With just seven miles of sea between them, you might assume there’s not much difference between two of southern Turkey’s best-known Mediterranean beaches. Lara Beach and Konyaaltı Beach, on Antalya’s coastline, are both within relatively easy reach of the city centre, close to the international airport, and served by main roads connecting the region with east and west.

However, look more closely and – certainly when it comes to buying real estate in Antalya – you’ll find they are as different as chalk and cheese. Each has its own advantages and appeals to a different kind of buyer – so which one will suit you best when it comes to buying your dream home on the Turkish Riviera?

Lovely Lara Beach

If you Google Lara Beach, you’ll have to navigate several pages about all-inclusive breaks at competing resorts before reaching the area’s Wikipedia page – which says a lot about this up-and-coming part of Antalya.

Lara Beach is holiday central and offers everything you would expect from Turkey’s second most popular destination for international flights. Luxury hotels pretty much line the shoreline, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder for almost 10km, catering mostly for German, Russian, British, Scandinavian and Arab holidaymakers as well as wealthy Turks.

However, the coastline is also laced with private penthouses and exclusive luxury apartments, built for those who prefer a home-from-home to visit as they please or to let out at a premium rate.

Bearing in mind the low density of residential accommodation in such a prime location, asking prices have weathered the coronavirus storm and are perhaps what you might expect. To live close to the vibrant, beating heart of Lara Beach, you can expect to pay in the region of $400,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and $600,000 for three bedrooms.

In return, the area’s amenities and numerous premium restaurants, bars, beach clubs and water sports centres lie within easy reach. Lara Beach is also the venue for Antalya’s annual Sand Land sand art festival.

Rather than concrete horizons behind the hotels, local building restrictions have ensured views over open country and a little space to breathe. To the east, across the Aksu Stream, lies Belek – renowned across the world for its undulating, championship-level golf courses with spectacular views of the Mediterranean.

In short, Lara Beach appeals mostly to either canny investors with an eye on a speedy return or to wealthy buyers seeking a summer escape or golfing break.

Let’s not forget Antalya enjoys roughly 300 days of sunshine a year, so warm and sunny weather is pretty much guaranteed in season. And, if you venture out of the Lara Beach bubble, you’ll find the wider region has much to offer, including trekking, mountain-biking, white-water rafting, diving and paragliding.

Konyaaltı Beach

The essential difference between Lara Beach and Konyaaltı is that, while the former is already well-established, the latter is still developing.

That’s not to say Konyaaltı is lagging behind; it isn’t. It’s just that fewer planning restrictions in the area mean development continues, not least around the ambitious Boğaçay Marina project. As well as berths for wealthy boat owners, the scheme promises spacious pedestrianised malls, green parkland, wooded walkways and even a light railway link to the city centre. There’s also talk of a large film studio which would attract celebrities and creatives.

But, right now, Konyaaltı already performs well, actually outstripping the more affluent Lara area on visitor numbers. However, the looser residential development regulations also mean there are more properties on the market, helping to keep asking prices a little lower. You can expect more choice of available properties in Konyaaltı, although an unrestricted sea view is less likely. Nevertheless, at the moment you can buy a modern, luxury two-bedroom apartment for around $125,000 while a modern, spacious, three-bedroom home can be yours for around $150,000.

Local amenities remain comprehensive, too, with plenty of bars, restaurants, cafés, beach clubs, shops and businesses lining Konyaaltı’s four-kilometre Akdeniz Boulevard. The Taurus Mountains also provide a spectacular backdrop, with the Antalya Beach Park and the city’s stadium conveniently close towards the northern end of the promenade.

And, while Lara Beach might be within a few club strokes of Belek, Konyaaltı offers easy access to the seaside town of Kemer – home to even more Blue Flag beaches, a marina and an occasional stage of the World Rally Championship.

Need a little more help?

If you dream of owning your very own luxury holiday home in Antalya, or are looking for a buy-to-let investment, either Lara Beach or Konyaaltı Beach will tick plenty of boxes. If you’d like more information or a list of current available properties, feel free to contact us.

You can also find more information about the Antalya region on our blog which also includes posts about alternative coastal locations such as Kalkan and Alanya.