Culture, beach and fiesta: 2 weeks on the Turkish Riviera

Antalya is an excellent starting point thanks to its airport, which is served by direct flights from France. A major tourist destination, it is considered to be the 'capital' of the Turkish Riviera, and is well worth devoting your first day to.

Head to Antalya's old town, Kaleiçi, to get into the mood straight away. Full of charm, it is characterised by its beautiful, carefully restored Ottoman houses. It's the perfect place to put down your bags and spend the evening.

In the afternoon, it's time to visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum, a fine testimony to the region's rich history. The museum is just a stone's throw from Konyaalti, one of Antalya's two great beaches, for your first dip in the Mediterranean!

This second day based in Antalya will be the opportunity to launch our first excursions: hiring a car for the whole stay will make things much easier.

Just to the east of Antalya, the ancient region of Pamphylia, between the Mediterranean and the Taurus mountains, has lost none of its splendour. The remains of two ancient Greco-Roman cities are on the day's programme.

First, Pergé, a 20-minute drive away: the columned road, impressive in its size, bears witness to the city's past splendour. The second highlight is Aspendos, 35 minutes down the road. Here, it's the ancient theatre, the best preserved in Turkey, that really catches the eye!

Afterwards, don't miss a trip to the Düden waterfalls to start your evening in Antalya.

Following on from this theme of historical visits, let's continue in the morning with a visit to Termessos, 45 minutes from Antalya, whose remains are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lost in the mountains, the setting is simply magical.

It's a 2-hour drive to our second stopover: Çirali. This discreet resort has stayed away from mass tourism despite its idyllic location. The beach is superb, the streets green and the atmosphere very relaxed, with a hippy bobo feel.

A charming guesthouse will be perfect for the night, so it's best to book for two!

The tranquillity of Çirali makes it an ideal place to linger, especially as in summer you can party late into the night... that's the Turkish Riviera!

Morning on the beautiful beach, known as a nesting place for the local turtles. After a swim, walk with your feet in the sand to the end of the beach, where the vegetation hides the pretty archaeological site of Olympos.

At the end of the day, excursion to the heights of Çirali for an extraordinary sunset at Chimaera, a mythical place where the ground spits flames!

We leave Çirali early in the morning as we have a bit of a drive ahead of us to reach the next stage: Kaş, just over 2 hours away by car. The route is far from daunting, first skirting the coast against a blue Mediterranean backdrop, then crossing pretty Anatolian countryside.

Kaş is a typical Turkish Riviera resort: a pretty historic centre, a small port, some ancient remains and a lively nightlife. There's plenty to fill the rest of the day, and linger for two nights.

We're leaving the car behind today for another type of excursion, this time by boat. In the port of Kaş, choose from one of the many boats offering a day trip to Kekova Bay: one of the most beautiful natural sites on the Turkish Riviera.

After passing the Greek island of Kastellorizo, you cross a string of islets to reach this exceptional bay. Here, the sea is crystal clear, ideal for snorkelling. Keep an eye out for archaeological remains on the seabed at Kekova!

Return at the end of the day for a pleasant evening in Kaş.

It's time to leave Kaş and get back on the road, heading for Fethiye. But rather than stopping off at this major seaside resort, we branch off along a very pretty country road to reach a coastline that is rugged, jagged and magnificent.

The goal: Ölüdeniz, a small resort in terms of size, but big in terms of fame. Its Blue Lagoon beach is one of the most photogenic (and busiest) on the entire Turkish Riviera!

At the end of the day, we head for Karakoy, a pretty agricultural plateau where the atmosphere is quite different: we'll be spending the night here. The ruins of the ghost village, abandoned by its Greek inhabitants around 1922, make for a spellbinding visit...

A short stage today, as the region is dense. Departure for Fethiye early in the morning: 30 minutes later, we meet at the town's bazaar, with a chance of bagging the first bargain of the day!

A major tourist resort typical of the Turkish coast, there's no need to linger too long in Fethiye. For the second part of the day, we prefer its much more exclusive neighbour, Göcek. The resort is known for its six marinas, no less, and thrives on privileged, upmarket tourism.

The perfect opportunity to sample the charms of a luxury hotel!

After an early-morning swim in the sea, let's leave the Turkish coast for a while and head into the hinterland. Around three hours away, an exceptional and emblematic site of Turkey awaits us: Pamukkale.

With its "cotton castle" appearance and pools of thermal water, Pamukkale and its archaeological site of Hierapolis are a unique World Heritage Site.

Visit at the end of the day, as the site is even more beautiful at sunset, then spend the evening in the small town of Pamukkale.

A second exceptional site, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be the focus of this day. Ephesus is a Greco-Roman archaeological site so rich that it is often compared to Pompeii.

From Pamukkale, it's a 3-hour drive to Selçuk, the town next to the site, where you will spend the night.

Without wasting any time, the afternoon concentrates on visiting Ephesus, once home to the temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The 25,000-seat theatre and the famous library of Celsus are perfect examples of the city's development in ancient times.

Selçuk's tourism revolves around Ephesus, but the town itself is pleasant. Take advantage of the morning to explore the galleries of the Archaeological Museum, a perfect complement to the previous day's visit. Afterwards, take a look at the Basilica of St John and the Byzantine fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Before the mercury climbs too high, we jump in the car and head for the Aegean coast. We drive through Kuşadasi, which seems to have sold its soul to mass tourism, to reach the wild beaches of the Dilek national park.

Plan well, because they are magnificent! Better to spend the night in the area.

A little over 2 hours' drive further south, Bodrum promises to be the last stop on our journey. But not just any stopover! Bodrum is often compared to the Turkish Riviera version of Saint-Tropez.

Take the day to sample the resort's peaceful atmosphere around the old town known for its whitewashed houses. A visit to St Peter's Castle, which houses the Museum of Marine Archaeology, is a must at the end of the day: the view over Bodrum Bay is superb!

As night falls, Bodrum takes on a different face: a festive, trendy resort where it's easy to party the night away.

For one last great taste of the Turkish Riviera, what could be better than a day trip by boat to explore the small islands around Bodrum?

In the harbour, famous for its rows of gulets, beautiful wooden schooners, various excursion boats take you to discover the islands of Karaada and Orak, around which the sea is totally transparent and a magnificent blue!

There's plenty to see and do before spending the last evening on the Turkish Riviera to the lively rhythms of Bodrum.

Bodrum has the advantage of being served by Milas-Bodrum airport, 36 km away but well connected to the resort centre. Depending on your dates, you may be able to find a direct flight to France, or one with a stopover via Istanbul... which may well be the subject of your next departure?