Belek: Europe's Premier Golf Destination
Belek is not merely a golf destination — it is Europe's golf capital. Located on the Turkish Riviera just 35 km east of Antalya Airport, this purpose-built resort corridor hosts more than 25 internationally recognised golf courses within a remarkably compact area. The combination of a near-perfect climate, immaculate fairways, luxury resort hotels, and easy access from across Europe has made Belek a year-round pilgrimage site for golf enthusiasts at every level of the game.
Car rental for Belek golf tours is not an optional extra — it is a fundamental part of making the most of your visit. The courses are spread along a 15 km corridor, each with its own entrance road, and the freedom to choose your tee time, move between courses on your schedule, and transport your equipment without compromise is simply not achievable by any other means. At Azra Rent a Car, we specialise in helping golf visitors find the right vehicle for their particular combination of equipment, group size, and itinerary.
Belek's World-Class Golf Courses
The depth and quality of golf available in Belek is genuinely exceptional. The following courses represent the headline names, though the full list extends considerably further.
Antalya Golf Club (PGA Sultan and Pasha Courses), designed by David Jones and associated with PGA of Europe, is one of the most prestigious addresses in Turkish golf. Gloria Golf Resort operates three 18-hole courses across the Gloria Verde and Gloria Old Course properties — ideal for golfers who want variety without leaving a single estate. Cornelia Golf Club has earned numerous awards for its design quality and conditioning standards. Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort hosts a single demanding 18-hole layout renowned for its challenge and its immaculate presentation.
Nobilis Golf Club offers a more relaxed atmosphere while still delivering a championship-standard course, making it a popular choice for mid-handicap players. The PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club is widely regarded as the most demanding test in the region and has hosted European Tour events. Browse our fleet to find a vehicle suited to your group and equipment.
Golf Course Locations: Distances and Details
| Golf Course | Distance from Antalya Airport | Distance from Belek Centre | Holes | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antalya Golf Club (PGA) | ~35 km | ~3 km | 2 × 18 | Intermediate–Challenging |
| Gloria Golf Resort | ~40 km | ~6 km | 3 × 18 | Intermediate |
| Cornelia Golf Club | ~38 km | ~4 km | 2 × 18 | Intermediate–Challenging |
| Regnum Carya Golf | ~42 km | ~8 km | 1 × 18 | Challenging |
| Nobilis Golf Club | ~36 km | ~2 km | 1 × 18 | Intermediate |
| PGA Sultan Course | ~35 km | ~3 km | 1 × 18 | Challenging |
Transporting Golf Equipment: Which Vehicle Is Right?
A fully equipped golf bag is a serious piece of luggage. A typical tour bag measures 130–140 cm in length and weighs 5–7 kg fully loaded with clubs, balls, and accessories. Two bags plus two sets of personal luggage will exceed the boot capacity of most standard saloon cars. Choosing the correct vehicle category before you arrive is essential.
Here is a practical guide to vehicle selection based on group size and equipment:
- SUV (e.g. Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, VW Tiguan): The most popular choice for two to three golfers. Boot capacity of 500–600 litres expands to over 1,500 litres with rear seats folded. Ideal for carrying two or three bags alongside personal luggage, with a comfortable ride between courses.
- Minivan / Van (e.g. Ford Tourneo, VW Caravelle, Mercedes Vito): The definitive choice for groups of four or more. Generous passenger space, sliding side doors for easy loading, and ample cargo room for multiple bags and equipment. Also excellent if any member of the group has mobility considerations.
- Crossover: A good compromise for a pair of golfers travelling relatively light — one bag each plus carry-on luggage — who want a balance of comfort and economy.
View our full fleet with boot capacity details to confirm the right match before your booking.
SUV and Minivan Rental for Golf Groups
SUVs have become the default rental choice among golf tourists in Belek, and with good reason. Beyond raw cargo capacity, the elevated driving position and comfortable long-distance ride quality make the short inter-course transfers pleasant rather than merely functional. Models like the Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan also handle the occasional dirt access road to more rural facilities with ease.
For groups of four, five, or six, a large minivan removes all equipment logistics concerns. Bags slide in through the wide rear doors, everyone sits in genuine comfort, and there is no need to play Tetris with luggage at each stop. Many golf groups travelling from Germany, the UK, or Scandinavia for a week-long Belek programme find a minivan rental — shared between four or five players — is the most cost-effective and practical arrangement possible.
Getting from Your Hotel to the Course: Why Your Own Car Matters
Most major hotels in Belek operate shuttle services to the nearest one or two golf courses. These shuttles run at fixed times, cover only a limited number of destinations, and disappear entirely if the schedule does not suit you. For golfers who want to play different courses on different days — which is, after all, the whole point of coming to a destination with 25-plus courses — a hotel shuttle is not a solution.
With your own rental car, you book the tee time that works for you on the course you want to play that day, load your bag at whatever hour you choose, and drive the five to fifteen minutes to the course entrance. When you finish your round, you can head directly to a restaurant, visit the beach, or drive to Side for the afternoon — none of which is possible on a hotel shuttle schedule.
Early Tee Times and Daily Scheduling
Early tee times are highly sought after in Belek, particularly during peak season from October through April and during the hot summer months when playing before 9:00 is strongly advisable. A 7:00 start requires you to leave your hotel around 6:30 — a time when hotel shuttles are rarely, if ever, operating.
A standard 18-hole round takes approximately four to five hours to complete. Starting early means finishing by early afternoon, which leaves the rest of the day free for additional activities. Side Ancient Theatre and beach are just 30 km from Belek; Manavgat Waterfall is equally accessible for a cooling afternoon excursion. The evening drive back to Antalya city for dinner in the old harbour area takes around 45 minutes. All of this is entirely practical with a rental car — and entirely impractical without one.
Golf Season in Belek: When to Visit
One of Belek's greatest competitive advantages over European golf destinations is its year-round playability. The optimal months are October through April, when temperatures range from 12°C to 22°C — conditions that feel like spring regardless of what the calendar says. During January and February, while golfers in Germany, Sweden, and the UK face frozen fairways and grey skies, Belek's courses are in full swing under clear Mediterranean sun.
Summer golf (June through August) is entirely possible but demands early morning play. By late morning, temperatures reach 35–42°C, making afternoon rounds uncomfortable and potentially risky in terms of heat exposure. Courses offer discounted summer rates to attract players willing to manage the heat, and some operate special dawn tee-time schedules. Ensure you carry ample water — at least two litres per person — and use high-SPF sun protection regardless of the season.
One-Week Golf Package: Suggested Itinerary
A week-long Belek golf holiday with a rental car flows naturally into a satisfying combination of golf, culture, and relaxation. Here is a suggested programme built around an SUV or minivan hire with unlimited mileage:
Day 1 — Arrival: Collect your vehicle at Antalya Airport. Transfer to your Belek hotel (35–45 minutes). Rest, settle in, and explore the hotel grounds. No golf — save your energy.
Days 2–5 — Golf: Play a different course each day. Gloria, Cornelia, Antalya Golf Club, and Regnum Carya represent four excellent and contrasting challenges. Drive between courses at your own schedule; no shuttle coordination required.
Day 6 — Culture Day: Take a morning drive to Side (30 km) for the Ancient Theatre and Temple of Apollo. Lunch by the sea, then the short drive to Aspendos for the Roman theatre in the afternoon. Return to Belek for dinner.
Day 7 — Departure: Morning round at Nobilis Golf Club if time allows. Return vehicle at Antalya Airport. The drive from Belek takes approximately 35–45 minutes.
Practical Golf Rental Tips
A few details make a disproportionate difference to the smoothness of a golf rental experience in Belek. First, measure your golf bag before leaving home — not all bags are identical, and knowing the dimensions helps confirm the right vehicle before arrival rather than after. Most standard tour bags fit diagonally in the boot of a mid-size SUV with the rear seats upright; staff bags and travel covers may require the seat folded flat.
Pack a large waterproof mat or old towel to protect the boot lining from damp bags and shoe mud — a small consideration that saves time and potential cleaning charges at return. Refuel the car the evening before your departure day rather than rushing to find a petrol station on the morning of your flight. All access roads to Belek's golf courses are well surfaced, clearly signed, and entirely manageable in any vehicle from our fleet — no off-road driving required.
Beyond the Fairways: Exploring the Region by Car
The golf may be the primary reason for your visit, but Belek's location gives effortless access to some of the most remarkable sights in Turkey. Side Ancient Theatre and beach is just 30 km east — a perfect half-day excursion after a morning round. Manavgat Waterfall, 35 km from Belek, offers a genuinely refreshing contrast to sun-baked fairways. The white-water rapids of Köprülü Canyon, 70 km away, provide an adrenaline option for rest days.
Antalya city itself — just 35 km west — deserves an evening. The walled old town of Kaleiçi, with its Roman harbour, 2nd-century Hadrian's Gate, and lively restaurant terraces, is one of the most atmospheric city centres in Turkey. The drive back along the coast road at dusk, with the Taurus mountains turning pink behind you, is an experience that stays with you long after the golf scorecard fades from memory.
Azra Rent a Car provides SUVs, minivans, and saloons ideally suited to Belek golf tourism, all available with unlimited mileage and full insurance cover. Reserve your vehicle early — especially for October through April, when demand from European golf visitors is at its peak. Contact us to book your golf tour vehicle, or explore the full fleet options online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not in a single day. We recommend picking 2-3 attractions per day trip. A week-long car rental lets you cover them all comfortably.
Yes, all of them are safe and well-signposted. Google Maps works perfectly in Turkey for navigation.
Koprulu Canyon for swimming and rafting, Kurshunlu Waterfalls for easy walking, and the Duden Waterfall for the wow factor.
For most attractions, a regular car is fine. For Selge Ancient City and some mountain villages, an SUV is more comfortable due to steeper roads.