Rixos Sungate
Rixos Sungate is Turkey's definitive family mega-resort: 1,094 rooms, two aquaparks, a cinema, bowling alley, go-kart track, zip-line, and a 5-acre kids club, all wrapped in Rixos's premium-spirits-inclusive package. It lacks the polished finesse of Rixos Premium Belek or Maxx Royal, but at $184-500/night it delivers extraordinary entertainment breadth at a price point that makes it very hard to beat for families chasing maximum activity density.
Quick Verdict
Rixos Sungate is the biggest, loudest, most activity-stuffed all-inclusive resort on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast — and it knows it. With 1,094 rooms, 14 restaurants, 11 pools, two aquaparks, a cinema, a bowling alley, a go-kart track, a zip-line to the beach, and free access to the Land of Legends theme park, this is a resort that wins on sheer volume. It does not pretend to be a boutique hideaway or a polished luxury retreat. It is a family entertainment machine set against the dramatic Taurus Mountains in Kemer’s Beldibi bay, and at $184-500 per night all-inclusive with premium spirits, it offers arguably the best activity-to-dollar ratio of any five-star resort in Turkey. Score: 8.1/10.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cinema, bowling, go-kart, zip-line — all included | 1,094 rooms = sunbed competition in peak season |
| 720m private beach in calm, protected bay | Room decor dated in older building sections |
| Free Land of Legends Theme Park + shuttle | 15 min to nearest town, 45 min to Antalya |
| Premium imported spirits, not just domestic | La Rosetta restaurant has a surcharge |
| 5-acre Rixy Kids Club with own pools | A la carte bookings fill within hours of check-in |
| Teppanyaki dinner included — no extra charge | Room service is fee-based |
| 30-40% cheaper than Rixos Premium Belek | English levels among staff can be inconsistent |
The Resort at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Rooms | 1,094 |
| Restaurants | 14 (13 included, 1 surcharge) |
| Bars | 9 |
| Pools | 11 (including 2 aquaparks, 1 indoor) |
| Beach | 720m private, Blue Flag, protected bay |
| Airport | 45 km from Antalya Airport (AYT) — about 45 min |
| Chain | Rixos Hotels (Accor) |
| Opened | 2005 (partial renovation 2012, Marine wing 2017) |
| Concept | All Inclusive All Exclusive |
| Season | May to October (closed in winter) |
The Land of Legends — Why Families Book This Resort
Let me be direct: the Land of Legends access is probably the single biggest reason to choose Rixos Sungate over a dozen other Kemer all-inclusives. The Land of Legends is Turkey’s largest theme park — think Nickelodeon Land rides, a massive water park, and a full entertainment complex. Standard tickets run $50-100 per person. At Rixos Sungate, every guest gets unlimited free entry plus a complimentary shuttle bus.
For a family of four staying a week, that is $1,400-2,800 in theme park tickets — effectively free. Even if you only visit twice during your stay, you have already recovered a meaningful chunk of your room cost. No other Kemer resort offers this. Rixos Premium Belek includes the same perk, but costs 30-40% more per night.
This is a genuine differentiator, not a marketing gimmick. If your kids are between 4 and 14, the Land of Legends access alone could justify choosing Sungate over competitors like Maxx Royal Kemer or TUI Magic Life Beldibi, neither of which includes it.
Rooms & Suites
Rixos Sungate has 15 room categories spread across multiple buildings. The range runs from sensible $184/night standard rooms to a five-bedroom presidential villa priced on request. Here is what matters.
Standard Rooms (Mountain & Sea View)
The entry-level rooms are 37 square meters (about 400 sq ft) with a balcony, satellite TV, minibar refreshed daily, and air conditioning. They are functional but not exciting. The Mountain View rooms start at $184/night and face the forested Taurus range — a view you will not find at flat Belek resorts. The Sea View upgrade ($220/night) is worth the $36 premium for Mediterranean panoramas from your balcony.
The honest caveat: rooms in the original 2005 building show their age. The decor is tired, bathrooms feel dated, and the furniture has seen better days. If you draw a room in an unrenovated section, you will notice the gap between the five-star lobby and what is behind your door.
Marine Wing & Comfort Rooms
The Marine wing rooms ($260/night) were among the most recently refreshed and it shows — contemporary decor, sea-facing balconies, and a noticeably more modern feel than the standard blocks. The Comfort Room ($230/night) splits the difference with garden or pool views and slightly better fixtures than the base category.
For families, the Superior Room ($250/night) sleeps two adults and two children and has been updated with a refreshed design. At this price point, it is one of the better family room values on the Turkish coast.
Suites & Premium Options
The standout room at Rixos Sungate is the Marine Pool House ($420/night, 72 sqm). You get a spacious sea-view layout with direct stair access down to a shared pool — essentially a swim-up experience without the full swim-up suite price. It is the room I would book for a couples’ trip.
The Executive Jacuzzi Room ($320/night, 51 sqm) unlocks Club Diamond benefits: butler service, priority restaurant reservations, and access to the VIP pier with private cabanas and hot tubs. At a 1,094-room resort where sunbed competition is real, the Club Diamond upgrade is not a luxury — it is practical.
For large families or groups, the Family Suite ($350/night) and Family Pool House ($450/night) offer multiple bedrooms with terrace or pool access. At the top end, the Executive Villa ($600/night, 241 sqm) delivers three bedrooms, a private plunge pool, a jetted tub, and full butler service. The five-bedroom Poseidon Presidential Villa sleeps up to 11 — rates on request.
Our Pick
Couples: Marine Pool House — $420/night for sea views, pool access from your room, and a modern feel. Families: Superior Room at $250/night hits the value sweet spot. Upgrade worth it: Executive Jacuzzi Room at $320/night for Club Diamond access — the VIP beach pier alone justifies it in July-August.
Food & Dining
Fourteen restaurants and nine bars. That is the headline number, and for a $184/night all-inclusive, it is remarkable. But let me break down what actually matters.
The Buffets: Turquoise & Veranda
Turquoise is the main buffet — open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with international cuisine, theme nights, diet-friendly options, and a dedicated kids’ section. It is the workhorse dining venue for 1,094 rooms, and it shows. Breakfast is solid with good pastry and egg stations. Lunch is reliable. Dinner gets crowded and the quality is buffet-standard — edible, varied, never memorable.
Veranda serves as the overflow buffet with late breakfast and dinner service. Useful for late risers and a way to escape Turquoise crowds, but the food is essentially the same.
My advice: eat breakfast at Turquoise (or grab pastries from Croissant Corner), skip the buffet at dinner, and use your evenings at the a la carte restaurants.
A La Carte Restaurants — The Real Story
This is where Rixos Sungate punches above its weight. Most of these are included in your all-inclusive rate with no surcharge:
Teppanyaki is the standout. Chef Jerry Maleke cooks at a 20-seat teppanyaki stone with an additional 24 grill seats, all outdoors. Live cooking theater, fresh ingredients, genuine entertainment. The fact that this is included in the AI rate — no extra charge — is unusual. Book it the morning you check in. It fills in hours. Forty-four seats for 1,094 rooms tells you everything about demand.
Bloom is the resort’s premium fine-dining option — seasonal Mediterranean seafood with a focus on fresh local produce. Reservation required, and worth securing early. This is the closest Rixos Sungate gets to a genuine upscale dining experience.
Mandarin serves contemporary Far Eastern cuisine in a tiny 40-seat venue. Reservation essential. At 40 seats across a 1,094-room resort, the math is brutal — this fills before Teppanyaki.
Cactus offers Mexican food (fajitas, spicy dishes) with a 90-seat terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Chef Selcuk Alpsen runs the kitchen. No reservation needed, which makes it a reliable backup when Teppanyaki and Mandarin are full.
Mermaid is the Italian-Mediterranean seafood restaurant led by Chef Ihsan Kahraman. Fresh fish specialties in a more formal setting. No reservation required.
Bonzai covers sushi and Japanese dishes — a complementary option to the teppanyaki experience.
Noodle House serves a-la-minute noodle dishes, and Croissant Corner handles pastries and patisserie. Both are casual, walk-up venues.
Rixy Kids Restaurant gives children their own dining space with a child-friendly menu — a thoughtful touch that lets parents eat at the adult venues while kids are at the club.
La Rosetta — The One Exception
La Rosetta is the sole surcharge restaurant. It serves premium Italian cuisine with a fresh seafood focus — pizza, pasta, and grilled fish. It is the only dining disappointment in an otherwise fully included F&B package. Not because the food is bad, but because at a resort that includes Teppanyaki at no extra charge, charging extra for Italian feels inconsistent.
Bars & Drinks
Nine bars spread across the property, including Fantasy Bar for evening cocktails, Piano Bar for something quieter, The Dem Coffee and Tea House, a branded Costa Coffee, Marine Pool Bar and Rixy Pool Bar for daytime poolside drinks, and the Vitamin Bar at Anjana Spa.
The drinks quality is a genuine Rixos advantage. The all-inclusive package includes premium and imported spirits — not the domestic-brands-only limitation common at lower-tier Turkish hotels. You can order a decent gin and tonic without paying extra. Cocktails are competently mixed. Wine is fine but unexciting.
Food Verdict
The buffet is average. The a la carte restaurants — particularly Teppanyaki and Bloom — are genuinely good for an all-inclusive of this price tier. The critical skill at Rixos Sungate is working the reservation system: head to the desk the moment you check in, prioritize Teppanyaki and Mandarin, and plan your dining week on day one. Guests who fail to do this end up eating at the buffet every night and wondering why reviewers praised the food.
Beach & Pools
The Beach
Rixos Sungate’s 720-meter private beach is one of its strongest assets, and it has two features that set it apart from the competition.
First, the protected bay location. Kemer’s Beldibi bay provides calm, clear Mediterranean water that is ideal for families with young children. There is a wave-breaker-protected shallow area specifically designed as a baby beach. Compare this to Belek’s open coastline, where currents can make swimming less comfortable for small kids.
Second, the Taurus Mountain backdrop. Every beach in Belek looks the same — flat, featureless coast. At Rixos Sungate, you swim with pine-forested mountains rising directly behind the resort. It is genuinely scenic and makes for better vacation photos.
The beach has two piers for swimming and sunbathing. Blue Flag certified. Golden, fine sand. No beach vendors — the private perimeter keeps it contained.
The catch: 1,094 rooms compete for sunbeds. There is a towel reservation system, and standard AI guests report having to arrive early in peak season. Club Diamond guests bypass this with priority beach cabanas and access to the VIP pier, which includes serviced cabanas, hot tubs, butler service, and lounge music. During July-August, Club Diamond is less an upgrade and more a sanity-preservation strategy.
Pools
Eleven pools across the property, broken into distinct zones:
The main pool complex (6 outdoor pools) is the lively center of the resort, with slides connecting to the aquapark areas and DJ sessions during peak season. Expect a party atmosphere.
Two separate aquaparks — one for adults and families with full-size slides, one dedicated to children under 12 with shallow entry and age-appropriate water features. Both included in the AI rate.
The indoor pool is heated for shoulder-season use (May, October). The Marine Pool is accessible directly from Marine Pool House rooms — a quieter, more private experience. The Club Diamond VIP pool area is exclusively for premium-tier guests with butler service.
If you want quiet poolside lounging, head to the Marine Pool or Club Diamond areas. If you want energy and waterslides, the main complex and aquaparks deliver.
Activities & Entertainment
This is where Rixos Sungate separates itself from every other resort in Kemer — and most resorts in Turkey.
Daytime Activities
The activity list reads like a small theme park’s:
- Go-kart track — on-site, included in AI
- Zip-line from the main building to the beach — confirmed by independent reviewers, and a genuine thrill for kids and adults
- Mini-golf course
- Bowling alley with 4 lanes
- Cinema showing films throughout the day
- 5 outdoor tennis courts
- World Class Sports Club with a 600 sqm indoor gym, 270-meter jogging track, and sea-view fitness area
- Football Academy for ages 5-15 with structured coaching
- Non-motorized water sports: paddleboarding, canoeing, windsurfing
- Archery, beach volleyball, water polo, table tennis, billiards
- Yoga, aerobics, Zumba classes
The cinema and bowling alley are rare amenities in Turkish all-inclusives. You typically only find them at the largest mega-resorts, and they serve as genuine rainy-day saviors and evening alternatives.
Evening Entertainment
Two main venues — Lotus Show Center and Alara Show Center — plus an amphitheater and a disco. The resort programs nightly entertainment including theatrical shows, themed parties, and DJ sessions. During summer, Rixos brings in known artists for live concerts — the scale of the resort justifies bookings that smaller properties cannot afford.
The Piano Bar offers a quieter evening alternative for guests who have aged out of the disco.
Rixy Kids Club
Five acres. Let that sink in. The Rixy Kids Club at Rixos Sungate occupies five acres of dedicated space — larger than many entire boutique resorts. It includes two dedicated children’s pools, a kids’ restaurant, and a rotating program of water games, arts and crafts, contests, a Rixy Disco, carnival events, mask-making workshops, and sports lessons.
The club accepts children up to age 12. Babysitting is available for a fee. For families, this is not a token offering — it is a legitimate, well-resourced childcare operation that allows parents to enjoy the Teppanyaki dinner or Anjana Spa without guilt.
Spa & Wellness
Anjana Spa occupies 68,000 square feet (6,317 sqm), making it one of the largest spa campuses in the Kemer region. The core wet facilities — hammam (Turkish bath), saunas, steam room, and spa pool — are included in the all-inclusive rate. The Vitamin Bar at the spa serves fresh juices and health drinks, also included.
Massage treatments, body treatments, and salon services are extra. The hammam experience is the highlight and should not be missed — it is authentic, unhurried, and included. Book a slot on your first full day before the schedule fills.
The World Class Fitness Bar sits adjacent to the gym and spa complex, making it easy to combine a workout, a steam, and a fresh juice in one session.
What’s Included vs Extra
| Included | Extra Cost |
|---|---|
| All meals at 13 restaurants | La Rosetta Italian restaurant |
| Premium & imported spirits at all bars | Spa treatments & salon services |
| Minibar refreshed daily | Room service |
| 11 pools + 2 aquaparks | Scuba diving |
| Go-kart, zip-line, mini-golf | Motorized water sports |
| Bowling (4 lanes), cinema | Golf (courses 20-30 min away) |
| Tennis, archery, water sports | Excursions & day trips |
| Rixy Kids Club (5-acre program) | Club Diamond upgrade tier |
| Land of Legends unlimited entry + shuttle | Babysitting |
| Anjana Spa hammam, sauna, steam | — |
| Nightly shows & live concerts | — |
| Wi-Fi throughout property | — |
Pricing & How to Book
Price Ranges by Season
| Season | Period | Price/Night (2 adults) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Season | May | $184-220 | Best value; quieter pools, pleasant weather |
| Shoulder | June, September | $220-300 | Sweet spot — warm, manageable crowds |
| Peak | July-August | $350-500 | Full capacity; book 3-4 months ahead |
| Late Season | October | $200-250 | Cooling down; some restaurants may reduce hours |
| Closed | November-April | N/A | Resort is seasonal |
Best Time to Book
Book 3-4 months ahead for July-August stays, especially if you want a Marine Pool House or Club Diamond villa — these sell out fastest. For shoulder season, 6-8 weeks ahead is usually sufficient. January through March offers the best early-bird rates with discounts up to 20% through rixos.com direct.
Where to Book
Rixos.com direct frequently runs early-bird promotions with 20% off — check here first. Booking.com and Expedia often match or beat on last-minute availability. KAYAK is useful for price comparison across platforms. UK-based travelers should check TUI and First Choice packages, which sometimes bundle flights and transfers at competitive rates.
Check latest prices on Booking.com →
Room Tip
Request a Marine wing room or Executive tier for newer decor. Standard rooms in the original 2005 building have not all been renovated. If booking standard, specifically ask for a renovated room. At a resort this large, the front desk has some flexibility — a polite request at check-in often works.
Compared to Nearby Resorts
vs Rixos Premium Belek: The Premium Belek is the higher-grade sibling — superior food quality, better room finishes, more polished service, and a 1km pine-forest beach. It costs 30-40% more. But Rixos Sungate wins on entertainment breadth: cinema, bowling, and go-kart are not available at Belek. Both include Land of Legends. Choose Belek for refinement, Sungate for maximum activity density at a lower price.
vs Maxx Royal Belek: Maxx Royal operates in a completely different league — an all-suite, ultra-luxury property that is consistently rated Kemer/Belek’s number-one hotel. It costs roughly triple Rixos Sungate’s rates. If your budget allows it, Maxx Royal is the better hotel in every measurable way except entertainment facilities and value per dollar. Rixos Sungate is the smart choice for families who want activities over opulence.
vs Barut Hemera (Side): A different part of the coast (Side vs Kemer), but similar price tier. Barut Hemera is a smaller, more refined property that excels at food quality and adult atmosphere. It lacks Sungate’s entertainment infrastructure entirely. Families with kids choose Sungate; couples without children should seriously consider Barut Hemera or similar.
Club Diamond — Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Club Diamond is Rixos Sungate’s premium tier, available through Executive, Marine Pool House, Suite, and Villa room categories. Benefits include:
- 24-hour butler service
- VIP pier with serviced cabanas and hot tubs
- Private beach cabanas with lounge music
- Priority a la carte restaurant reservations
- Exclusive restaurant access
- VIP lounge
At a 1,094-room resort where demand on facilities is high, Club Diamond is functionally necessary during peak season. The priority restaurant reservations alone change your dining experience from “whatever is available tonight” to “Teppanyaki on Tuesday, Bloom on Thursday.” The VIP beach pier with hot tubs and butler service transforms the beach experience from sunbed-hunting to genuine relaxation.
If you are visiting in July-August, budget for Club Diamond. In May, June, or September-October, the standard rooms are perfectly adequate.
FAQ
How far is Rixos Sungate from Antalya Airport?
About 45 km — roughly a 45-minute transfer. Kemer town is 15 minutes away. Antalya city center is about 40 minutes. The resort is relatively isolated, which is great for a self-contained vacation but means there is nothing walkable nearby.
Is the Land of Legends really free for guests?
Yes. All Rixos properties with “Land of Legends Access” branding include unlimited free entry and a complimentary return shuttle. This is not a one-time promotional visit — you can go every day of your stay. Standard park tickets cost $50-100+ per person, making this a substantial value add.
Can I book a la carte restaurants in advance?
No. The reservation system is first-come, first-served from the moment you check in. Head directly to the a la carte reservation desk on arrival and book your top choices (Teppanyaki at 44 seats and Mandarin at 40 seats are the most in-demand). For stays over 7 nights, some booking channels include one complimentary a la carte dinner — verify when reserving.
Is Rixos Sungate open year-round?
No. The resort operates seasonally, typically from May through October. It is closed during winter months. Always confirm exact opening dates before booking, as they can shift slightly year to year.
Are the rooms outdated?
Some are. The property opened in 2005 with a major renovation in 2012 and approximately 200 Marine wing rooms updated in 2017. Rooms in older, unrenovated sections of the main building do show their age. Request a Marine wing room or upgrade to an Executive/Suite category for contemporary decor. The standard mountain-view rooms in the original building are the weakest product.
Is it suitable for couples without children?
It can work, but this is primarily a family resort. The 5-acre kids club, go-kart track, and aquaparks mean children are everywhere during peak season. Couples seeking romance should consider Maxx Royal Kemer or the Club Diamond VIP areas, which offer a more adults-oriented experience within the resort. Or look at an adults-only property entirely.
Final Verdict
Rating: 8.1/10
Rixos Sungate is not Turkey’s most luxurious resort. It is not the best-maintained, the most intimate, or the best-serviced. What it is, definitively, is the most entertaining. No other property on the Turkish Riviera packs a cinema, a bowling alley, a go-kart track, a zip-line, two aquaparks, 14 restaurants, and free theme park access into a single all-inclusive rate starting at $184 per night.
The rooms in older sections need renovation. The buffet is forgettable. The a la carte reservation system will frustrate you if you do not game it on check-in day. These are real drawbacks.
But for families with children aged 4-14 who want a resort where boredom is genuinely impossible, Rixos Sungate delivers more raw entertainment value per dollar than any competitor in Kemer, Belek, or Antalya. Book a Marine wing room, secure your Teppanyaki slot on arrival, and let the 720-meter beach and Taurus Mountain views do the rest. For activity-hungry families, this is the one.