Lara Beach

The basics

From sunning on lounge chairs to riding into the sunset on horseback to Jet Skis, parasailing, banana boats, and all-terrain vehicle (ATV or quad bike) adventures, Lara Beach has plenty of things to do for families and groups. Many travelers opt to stay at one of the beachfront hotels that cluster down the eastern end of the beach to get their fill of sun, sea, and sand.

Things to know before you go

• Lara Beach is a good choice for tanners, swimmers, and families.

• Don’t confuse Antalya’s Lara suburb, an area before Lara Beach with cliffs (not sand) on the shoreline, with Lara Beach—the Duden Waterfalls are in Lara, not Lara Beach.

• There are showers, bathrooms, and changing rooms on the beach.

• Konyaalti Beach has an adapted pier for swimming, making it a better choice for travelers who use wheelchairs than Lara Beach.

How to get there

Lara Beach is about a 10-mile (15-kilometer) drive southeast of central Antalya. The GM24 bus runs from Antalya to just behind the waterfront, or you can take a taxi.

When to get there

With its dark hue, Lara Beach can feel a little forlorn and abandoned outside the main tourist season (May through October), and as most bars and restaurants are seasonal, you may struggle to find food and drink options in winter. June and September are hot and sunny but less crowded than the July-August peak.

Sandland

Also known as the Antalya Sand Sculpture Museum, Sandland is one of the world’s biggest sand sculpture events. Since 2006, international sculptors have created a series of huge pieces every April, working only with sand and water, following themes as diverse as space and wonders of the world. In warmer months, the exhibits stay open into the evening and are lit with LED lights.