Konyaaltı is one of Antalya's longest beaches. Stretching for roughly seven kilometres, this pebbly shoreline – with the silhouette of the Beydağları mountains behind it and the pale blue of the Mediterranean in front – takes on a completely different character in the late afternoon. The sunset, whether watched from our hotel beach or from the seafront promenade, is the view our guests photograph more than any other.
When Is the Best Time?
Sunset times shift quite a bit with the seasons. In June and July the sun slips behind the mountains at around 20.30; by October this has moved forward to 18.15, and in December to 17.30. The colours are at their most vivid from about twenty minutes before the sun touches the horizon until half an hour after it has set. In other words, the ideal time to head down to the beach is thirty minutes before the official sunset time.
Our reception updates the day's sunset time every morning. Just ask on your way up to your room.
Where to Watch From
There is more than one way to make the most of the view; which you choose depends on the kind of evening you have in mind:
- Our hotel beach: The sun loungers empty out after six in the evening and the beach grows calm. Our bar service carries on throughout the sunset.
- The seafront promenade: Follow the paved path towards the Antalya Sand Sculpture Museum and you will find a wider frame, with the mountains shifting angle as you go.
- The balcony of a sea-view room: The most relaxed option for those who would rather keep away from the crowds. From the upper-floor rooms the horizon is completely unobstructed.
- The clifftops: A fifteen-minute walk from the hotel, the cliffs let you look out over the sea from above.
A Few Photography Tips
If you are shooting on your phone, tap the screen to lock the exposure on the sky; otherwise the sea will look right but the sky will be blown out. The wet pebbles on the beach make a lovely reflective surface, which is why shots taken from low down tend to be more striking. On breezier evenings, we recommend using burst mode to catch the moment the waves break.
How the Seasons Differ
In summer the skies are usually cloudless, so the sun goes down in a simple wash of orange. The real variety of colour comes in autumn and spring, when wisps of cloud scattered across the sky catch the light and create a range from pink to purple. Guests who tell us Konyaaltı's finest sunsets come in October and April are not wrong. And in winter, if there is snow on the mountains, you may catch a few minutes when the setting sun turns the peaks orange.
After the Sun Goes Down
Once darkness falls, the cafés and kiosks along the seafront stay open. The promenade is well lit and busy until late at night, making it a safe route for anyone who fancies a walk on their own. On the way back to the hotel, the ice-cream parlours and şalgam (turnip juice) stalls on Konyaaltı Boulevard are a good excuse to see Antalya's local evening habits for yourself.
If you would like a late dinner, our restaurant serves until 22.00. For guests who want to watch the sunset on the beach and then go straight to the table, we suggest booking your dinner reservation for after 20.30. On our bar terrace, light bites and cocktails are served until midnight.
