Swandor Hotels & Resorts Topkapi Palace (Antalya) — Review and Guide

First, let's clear up the confusion: this hotel is not in Istanbul

When you search the internet for "Topkapi Palace", two completely different places come up. One is the real Topkapi Palace Museum in Sultanahmet, Istanbul; the other is a resort called Swandor Hotels & Resorts Topkapi Palace in the Lara area of Antalya. This page describes the second — that is, the hotel in Antalya.

Swandor Topkapi Palace is not next to or inside the palace in Istanbul. If you're going to tour the museum in Istanbul, you should plan your accommodation on the historic peninsula; for that, you can look at our Sultanahmet hotels guide. This hotel in Antalya, on the other hand, offers a completely different experience: sea, beach, water park and an ultra-all-inclusive holiday concept.

The only link between the two places is thematic. The resort in Antalya takes its name and architectural inspiration from the famous palace in Istanbul; with its domes, arches and ornamentation, it has a design that echoes Ottoman palace aesthetics. So you go to Istanbul to tour the real history, and to Antalya to swim at a palace-themed resort.

Quick summary: Swandor Topkapi Palace

Hotel features can change by season and according to the operator's updates; confirm the details with the provider before booking.

Location: Lara Beach and transport

The hotel is located in the Lara area to the east of Antalya, along the Lara shore famous for its long sand-and-pebble beach. Lara is Antalya's busiest hotel strip; large themed resorts — palace-themed, pyramid-themed and the like — line up along this coast. Swandor Topkapi Palace is one of the palace-themed representatives of this strip.

Transport is easy: it's about 35 minutes from Antalya Airport; this makes it especially easy for families with children to get off the plane and settle into the hotel with a short transfer. Antalya city centre and Kaleiçi can also be reached during the day, but by the nature of the ultra-all-inclusive concept, most guests spend their holiday largely within the resort.

The ultra-all-inclusive concept

The hotel's core appeal is the ultra-all-inclusive concept. The difference from standard "all-inclusive" is that the coverage is broader: not only the main meals and basic drinks, but snacks throughout the day, a variety of local and often some imported drinks, intermediate meals and many activities are also included in the package.

This concept is appealing for families who want to clarify their holiday budget in advance. Once you've checked in, you can eat and drink and enjoy the pool and beach without thinking about extra payment. Even so, some premium services (private restaurant reservations, certain brands, spa treatments, some water sports) may not be included in the package and may carry an extra charge; confirm the full scope with the provider before booking.

• Included: main meals, buffet, snacks throughout the day, many drinks, entertainment and most activities.
• May carry an extra charge: some à la carte restaurants, premium drinks, spa, certain water sports, room service.

Kids' club and family-friendly features

The hotel positions families with children as its main target audience. The kids' club, called Rino Kids, offers children in certain age ranges supervised activities, games and mini shows throughout the day. Parents can rest on the beach or by the pool while their children are at the club; this is one of the most appreciated aspects of a family holiday.

The family-friendly infrastructure isn't limited to the kids' club: with children's pools, children's menus, family-room options and children's shows held in the evenings, the resort is designed to keep little guests occupied at every hour of the day. In this respect, Swandor Topkapi Palace is a sensible choice for families who want to spend a holiday with their children "without ever getting bored".

Restaurants and cuisines

The hotel has 5 restaurants; some à la carte restaurants may require a reservation and/or an extra charge. The current restaurant list and cuisines can change by season.

Beach and activities

The hotel is located close to Lara Beach; guests can access both the sea and the large pool area. On the beach, sun loungers, umbrellas and service throughout the day are typically part of the concept. The variety of activities is the expected richness of ultra-all-inclusive resorts:

• Sport: tennis courts, various beach and pool sports, fitness facilities.
• Entertainment: bowling, daytime entertainment, live shows and a nightclub / disco atmosphere.
• Relaxation: a spa and hammam section (some treatments may carry an extra charge).

The day starts with morning entertainment and sports tournaments and continues with evening stage shows and night-time fun. For families wanting an active holiday the programme is full, while for those wanting to relax there are quiet corners on the beach and by the pool.

Price and booking

The hotel's price can't be given as a single figure; it varies markedly by season, period, room type and length of stay. Midsummer and public holidays are the most expensive periods; late spring and early autumn are usually more balanced in terms of both price and weather. Always check the current price and availability with the booking provider; you can see the hotels and prices on the map below and reach current offers with the "See hotels" button.

When assessing the price in an ultra-all-inclusive concept, factor in what's included in the package too: because most of the meals, drinks and activities are included, it becomes easier to plan a holiday budget without extra spending. Before booking, clarify child discounts, family-room options and cancellation terms with the provider.

What is a day at the hotel like?

At an ultra-all-inclusive resort, the day can flow according to a programme but leaves the freedom to you. After the buffet breakfast in the morning, some guests head straight to the beach, others run to the slides at the water park. While the children spend time with the animators at the Rino Kids club, parents rest by the pool or consider sports options like fitness and tennis.

For lunch, the main restaurant's buffet or the beach snack points come into play; because snacks and drinks throughout the day are part of the concept, you wander without thinking of your wallet. In the late afternoon the theme takes on another mood as the palace-themed architecture is lit up. Dinner can be had at the buffet or at a reserved à la carte restaurant; the evening then continues with stage shows, live music and a nightclub atmosphere. The best part of this whole flow for families is that both children and adults can find their own pace.

Its link to the real Topkapi Palace

Holidaying at this hotel is no substitute for touring Topkapi Palace in Istanbul; the two are in different cities and are different experiences. However, the palace-themed atmosphere can stir an enjoyable curiosity in children and guests about Ottoman palace aesthetics. After spending a holiday among domes and arches in Antalya, the palace becomes far more meaningful for those who want to see the real thing in Istanbul.

If you're planning the real palace, make use of our guide pages describing visiting hours, tickets and sections; and if you're interested in this hotel in Antalya, you can review current prices and availability on the map below. In short: Topkapi in Istanbul is history, while Swandor Topkapi Palace in Antalya is a seaside holiday adorned with its theme.