Dutch holidaymakers flock to this country

Are you already thinking about your summer vacation after 13 days in the new year? I can understand that. As a true vacation lover, I know that January means one thing: early booking discount. But where should we go again? Well, I have something in mind. Year after year, the Dutch choose a specific country, and honestly? I don’t blame them. As a true expert (a.k.a. someone who spent her entire youth here during the summers), I’m going to tell you exactly why you want to book your next vacation here. I’m talking about… Turkey. 1.3 million Dutch people already went before you last year, so yes: this is the Dutch getaway destination.

You probably know someone who has been to Turkey. You know: the warm country full of sun, sea, beach, and all-inclusive resorts. Yes, believe me as a seasoned visitor: I know exactly how it works here. Where are you going? Can the kids come along? Are there only resorts or is there more to experience? Certainly. Just read along.

Why vacations to Turkey are so popular

Before I highlight all the hotspots and specific reasons, here’s a brief and powerful overview of why so many Dutch people choose this country over Spain and Greece. First of all, it’s a short flight. This depends on where you’re going, but it’s about four hours of flying, so that’s really not bad. Often, the price plays a big role in this choice, as all-inclusive vacations have been popular with our people for years. The price-quality ratio is enormous: for about €1200 per person, you can stay ten days in a resort where you can eat, drink, party, and relax unlimited. And in the country itself, you don’t pay top dollar either. The Turkish lira is much lower than the European euro, so from our perspective, it’s not that expensive. But anyway, let’s take a look at those other reasons.

Child paradise

If you’re looking for a summer trip that’s perfect for kids, then Turkey really takes the crown. An all-inclusive resort in Turkey is vacation for you. Here, the kids can basically run around all day while you relax on a sunbed. Of course, you always have to keep an eye on your kids, don’t get me wrong, but such a hotel is the ideal, safe environment to let them loose. They can swim here, slide down water slides, and eat unlimited ice cream without you having to pull out your wallet every time. That’s the best part of these vacations: everything is already paid for in advance. You can drink as many cocktails as you want; it’s all included in the price. And you paid for that a long time ago, so it’s basically free. Right?

An all-inclusive resort in Turkey means real peace that you don’t have at home. You don’t have to cram your agenda full of sights and drag the kids everywhere. Of course, you can always go out, but the nice thing is that you don’t have to. You can finally avoid the ‘what are we eating tonight’ dilemma with the buffet you can join for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Want a bit more luxury? Then hotels also offer à-la-carte dinners. Usually, you even get one for free, so that’s great.

By choosing a hotel with a huge water park, you’ll keep those kids happy. Besides all that sliding and gliding, there’s always an animation team around that can entertain your children all day. Water games, a clubhouse full of games and activities, and yes: they also provide the necessary fun in the evenings. Think of evenings with a mini disco, movie nights, or other shows where you would normally pay €50 entrance in a theater. These are really some of the best memories of my childhood: running around, making friends with all kinds of international kids (even if you didn’t speak the same language), and dancing at the mini disco.

@tessirehman Loved it!! 💞 #turkey #antalya #familyfriendly #resort #allinclusiveresort #allinclusive #fyp #foryoupage #turkeyholiday #toddlerfriendly #toddler #toddlerholiday #delphin #delphingrand #delphinresort @delphinbegrand #holiday #holidayideas ♬ Lo-fi hip hop – BADMYTH

All-inclusive without kids

Of course, you can also go to an all-inclusive resort without kids. If you really want to relax, this can be perfect at a nice hotel by the beach. Think of sleeping in, grabbing lunch – because yes, breakfast only goes until 10:00 – and then lying by the beach or pool all day until six. Want a drink? Then you get it five steps away at the bar. Craving an afternoon snack? Get Turkish pancakes or go for one of the hundreds of other snacks you can often eat here 24/7.

Without kids, you have more opportunity to go out. This isn’t necessary, but it’s nice to see a bit more of the country and do things. On the beaches, there are always people offering water activities, like jet skiing or parasailing. Book a day trip to a beautiful bay, go out of your hotel in the evening and walk through the tourist areas where you can always score a nice souvenir or taste local food. Everything is possible here — that’s the beauty of Turkey: from skiing and beautiful nature areas to trendy cities and bays that look just like Hawaii. You can do everything here.

@martadtravels Head over to my blog for the exact location 😍 The Turkish Riviera is one of my favourite places to escape to every summer. I keep coming back because the weather is always reliable, even into October, which makes it perfect if you’re planning something later in the year. It’s also not just about big all inclusive resorts. There are so many beautiful boutique hotels and relaxed seaside stays, and the coastline is made for being on the water. Renting a boat and exploring around Göcek or Fethiye never gets old and it’s one of the best ways to see this part of Türkiye properly. #turkiye #turkiye_tiktok #fethiye #gocek #turkey🇹🇷 #turkeytiktok #turkeytravel #turkiyehotels #türkiye ♬ original sound – Marta

City trips are plentiful here: soaking up culture and seeing beautiful places

If such an ‘all-inclusive’ formula is really not for you, you can also just book an apartment or a bed & breakfast. You don’t have to go to those well-known resorts like Antalya or Alanya at all. Look outside the tourist areas – really, trust me. Do you have to give up a sun, sea, and beach vacation? No, certainly not. You have beautiful beaches here, like the Blue Lagoon in Ölüdeniz or the one at Dalyan on the Lycian coast.

A hiking vacation? You might not immediately think of that in Turkey, but this country has truly stunning nature. You have the whole package here: lakes, rivers, waterfalls, valleys, mountains, and impressive canyons. The national parks are absolutely worth a visit. Also, if you love ancient sights, you can go wild here. Think of the Lycian tombs of Kaunos, the castle of Alanya, the historic Kaleiçi district in Antalya, and the Temple of Apollo in Side. The latter is so beautiful that you almost feel like you’re walking around in Athens. Oh, and if you can choose one day trip, don’t forget Ephesus. This is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the West and the second-largest city of the Roman Empire after Rome. You really have to see these ruins near İzmir.

Looking for another city trip? You have plenty of nice places here for that too. Istanbul is of course a bit chaotic, but really fantastic. This trendy city is the perfect starting point. You can explore the old historic city and immerse yourself in the traditions and culinary delights of the country. Or go for the once-in-a-lifetime experience in Cappadocia, where you see hundreds of hot air balloons rise at sunrise. Daredevil much? Then you go in one of those hot air balloons yourself. Want to go skiing? You can also go to Turkey for that. Here you have no less than 41 ski areas that (let’s be honest) will probably cost you less than the après-ski in Austria.

@molly.rutter This is literally the exact itinerary I took my best friend on last summer and plan to take my other visitors on this summer. Link in bio for the full travel guide ✨ #travelturkey #turkeydestination #turkeytraveltips #cappadocia #kaş #alaçatı #istanbulrecommendation #turkeyitinerary ♬ original sound – valentine morell

@maddie_m_clark Turkey travel guide 🇹🇷🌴🐈🧿 In 9 days we went to Istanbul, Cappadocia & Bodrum and it couldn’t have been more perfect – so if you’re looking for a bucket list trip … this was MAGICAL 🧚🏻 I can do in depth guide videos with itineraries for each destination if anyone would like, pls just lmk! Happy travels 🥰✈️🌍 #travel #wanderlust #vacation #travelguide #explorer ♬ Tropical – Izabella Creator BM

Why do the Dutch therefore go en masse to Turkey? Because you can really do everything here. There is something for everyone, so I’m sure you will love it here. If possible, book your summer trip in June, July, or September, because in August? Then you really just want to lie by the pool in that heat. Just believe me.