Living in Altinkum / Didim

Location

Altinkum is a friendly family resort with many visitors returning year after year. The local people are welcoming — they enjoy nothing better than chatting over a glass of Turkey’s famous apple tea. The holiday resort of Altinkum has also been recommended by the World Health Council for its lovely climate, low humidity and clean air. It is a particularly good place to visit for those suffering from asthma.

Altinkum Beaches

Altinkum means “Golden Sands”, and with its beautiful beaches gently shelving into the inviting turquoise blue Aegean, you’ll see where the name comes from. The beaches are ideal for children and non-swimmers as the waters are shallow and clear. There are plenty of water sports — pedalos, banana-boat rides and donut rides — all at reasonable prices, and numerous boat trips leave the small harbour running along the beach front.

There is also a quieter, more secluded beach known as Third Beach. Smaller and very peaceful, it offers the same water sports, bar service to your sun lounger, and a free mini-bus shuttle home at the end of the day. Many regulars consider it one of the best beaches in Altinkum.

Markets & Shopping

Altinkum (also known as Didim) holds a weekly market every Saturday. The local dolmuş mini-bus runs to it every 5-10 minutes. It’s a large market well worth a visit — fresh fruit and vegetables are especially good and very reasonably priced. The main resort shopping centre is Dolphin Square, with many more shops along the seafront, open late and often open to friendly haggling.

For groceries the two main supermarkets are Carrefour and Migros, both carrying a wide variety of well-known food, toiletries and household goods. Carrefour is between the seafront and the town centre; Migros is at the start of the town centre.