of people watching performances here nearly 2,000 years ago is pretty incredible.
And surprisingly, the children found it fascinating too.
Maybe ancient ruins aren’t quite as boring when you’ve spent the previous day racing down waterslides.
For families who enjoy combining beach time with a little history, this is an easy way to add some culture to your Belek holiday.

The ancient city of Perge

Another fantastic day trip is Perge.
Walking through the ancient streets, seeing the columns and imagining what life must have looked like here thousands of years ago gives you a completely different perspective on the region.
And because Perge is close to Antalya, it can easily be combined with a day in the city.
Which brings us to another Turkey adventure.

Belek and Antalya: the perfect combination

If you’re flying into Antalya, don’t automatically think of the city as simply your arrival and departure point.

Antalya deserves some time.

The old town, known as Kaleiçi, is full of narrow streets, Ottoman-era houses, little shops and restaurants overlooking the Mediterranean.
It feels completely different from the polished resort world of Belek.
And that’s exactly why we love combining the two.
You can spend several days doing absolutely nothing at your resort…
…and then swap your flip-flops for walking shoes and explore the old streets of Antalya.
If you’re planning the trip, don’t miss our complete guide:

Antalya with Kids: Beaches, Old Town & Family Adventures

It’s the perfect companion to this Belek guide.

What about Side?

If you’re staying in Belek for a longer holiday, another great option is a day trip towards Side.
Side combines ancient ruins with a beautiful Mediterranean setting.
The ancient theatre, Temple of Apollo and old harbour make it one of the most atmospheric places to visit along this stretch of coast.
And yes, there is another beach waiting for you afterwards.
Because apparently Turkey has decided families should never be more than five minutes away from swimming.
Read all about it: Side with Kids: Ancient Ruins, Beaches & Hidden Gems

A family holiday where you don’t have to do everything

This may actually be the biggest reason we would return to Belek.
There is absolutely no pressure to fill every day.
You don’t have to wake up early.
You don’t have to pack a bag every morning.
You don’t have to drive somewhere new every day.
You don’t even have to leave the resort.
And after some of our more adventurous family trips, that can feel wonderfully luxurious.
A day in Belek can be as simple as:
Breakfast together.
A morning by the pool.
Lunch under the shade.
A few hours at the beach.
Ice cream.
A shower.
Dinner.
Evening entertainment.
Bed.
Repeat.
And nobody complains.

What to eat in Belek with kids

One of the things we love about Turkey is how easy it is to eat well as a family.
At the resorts, you’ll usually find an enormous choice of food, from Turkish dishes and grilled meats to pasta, pizza, salads, fresh fruit and plenty of child-friendly favourites.
But don’t spend your entire holiday eating chips just because they’re available.
Try some Turkish food too.
Fresh pide.
Grilled kebabs.
Meze.
Fresh salads.
Baklava.
And, of course, an unreasonable amount of ice cream.
Because holidays have different rules.

When is the best time to visit Belek?

Belek has a Mediterranean climate, which means long, hot summers and mild winters.
For families, May, June, September and early October can be particularly pleasant if you want warm weather without the most intense summer heat.
July and August are perfect if your priority is guaranteed sunshine and warm sea temperatures, but temperatures can become very high.
If you’re travelling with younger children, the shoulder months can therefore be a really good compromise.
Warm enough for swimming.
Sunny enough for the beach.
And slightly easier when you’re carrying approximately seventeen things to the pool.

How long do you need in Belek?

For a pure resort holiday, we’d recommend 7 nights.
That gives you enough time to settle in, enjoy the facilities and actually slow down.
If you want to explore more of the region, 10–14 nights is even better.
You could combine:

Belek → Antalya → Side

or use Belek as your base for excursions to places such as Aspendos and Perge.
And if you’re planning a larger Turkey adventure, Belek works beautifully as part of a longer itinerary along the Turkish Riviera.

Booking a family holiday to Belek

This is one destination where choosing the right resort really matters.
Don’t simply look at the number of stars.
Think about what your family actually needs.
Do you want a huge waterpark?
A baby pool?
A kids’ club?
Teen activities?
Direct beach access?
Multiple restaurants?
Family rooms?
Evening entertainment?
A quieter luxury resort?
Or somewhere where the children can run around all day and nobody cares if they arrive at dinner wearing pool clothes?
Before booking, we always recommend checking recent family reviews and looking carefully at the room configuration.
A beautiful resort is not much fun if five people are squeezed into one tiny room.
For accommodation, we usually compare options through https://booking.tpk.lu/fXErmS1n, especially when looking for family rooms and flexible cancellation options.
And for excursions, transfers and activities, https://getyourguide.tpk.lu/OrKGbkZY is a useful place to compare what’s available before you travel.

Our Turkey family adventure

What makes Belek special isn’t that it has the biggest beach or the most spectacular old town.
It’s the combination.
You get the easy side of family travel — the pool, the beach, the kids’ club, the all-inclusive food and the sunshine.
But when you’re ready for more, there’s history, culture, nature and adventure right outside the resort.
And that makes Belek much more than a resort destination.
It’s a place where everyone can have the holiday they want.
The children can spend hours racing down waterslides.
You can finally read three pages of your book.
Then, the next day, you can stand together inside an ancient theatre and talk about people who lived here thousands of years ago.
That’s the kind of family travel we love.
Not trying to see everything.
Not rushing from one attraction to another.
Just finding that sweet spot between adventure and doing absolutely nothing.
And sometimes, the best family holiday is the one where nobody asks:

“What’s the plan today?”

Because the answer is simply:

“Let’s go to the pool.”

Planning a Turkey family holiday?

Belek is just one piece of the Turkish Riviera. If you’re building a bigger family adventure, continue exploring our Turkey guides:

The Ultimate Turkey Travel Guide – Beaches, History & Family Adventures

🌴 Antalya with Kids – Beaches, Old Town & Family Adventures

🏖️ Side with Kids – Ancient Ruins, Beaches & Family Adventures

Best Family Resorts in Turkey

Together, these guides make it easy to plan a Turkey holiday that combines relaxation, adventure, history and plenty of family time.
And if you want to make planning even easier, check our favourite travel essentials, from accommodation and airport transfers to family excursions and travel gear, through our recommended travel partners.