Kadriye: Belek's resort strip closest to the airport

Kadriye is the western part of the Belek resort area, about 30 km and 30 minutes from Antalya Airport. A long sandy beach is lined almost entirely with large all-inclusive resorts, with golf courses and pine woods behind them and a big theme park and water park nearby. Many bookings simply say "Belek". It suits families and golfers who want a short transfer and plan to spend most of the time at the hotel; it does not suit anyone looking for a town to walk around in the evening.

Where to stay in and around Kadriye

There is not much choice of style here: almost every bed is in a large resort. The real differences are whether your hotel is directly on the beach and how far you are from Belek's small centre.

Times shown are daytime drives from Antalya Airport (AYT). Kadriye: about 30 km (Antalya Airport to Kadriye); Belek centre: about 35 km (Antalya Airport to Belek).

Things to do

The beach

Kadriye's beach is long and sandy, divided into hotel sections with sunbeds, piers and beach bars. Entry is generally gentle, but the bottom and the depth vary from hotel to hotel, and in the afternoon the wind can bring waves. If you have small children, check photos of the hotel's own beach before booking rather than relying on "sandy beach".

The Belek coast is a nesting area for loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). From about May to the end of summer you may see marked nests; do not dig deep holes or put sunbeds on them, take rubbish and lights away at night, and follow the signs and hotel rules.

Golf

Several of Belek's golf courses lie in and around Kadriye, between the resorts and the main road, so many golf hotels are only minutes from the first tee. Spring and autumn are the main golf seasons and tee times get booked up early; summer is hot but quieter. Courses, green fees and seasons are covered in our Belek golf guide.

The theme park

Kadriye has a large theme park and water park with rides, a shopping and restaurant area and an evening show; for many families it is the main outing of the week. Tickets are not cheap and food and drink inside cost more than outside, so compare ticket options in advance and check whether your hotel offers a package or shuttle.

Day trips: Aspendos, Perge and Antalya

The Roman theatre of Aspendos is roughly 30 minutes east and the ancient city of Perge about the same distance west; both are easy half-day trips by taxi, hire car or organised tour. Antalya's old town, Kaleiçi, is about 40–50 minutes away, and Köprülü Canyon rafting is around an hour inland. See our day trips page for ideas.

Food and evenings

Most visitors eat at their all-inclusive hotel, and evenings are spent there too: shows, bars and kids' entertainment. Kadriye village has a few local restaurants, cafés and supermarkets, and the theme park area has restaurants and shops that stay open in the evening.

For a proper night out you need to go to Belek centre (small, a few bars and cafés) or to Antalya. There is no lively main street in Kadriye itself. The weekly market for the Belek resorts is in Kadriye on Tuesdays (market days); it is a good place to buy fruit, spices and cheaper textiles.

Getting there and around

Antalya Airport is about 30 km away, around 30 minutes by car along the D400 dual carriageway: one of the shortest transfers on the coast. See the Antalya Airport to Kadriye transfer guide and all airport transfers. Golfers should mention their bags when booking, as they need a bigger vehicle.

Local minibuses connect Kadriye with Belek centre and Serik, and there are buses towards Antalya, but services are less frequent than on the Side or Alanya coast. Ask at reception for current times. Taxis are easy to call from any hotel; for several day trips a hire car can be cheaper. More about the wider area in our Belek guide, and if you are still choosing, read Belek or Lara and Belek or Side.

When to go

The beach season runs from May to October; July and August are very hot and the resorts are full and at their most expensive. May, June, September and October bring warm sea water with fewer people. Spring and autumn are the best golf months. In winter many resorts close, though some stay open for golfers and sports teams. See weather by month and estimate costs with the holiday budget calculator.