Mediterranean Turkey Guide
Turkey’s Mediterranean shore, called the Turquoise Coast, is scattered with fine-sand beaches and sprinkled abundantly with classical cities turned to picturesque ruins. The Turquoise Coast is the first place to think of when you’re considering a seaside vacation in Turkey.
Bodrum
Whether you consider Bodrum the south end of the Aegean or the west end of the Mediterranean, it is still Turkey’s foremost chic seaside resort, with two perfect bays framing a noble crusader castle, and the flashiest discos in the land.
Marmaris
“Green Marmaris” is Turkey’s most active yachting port, and a likely departure point for your Blue Voyage yacht cruise.
Dalyan
This river town in the shadow of dramatic rock tombs cut into a sheer cliff is near the ruins of ancient Caunos and wide İztuzu Beach, both reached by riverboat.
Göcek
Small, pristine and charming, this is primarily a nice port of call for yachters, but you can stop and enjoy it even if you’re only the captain of a Toyota.
Fethiye
Built on the ruins of an ancient city, Fethiye has age-old stone sarcophagi in its streets and gardens, rock-hewn tombs in a cliff above the town, an active yacht harbor, a vast bay dotted with islands, and all tourist services.
Ölüdeniz
Over the mountains south of Fethiye, this is perhaps Turkey’s most beautiful beach, and also its most popular.
Patara
St Nicholas (“Santa Claus“) was born here, but visitors now come for the spacious, very long, very uncrowded beach as well as the sand-covered ruins of St Nick’s Roman town.
Kalkan
A tiny charming fishing village has become a yacht portwith nice little restaurants.
Kaş
A lazy pace governs this nice little resort town far enough from the airports to preserve a lot of its charm. This is as close to “uncrowded” as you’ll find on the Turkish Mediterranean.
Olympos
Roman ruins scattered in a pine forest, a secluded beach, fertile fields, and the Chimaera, the world’s oldest and best-known natural “eternal flame,” make Olimpos and Çıralı great places to spend a few days.
Kemer
Built as a modern Mediterranean-style resort in the 1980s, Kemer is filled with group tours. It boasts all sorts of hotels and restaurants, a beach, yacht marina, and a park.
Antalya
The “capital” of the Turquoise Coast, Antalya has a charming old quarter surrounding its Roman harbor, though most of the sprawling city is modern. Most importantly, it’s the coast’s transportation hub, with a huge, busy bus terminal and a large, modern international airport.
Belek
This planned resort district 36 km east of Antalya has sprawling resort hotels with lush golf courses. If you like large resort hotels with many activities, this may be the place for you.
Side
Imagine a traditional Turkish village scattered among the extensive ruins of a Hellenistic–Roman city: that’s Side, and it has a kilometer of fine sand beachon either side. Neighboring Manavgat has a nice waterfall and more practical shopping.
Alanya
Once a small, quiet town favored by Seljuk Turkish sultans on vacation, it’s now a large and fast-growing resort for package-tour beach-goers. The promontory at its center is topped by a dramatic Seljuk fortress. Its beaches go on for miles.
