Lara Beach is the 11-km strip of fine golden sand running east from central Antalya through the Kundu hotel zone. It's where most of Antalya's 5-star resorts cluster and where 4 million annual hotel guests spend their beach days.
The geography
Lara Beach divides into three sections:
- Inner Lara (closest to Antalya city, more local): public beaches, free entry, basic facilities, smaller hotels
- Middle Lara: where the family-run pensions and 4-star hotels mix with newer 5-stars
- Kundu (eastern end, closest to airport): the themed mega-hotels, all hotel-private beaches
What the sand is like
Fine, golden, powdery — not the dark sand you find further west in Antalya. It heats up in summer (35°C+ on the surface in July–August), so wear sandals or stay on a towel. Imported sand at some hotels (Mardan Palace) is even finer and whiter.
Sea conditions
Calm. The bay shape protects Lara from the open Mediterranean swell. Most days you have flat, glass-like water. Big waves are rare. This makes Lara excellent for swimming with young children, paddleboarding, and learning to swim.
Public vs private beach
Most Kundu hotels have their own private beach with sun-bed allocations. If you're staying outside Kundu, you can use:
- Lara Plaj 1 (free public beach, basic facilities)
- Lara Beach Park (paid: 200 TL/day, sun bed + umbrella + lockers)
- Hotel day-pass (most hotels sell day access for €30–€80, includes lunch and drinks)
Water sports
Available from beach concessions in front of every major hotel:
- Banana boat: 200 TL per person, 15 minutes
- Parasailing: 700 TL solo / 1,000 TL tandem
- Jet ski: 700 TL for 15 minutes
- Paragliding (from a boat): 1,500 TL
All prices 2026 estimates. Bargain — first quote is always 30% inflated.
Best time of day
- Morning (08:00–11:00): empty beaches, soft light, cooler
- Midday (12:00–15:00): hottest, busiest, hardest to find shade
- Afternoon (16:00–19:00): sea is warmest, sun is gentler, busy but pleasant
- Evening (after 19:00): most beach concessions close, but the sand stays warm and the sunsets are spectacular
What to bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30+ minimum, more for kids)
- Hat and UV sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle (most hotels have refill stations)
- A book — Lara is for relaxing, not sightseeing
- Light wrap for evening; sea breeze can be cool
Beach restaurants
Most Kundu hotels are all-inclusive, so you eat at the resort. Outside the hotel zone, Liman Restaurant and Mavi Liman are reliable for fish lunches with sea view (300–500 TL per person).
Transfer
Lara Beach hotels are 12–18 km from Antalya Airport, all reachable in under 25 minutes. Our fixed-price Kundu transfer covers all hotels in this zone.