Following the resumption of international travel to Turkey, travelers started to visit the country which can be considered as one of the safest travel destinations in the world during the pandemic.
Turkey is again one of the most popular summer destinations in 2020. It is also one of the first destinations that received the WTTC Safe Travels stamp and is a safe destination for travelers this summer.
Istanbul Airport, which is the main hub for travelers, is the first airport to be accredited through the new Airport Health Accreditation programme launched by the Airports Council International (ACI) World and ACI EUROPE.
In addition to international accreditations, Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry has launched Safe Tourism Certification Program with the contributions of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in cooperation with all the stakeholders in the industry.
nd Accreditation institutions that have been authorized to inspect accommodation facilities and food & beverage facilities based on various international standards and criteria to issue Safe Tourism Certification Program verification will conduct hygiene and health inspections and do compliance assessments. Following those inspections and assessments, the institutions will put their findings in reports and then periodically send inspectors to facilities that have applied to the program to check whether the services are provided according to the criteria.
The Safe Tourism Certification logo is placed on visible areas inside the verified facility. There will be QR codes on all logos and through these QR codes, all guests and customers will have access to the facility’s inspection data.
Below, you will find destination information for travelers and hotel recommendations. All hotels listed have the Safe Tourism Certification.
Popular Destinations and Hotel Recommendations
Çeşme
Çeşme is a Turkish resort town west of Izmir, on the Aegean Sea. Distance from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Çeşme is about 100 km and direct transport takes around 65 minutes. Hotels may offer transfers for you from the airport.
On the east side of the Çeşme peninsula, the sandy Ilica Beach, with warm thermal sulfur springs is a popular beach for locals and tourists.
Sheraton Cesme Hotel Resort & Spa is located on the Ilica beach. The hotel is a beachfront property and its private beach is very popular.
Reges, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa is a new luxury hotel located at the Boyalık beach. All of its guestrooms and suites are spacious with panoramic sea views. Paying homage to Turkey’s gastronomic legacy, Reges’ two restaurants present International and Aegean flavors infused with a stylish alfresco atmosphere and live music.
Situated on top of a cliff with amazing views of the sea, the 5-star Grand Hotel Ontur Cesme offers an exclusive retreat only 2.5 miles from the lively center of Cesme. The hotel has two swimming pools; one with an aqua park; popular among families with children. Travelers who like cool sea temperatures will find it at this hotel. Staying at this hotel in August 2020, I can say that the staff is extra careful about safety and hygiene, which is extra important in these days.
Alaçatı
Alaçatı is a town on Turkey’s Çeşme Peninsula, on the Aegean Sea. It’s known for its beaches, old stone houses, and winemaking tradition. Alaçatı is known as one of the world’s leading windsurfing bays with continuous and steady wind throughout the year. Alaçatı windsurf schools meet international standards by offering material for canoeing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing.
The distance between Izmir Airport (ADB) and Alaçatı is about 85km. Hotels may offer transfers for you from the airport.
A luxury getaway situated on the edge of the stunning surf bay at Alaçatı, Biblos Resort offers everything you need for a breath-taking holiday experience from sparkling crystal waters to rejuvenating spa treatments, from a wealth of world-class dining options to surf with world star riders.
Kuşadası
Kuşadası is a coastal resort town in the Aydin Province of Aegean Turkey. It has become a popular holiday resort, especially for visitors from Northern and Western Europe. The city is a port of call for cruise ships plying the Eastern Mediterranean. Kuşadası is the second busiest cruise port in Turkey, after Istanbul, mainly due to the archaeological attractions at Ephesus.
Izmir International Airport (ADB) is 66km (41mi) away from Kuşadası. Bodrum Airport (BJV) is 120km (74mi) from Kuşadası. From Izmır Airport, scheduled bus transfers to Kuşadası bus station are available.
Charisma De Luxe Hotel offers comfort and luxury together in the joined view of the unique sea with the sky. Featuring a 50 yards private beach, the 5-star Charisma offers an infinity pool with sweeping views of the Aegean Sea. It is a 15-minute walk from Kuşadası’s shopping and entertainment area.
Bodrum
Bodrum, a town on the southern Aegean coast of Turkey in Muğla Province. It is a popular summer destination for both locals and foreigners.
There are shuttle buses between Bodrum Bus Terminal and Milas Bodrum Airport. Shuttles for the departures flights depart from Bodrum Bus Terminal 2 hours prior to the flight time. Passengers are picked up from Torba junction underpass and in from of Güvercinlik Metro.
Set on Yalikavak Bay overlooking to Turkish Riviera, The Bodrum EDITION is a beachfront hotel that provides guests with easy access to numerous watersports, Yalikavak Marina, Yalikavak Market and Bodrum Amphitheatre, as well as enticing shops and restaurants.
Exceptional, modern-architect designed Mivara Luxury Resort & SPA features a private beach area, indoor and outdoor pools, a beach bar and vitamin bar. The hotel is located in the north of Bodrum Peninsula, Gündogan which is an affluent and popular holiday destination with its historic town centre and exquisite coast, its continual beaches, crystal clear sea and uninterrupted nature.
Featuring luxurious retreat with 3 private beaches, 4 different concept outdoor swimming pools, and a spa, Lujo Bodrum A`la Carte All Inclusive is situated in Güvercinlik. All rooms are luxuriously decorated and provide private balconies or terrace. Nestled within spectacular boulders, villas come with private pools and a garden. Forest rooms offers a magnificent sea view and located under the pine trees.
Marmaris – Fethiye – Göcek
Marmaris, Fethiye, Göcek are popular holiday towns along the Mediterranean coast in the province of Muğla.
The nearest airport served by international airlines is Dalaman Airport. There is a bus service from Dalaman Airport to Marmaris, Fethiye, Göcek run by Havaş.
Busy beaches, lots of bars and restaurants, a busy nightlife with a street devoted to dance music, and plenty of shopping make Marmaris very popular.
Göcek is one of the most beautiful yachting areas in the country.
Fethiye is known for its natural harbor, blue waters and numerous rock tombs including the 4th-century B.C. Tomb of Amyntas, carved into a bluff overlooking the city. Near-shore islands are popular for day trips by boat. In the south, the beach at Ölüdeniz is sheltered by a lagoon, and Butterfly Valley is a designated nature reserve.
D Maris Bay is a hidden paradise, one with the nature in Datça Peninsula, where Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean. With its unique sandy beaches, fun outdoor activities, as well as exquisite food and drink options, it hosts an impressive concept to give you an unforgettable holiday experience. D Maris Bay is located 130 km from Dalaman International Airport, 155 km from Bodrum International Airport and 35 km from the city of Marmaris.
Rixos Premium Göcek – Adult Only is located at the seafront of the beautiful Göcek Bay. Surrounded by pine trees, the adult-only property offers a luxurious retreat overlooking the shimmering Aegean Sea, nestled between two marinas. Here you can relax amidst the natural beauty of pine forests, tranquil gardens and a secluded private beach. The hotel offers an all-inclusive all-inclusive concept combining exceptional restaurants and bars, top-class entertainment venues that also provide a variety of dining experiences and superb wellness and sports facilities.
The Liberty Hotels Lykia is set at the foot of the Babadağ mountains on an area of 370,000 m2, with its unrivalled natural beauty, surrounded by well tended gardens and pine trees. The coastline consists of a sandy and pebbly beach located in a cove with a private beach 650 metre long where the turquoise & blue waters of the Mediterranean merges with the Aegean sea. The Liberty Hotels Lykia is a dream-like haven for pool lovers with its vast array of pools. Besides 19 swimming pools, the property has 9 restaurants, a 3-hole golf course and a spa centre.
Antalya
Antalya, the largest Turkish city on the Mediterranean coast, is one of the Mediterranean’s, and the world’s, leading tourism destinations. Behind Istanbul, Antalya is Turkey’s second most visited city in 2019. A total of 14.6 million foreign travelers visited the city last year.
Kaş, Kalkan, Kemer, Belek, and Alanya are the most popular towns in the city.
Kaş is a small fishing, diving, yachting and tourist town, and a district of Antalya Province. Kalkan which is half an hour further west of Kas. A beautiful upmarket harbor town with cobbled streets and high-quality restaurants. Nearby Patara has the best golden sand beach on the Mediterranean coast, and can be visited even if you are not staying there.
Kemer is about 45 km south of Antalya and is a popular, touristic seaside region with historic places, nightlife, and accommodation.
Belek is located in between Antalya and Side. Belek has some of the best golf courses in the country, usually located amidst pine woods. The region has more than 45 four or five-stars hotels and first-class holiday villages and five golf courses.
Alanya to the southeast of Antalya is a popular tourist destination. Alanya is about 2 hours drive from the nearest major international airport in Antalya and half an hour from Gazipaşa International Airport.
Located only 350 yards from the sea on Cukurbag Peninsula in Kaş, La Kumsal Hotel offers stunning views of the sea and Meis Island. The hotel has an outdoor pool, sun terrace and air-conditioned rooms with a balcony.
Right at the beach where the green of the pine forest from Taurus Mountains meet the blue Mediterranean sea, Ulusoy Kemer Holiday Club is featuring a private sandy Blue Flag beach with a pier. The property is surrounded by a green garden, and it includes outdoor pools, fitness center.
Ultra All Inclusive Regnum Carya Golf & SPA Resort located in Belek offers both rooms and villas. All of its rooms offer a private dressing room, a cozy balcony, the most comfortable pillows and several room fragrances to choose from. The resort has 7 different restaurants where you can savor a variety of dishes. You will find à la carte restaurants, a snack bar, and a patisserie. Situated on a private, white sand beach overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Belek-Antalya, Regnum Carya also features both indoor and outdoor heated pools available at all times. Heated at a comfortable 26°C during the summer season and a warm 28°C during the winter season, the pools allow guests to swim freely regardless of the season. The hotel also features the one and only fully lighted golf course in Europe, designed by one of the greatest golfers in history.
Enjoying a private stretch of the Cleopatra Beach, Xperia Saray Beach Hotel is located in walking distance to the Alanya city center. The hotel features a seasonal outdoor pool and two a la carte restaurants. Relaxation facilities at Xperia include a Turkish bath, hot tub, and massage rooms.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia located in Central Anatolia is best known for its unique moon-like landscape, underground cities, cave churches and houses carved in the rocks. Valley, canyon, hills and unusual rock formation created as a result of the eroding rains and winds of thousands of years of the level make Cappadocia unique.
The fastest and most comfortable way of reaching Cappadocia is using the airway. There are two main airports that you can use to reach Cappadocia. One of them is Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR) located in Kayseri and nearly one hour driving to the center of Cappadocia region. The second one is Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV), which is located in Gülşehir town of Nevşehir Province, which is the main province of Cappadocia.
Up to 8 stories of underground tunnels and caves in Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu, fresco-adorned rock-cut churches of Göreme Open-Air Museum, and Ihlara Valley with lots of churches carved into rocks are the most famous sights.
Hot air balloon tours are also famous in Cappadocia. The tours restarted on August 23, after a five-month Covid-19 break. The first ride was done during sunrise, allowing tourists to view the Göreme Open Air Museum, the valley of love, Uçhisar Castle, and Sword Valley. The authorities reduced the number of balloons to prevent overcrowding.
Carus Cappadocia is located in Göreme, Nevşehir, also known as the rocky wonderland shaped by millions of years of natural phenomena. It is designed without walls that create barricades between the rest of the town and the compound itself. The hotel has 50 suites and cave rooms each designed with a unique interior touch.
Once a monastery, the award-winning Argos In Cappadocia gives you the most authentic experience, as you stay underground in ancient caves. Watch the sunset over the iconic rocks from the hotel restaurant terrace and sip wine made from the owner’s own vineyard, while the menu features local produce and favorite Turkish dishes.
Travelers planning to visit and stay in Istanbul can read this article
We hope you enjoy your stay in Turkey, relax, and return home healthy & safely.
