Çolaklı Holiday Guide: Wide Beaches and Resort Days West of Side
Çolaklı is a classic Turkish beach holiday in its simplest form: a long line of resort hotels, wide beaches in front of them, and Side a short drive along the coast. For many families that is exactly the brief. This guide sets out what Çolaklı is like, which outings are worth it, and how to get there quickly from Antalya Airport.
A Resort Strip With Room to Breathe
Çolaklı is a large neighbourhood of Manavgat, but for visitors it is defined by its hotels. They follow the coast west of Side one after another, many of them all-inclusive resorts popular with foreign guests. The village itself sits inland, and there is no seafront high street, so holiday life happens inside the hotel and on the beach in front of it. The appeal is space. Hotel grounds tend to be generous, the beaches are wide, and even in high summer you can usually find a sunbed without an early-morning dash. Tour operators often sell the area as Side-Çolaklı, and the name is also used for hotels in neighbouring Evrenseki and Kısalar.
Beach Life
The beaches here are broad, with plenty of room between the water and the hotel gardens. Most guests settle into the stretch in front of their own resort, but anyone can use the municipal public beach, Çolaklı Halk Plajı, run by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. Check how far your hotel actually is from the sea before booking, because some places described as beachfront are a few minutes' walk back. Long walks along the shore are one of the quiet pleasures of a stay here: head east and you pass the neighbouring resorts of Evrenseki and Kumköy on the way towards Side; head west and you reach Gündoğdu. Hotel water sports and beach activities vary from resort to resort, so ask what yours offers.
Side, Aspendos and Other Outings
Side is about 8 km away and makes the easiest evening out, with the Temple of Apollo on its headland, a Roman theatre and lanes full of restaurants and shops. For a full day of history, the Roman theatre at Aspendos, near Serik, still has its towering stage wall and dates from the 2nd century AD. Nature lovers can join one of the organised rafting trips in the Köprülü Canyon, sold widely in the Side and Manavgat area, or visit the Manavgat Waterfall just north of Manavgat town. Antalya city is about 50 km away for a bigger day out, with its walled old town of Kaleiçi above the harbour. Most outings are easiest by taxi or booked excursion.
Who It Suits and When to Go
Çolaklı is a good match for families who want an all-in-one resort with a big beach, for couples who prefer to unwind rather than explore every day, and for anyone who values a short airport transfer at either end of the holiday. It suits less well those who like to step out of the hotel into a town of cafés and shops; for that, Side is a short taxi ride away. The beach season on this coast runs from late spring into autumn. June and September offer warm sea with gentler heat, which is helpful with children, while July and August are the hottest and busiest weeks. Many resort hotels here operate on a summer season, so check opening dates for an off-season trip.
A Short Run From Antalya Airport
Çolaklı is one of the quicker transfers on this coast. Antalya Airport (AYT) is 56 km away by road, about 40 minutes along the D400 coastal highway, so you can be on your balcony soon after landing. Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP) is 116 km away, about 1 hour 20 minutes, which only makes sense if your flight lands there. With so many resorts along this stretch, a shared shuttle can stop many times; our transfer is private, so your party goes straight to your own hotel. Your driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign, your flight is tracked, and child seats are free on request. Please give us the full hotel name, as the Çolaklı label covers several neighbourhoods.