We continue virtual walks through the most interesting locations of the wonderful province and the city of Antalya. Today we will move together with you to Lara, which is the second part of the huge Muratpaşa district. The first part – the Center – we described last time. So what is Muratpaşa-Lara? This is an elite area of Antalya, which is not so much for recreation as for life, both Turks and foreigners. Our compatriots especially appreciate the Guzeloba microdistrict – the most Russian-speaking in Turkey! But first things first.

Lara: general description

If Muratpaşa Center is chosen primarily for recreation, then neighboring Lara is chosen for life in the most comfortable conditions, and sometimes for business. Lara starts from the Yeşilbahçe neighborhood and goes along the coast to Kundu. Living here is very prestigious, and therefore the local elite settles here. At least that’s how Konyaalti and Dosemealti began to equip. However, in terms of the level and quality of infrastructure, they are still far from Lara.

For a long time, it was Lara that was the most elite location in Antalya and a trendsetter in architecture and real estate. There are both multi-storey buildings and cottages. Although, in general, Lara, as a central location, is more suitable for multi-storey construction of the comfort and premium level. And initially they were built right on the shore.

However, this coast is steep, and in order to go down to the water, you need to find a specially equipped beach with a picturesque staircase or a special elevator. However, this does not negate the magnificent view from the windows.

Artificial platforms that replace the natural beaches in Lara are equipped with everything you need for relaxation – sun loungers, umbrellas, showers, cafes and everything you need. The entrance to the sea is only by a ladder, as from a pier, and deep water immediately begins. We described the features of swimming in the center of Antalya in the last article – all this is also relevant for Lara.

The main difference from Muratpaşa Center is that there are also natural beaches with a smooth descent to the water, albeit not along the entire length of the long promenade. There are beaches with both pebbles and sand. They start from the comfortable Sera Hotel and go further east towards the Kundu neighborhood. These beaches are marked with the Blue Flag – an international award given to beaches with the cleanest water and the best service. These beaches will not disappoint even the most discerning tourist.

There are several gentle beaches in Lara, there are both municipal free and private paid ones with better service. Families often relax there and even hold sand sculpture festivals. There are numerous cafes and bars along them. Residents of Muratpaşa Center often come here for a beach holiday, because the beaches in Konyaalti are usually more crowded.

A healthy lifestyle is very popular with locals who represent the middle and upper class of Turkish society. At their request, Lara was equipped with everything necessary for active leisure and sports in green areas.

There are many locations for jogging and cycling. The main bike path runs along the entire perimeter of the Lara district. It is not necessary to bring a bicycle with you for trips – it is easier to rent it. For example, in a local park. The whole atmosphere here is conducive to relaxation, which is ideal for “charging” your “batteries” after sports.

Here is the main natural attraction of the city – the Lower Duden waterfall. Water from the Düden River breaks into the sea from a height of forty meters with a whole fountain of spray and other effects. The river originates in mountain karst lakes, which are located underground, after which the water makes its way to the surface and flows in a turbulent stream from the mountains directly into the central part of Lara, falling from the cliff to general rejoicing.

For tourists, there is a specially equipped platform for observing this natural wonder. It can also be seen from the bridge over the river or from a pleasure boat, which go along the shores in great abundance. This is a very interesting point for jogging or cycling.

Lara is also very popular among lovers of uncompromising Turkish shopping. The assortment in local modern shopping malls and boutiques is simply huge. Therefore, especially for the sake of shopping, people come here not only from neighboring areas, but also from other cities and even countries. Lara is very popular among new Turkish citizens who have just received citizenship, because everything here is adapted to the needs of foreigners. The language barrier is also almost absent here.

The largest shopping mall in Lara is Terra City. This is a real multi-storey shopping city, with shops and entertainment for every taste and budget. It has smaller “brothers”, such as the Laura shopping center and others – there are really a lot of large stores in Lara. They are forced to compete with each other, which has a positive effect on prices and the choice of goods. There are also enough grocery stores, nearby there are farmers’ markets with the freshest products directly from the fields or gardens.

In general, Lara is very suitable for a quiet life and a relaxing holiday in parks and squares, or for family leisure on the beaches. There are a lot of such green locations, they stretch along the rocky coast, in the center of the district, and are also found in areas restored after renovation. Green areas are replete with natural and artificial ponds, outdoor entertainment for both adults and children.

Lovers of kebabs and Turkish kebabs will appreciate the specially designated area near the municipal beach of Lara, next to which there is the most romantic place in Antalya – a park on a hill and overlooking the sea, where you can have simply magical picnics for two, surrounded by palm trees and other exotic vegetation.

Despite the fact that there are many places for recreation or shopping, the main territory is occupied by residential areas, which are appropriately called dormitory. But these are Turkish residential neighborhoods that cannot be compared with their post-Soviet counterparts. And then you will understand why.

Lara neighborhoods: the best things in Antalya?

The Muratpaşa area in general and Lara in particular is a very convenient place to live, because it combines high-quality housing, developed social infrastructure and proximity to the business and tourist center of the city. At the same time, Lara is much more adapted to life, because. there are fewer crowds of tourists and just passers-by, if you do not take into account the rather narrow coastal strip and locations around the mall.

Lara is a calm and peaceful place to live, a kind of quiet oasis amidst the noise and dynamics of the city center. The most popular neighborhoods for living are Yeşilbahçe, Şirinyali, Fener, Chaalayan, Güzeloba and Kundu, which are located along the sea, but rarely have direct access to the water – there are no beaches, which means there are no crowds of tourists.

Let’s start with the Yeşilbahçe neighborhood. This word translates as “Green Garden”, which fully reflects its essence. The location is located on the first coastline, on a hill, thanks to which it has a magnificent view of the sea and the other coast of Antalya – Konyaalti, as well as the majestic Taurus Mountains.

Due to its proximity to the historical center (3 km), to the business center, as well as to the sea, the most elite housing is located here. It is represented by multi-storey comfortable houses and guarded complexes with housing of a large area – 200 sq. m or more. Now buyers are more likely to choose complexes, because they have all the infrastructure on an all-inclusive basis. Individual houses are usually chosen in order to save money, so that aidat and utility bills are cheaper.

This neighborhood began to equip about 20 years ago, and most of the houses have 10-12 years of operation. I would like to note that this is one of the first districts that was equipped under the renovation program. There are no new buildings here, but the housing is still relevant and in excellent condition. All the houses here are decorated according to European standards and therefore Yeşilbahce is valued for its high comfort and developed infrastructure, even though the housing is not the newest.

In this neighborhood is the most famous and one of the largest hotels in Turkey – Barut. It is highly appreciated by businessmen and representatives of delegations visiting Antalya both from other cities and from other countries. And believe me, there are a lot of them, because those who want to develop their business in dynamic Antalya flock literally from all over the world – my husband and I are no exception and have never regretted our choice. However, this is a completely different story.

The nearest equipped beach is located close to Yeşilbahçe, but still belongs to another neighborhood – 500 m away. A recreation area within walking distance, but not right next to the house. The airport is 15 km away, which is also quite close in terms of transport, but at the same time the noise of aircraft engines no longer interferes.

The next most prestigious neighborhood is Shirinyali. It is very similar to Yeşilbahçe, both in terms of infrastructure and architecture. It is just as comfortable, but at the same time more elongated towards the land, therefore it has fewer coastal neighborhoods and more sleeping locations.

Of the features – 10-storey buildings right on the beach. Now in Antalya, houses of this height are practically not built – not only on the shore, but in general they prefer low-rise buildings of the European format. They are followed by less tall houses and these “skyscrapers” obscure their view, which is one of the drawbacks of the area. This, however, is fully compensated by the price/quality ratio in the real estate market.

One of the attractions here is Iskilar Street, where nightlife is in full swing. This is the center of restaurants, pubs, clubs, and apartment hotels, where activity does not subside until the morning. Noisy parties, concerts with live music and other events that are so appreciated by the “golden youth” are held here.

Laura and SheMall Shopping Center are also located here. In addition to them, there are many other outlets and stores for any request. Also here every Saturday opens its doors a large Turkish bazaar. There is also a large Medical Park clinic nearby, where all types of medical services are provided. This, by the way, is one of the main centers of medical tourism in Antalya – many foreigners specially come here for treatment.

In general, Shirinyalı is more dynamic than the first item on our list, which does not worsen the quality of life in it at all, because active locations here are interspersed with quiet, calm locations where no one will bother you. But you don’t have to go far for shopping or entertainment – everything is within walking distance. This will be highly appreciated by those who purchase housing for seasonal holidays or for short-term rentals.

Fener is a neighborhood of business people. It is optimally suited for trade and business, although there are also quiet corners for a calm measured life. It is in it that one of the largest shopping centers in Antalya Terra City is located. There is also a central square and concert halls. All the largest festivals and fairs are held in Fener.

From here, Tekel Oolu Street descends to the sea, which is loved by active youth. There are popular gyms, restaurants (including those with a healthy diet) and other points where young people spend their leisure time – playing sports, relaxing, socializing. It is here that you can most often see Ferrari and Porsche near high-end restaurants. Locals prefer to drive extra calories in the prestigious and huge Awaros sports complex, where there is a large swimming pool and halls for almost any sport.

They also live in this area – in premium villas and apartment complexes with a very high price tag. These houses are located on the first coastline, although they have practically no direct access to the sea (only on artificial platforms, as mentioned). Starting from the second line, simpler and older houses begin, which the authorities plan to demolish over time under the renovation program.

The neighboring Chalayan microdistrict, although located next to Fener, is much more modest in terms of prices. However, this does not affect the level of comfort, because the houses here are newer, as well as the entire infrastructure. There are very good guarded complexes where there is a full hotel service, including security and underground parking.

This is a quiet sleeping area, for which it is appreciated – it is especially popular with family people who strive for a quiet and comfortable life, but at the same time close to the city center, to offices and their business. There are many parks and there is a beautiful waterfall.

In Lara, there are neighborhoods not only for the elite, but also for a more mass audience. It is best to look for comfort or economy class housing in the quarters of Guzelob – it is this neighborhood that is the most Russian-speaking. It is a relatively young area, intensive construction continues, but has already earned a lot of positive reviews and ratings.

Still, for that kind of money, it is almost impossible to find quality housing near the seashore and almost in the city center. More precisely, it was impossible until the renovation in Guzeloba began. The neighborhood starts from the location of Duden (the one with the legendary waterfall) and goes to Kundu. Houses are usually in the European style – low number of storeys (up to 5 floors) and with a good level of comfort.

Prices here are lower because the infrastructure and landscaping here has not yet been completed. This is good news for investors, because in a few years, when the improvement is completed, the cost of housing here will undoubtedly increase. Already, the demand and competition for the best properties are very high – if you want to buy economy or comfort class housing in Guzeloba, then I advise you to hurry up and contact us right now.

Of the negative factors, there is an airport nearby, which may not be to everyone’s liking because of the noise of the engines. The downside is that the proximity to Antalya’s air gate encourages the authorities to develop transport infrastructure and invest more and more in the neighborhood that foreigners see first upon arrival in the city. However, taking into account modern sound insulation, take-off planes do not give much discomfort.

A lot of immigrants from post-Soviet countries, such as Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and others, live here. There are so many of them here that the locals call the location a “Russian district”, because for them all Russian-speakers are “Russians”. There is even a private Moscow school for children of foreigners with in-depth Turkish and English. Guzeloba ends at the Sera Hotel, where the recreation areas and beaches of numerous hotels begin.

Real estate in Lara: housing for every taste and budget

As you can see, Lara is the epicenter of diversity in Antalya. This applies to both the abundance of entertainment and comfortable housing. Everyone will find here a location to their liking, in which they will find quiet family happiness in the very center of a modern city. There is everything for both a young audience and an older one, both for young children and teenagers. In other words, there is all the best that can be expected from Turkey.

It is especially important that there are neighborhoods with the best price-quality ratio. That is why they are so appreciated by pragmatic compatriots from the CIS. Among them, of course, the Güzeloba neighborhood stands out, which borders the airport and tourist Kundu. Anyone who wants to live with Turkish comfort, but feel at home, will not be able to pass by Guzelob.

Every year there are more and more wonderful new residential complexes, with underground parking, swimming pools, fitness areas, saunas and other modern amenities. Apartments that occupy the entire floor of the house are very popular here. Although the houses are multi-storeyed, they are designed for a small number of residents, and the complexes have security and other services that monitor comfort and cleanliness.

The neighborhood has a well-developed social infrastructure. There are plenty of clinics, schools, kindergartens. There are many shops, cafes and restaurants. There is also a farmer’s market once a week, where you can buy the freshest fruits and vegetables.

The layout of apartments in Guzeloba and neighboring neighborhoods is from 1 + 1 to 4 + 1, and prices on the second coastline are from 60 to 250 thousand euros. At the first, they start with 250 thousand euros. Cottages and villas are the most expensive, but most often buyers choose housing in low-rise apartment buildings of the European format. For villas and country cottages, there are more interesting locations and less expensive locations, which I wrote about in previous articles.

Inference

If you want to combine business with pleasure – comfort and measured life with urban infrastructure and dynamics – then Lara is definitely your choice. There is literally everything that a modern person of any age and status needs. There is even a “Russian neighborhood” where you can not only find quality housing, but also find new friends and acquaintances with similar priorities – creating a new social circle after moving to another country is one of the main tasks.

Antalya is the best thing in Turkey. Lara is the best location to live in Antalya. Expert Property is the best guide and partner in the field of real estate. Life is short, so it is better to choose the best at once. I tested this firsthand when I moved to the wonderful and fabulous Antalya myself.

Yours Tatiana Güneş