Mediterranean Escape to Antalya in Turkey

Описание: Welcome to Vineyards and Villages – Series 2 Episode 2 🌍🍷
Vineyards and Villages Turkey – Antalya Mediterranean Escape

In this week’s travel slideshow, we explore the sun-drenched Mediterranean coastline around Antalya and the charming historic seaside town of Side. Think golden beaches, ancient ruins, friendly locals, vibrant markets and a surprisingly excellent local red wine discovery.

As always, this is a weekly travel slideshow, sharing our journey exactly as we experienced it — simple, honest and personal. We capture what we see using what we have… mostly our trusted mobile phone and digital camera 📱📷 No fancy equipment. No elaborate editing. Just real travel moments, shared as they happen.

✈️ Arrival & Exploring Side
After landing at Antalya, we transferred to our comfortable base at Sun City and began exploring Side entirely on foot. Long seaside promenades, beautifully cared-for stray cats, clean golden beaches and unforgettable sunsets quickly set the tone for the week 🌅

Side is a remarkable blend of history and everyday coastal life. Highlights include the dramatic seaside columns of the Temple of Apollo and Athena, the vast Roman-era Side Ancient Theatre, and the atmospheric ruins of Side Antik Kenti. Wandering through these ancient spaces feels wonderfully unhurried — history simply exists around you.

The lively Side Harbour and Marina is perfect for sunset strolls, sea views and relaxed waterfront cafés.

We enjoyed Turkish coffee, browsed shops selling flavoured teas, watched a lively street cycling race, and even fitted in a spontaneous haircut. Travel is often about these small, unexpected moments.

A highlight meal at the welcoming Ristorante Italiano introduced us to delicious local food and a brilliant value day trip recommendation…

🌄 Green Canyon Adventure
Our cheerful (and slightly vintage!) off-road bus took us inland to the spectacular Oymapinar Dam. A peaceful boat trip across emerald-green water surrounded by dramatic cliffs was easily one of the most scenic moments of the trip 🚤

We visited a traditional village where huge pancakes were cooked on hot stone surfaces — simple and delicious — and stopped at the wide, powerful cascade of Manavgat Waterfall 💧 A beautiful and refreshing place to pause.

🚌 Market Day in Manavgat
Travelling independently by local bus, we explored the vibrant Manavgat Market — colourful, energetic and full of local life. Afterwards, we enjoyed a peaceful walk along the shady banks of the Manavgat River, watching boats drift gently in the afternoon sun.

🍷 Sip of the Week
Doluca VINEA Shiraz Kalecik Karasi 2023 blend

This week’s discovery deserves a small celebratory drumroll.

We ordered this bottle partly out of curiosity… and partly because the price felt extremely friendly. Expectations were modest.

Reader, we were wrong.

This is a smooth, easy-drinking red with plenty of personality. The Shiraz brings gentle spice and depth, while the Kalecik Karasi grape adds softness and bright fruit. Think ripe berries, a hint of pepper, and a velvety finish that encourages “just one more glass”.

It’s balanced, approachable and wonderfully versatile with food. Not heavy. Not complicated. Just genuinely enjoyable.

Best of all? It’s affordable enough to drink without overthinking — always a winning feature in holiday wine.

Would we buy it again? Absolutely. Possibly in bulk. Purely for research purposes, of course 😉🍷

✈️ Travel Notes
We flew from London Luton Airport directly to Antalya — an easy and convenient route from the UK.

🌅 Final Thoughts
Seven unforgettable sunsets. Warm hospitality. Beautiful scenery. Excellent value for money. A relaxed, self-catering Mediterranean escape filled with history, culture and simple pleasures.

Highly recommended.

👍 If you enjoy relaxed travel, wine discoveries and scenic destinations, please like, subscribe and join us next week for another journey in the Vineyards and Villages series.

💛 Affiliate Disclaimer
Some links or recommendations may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no additional cost to you. We only share places, products and experiences we genuinely enjoy and personally experience during our travels.

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