Mediterranean Turkey Travel Guide

Turkey's south coast, widely known as the Turquoise Coast, stretches for hundreds of kilometres from the Bodrum peninsula on the Aegean to Antalya and further east on the Mediterranean. The mountains fall nearly sheer into the water, pine woods grow down to the shoreline, and the coast breaks into coves, islands and deep bays. The ancient region of Lycia occupied the central stretch, and its tombs and cities turn up all over.

Why go to Mediterranean Turkey

What sets it apart is the mix: a morning swim from a boat, then an afternoon in a theatre 2,000 years old. The coast works for many types of trip. Families come for the beaches around Antalya and Fethiye, hikers for the Lycian Way, sailors for the bays near Gocek and Kekova, and history lovers for Xanthos, Patara, Myra and Olympos.

How long to stay

Give one stretch of coast at least a week, say Fethiye to Kas, or Antalya with the Lycian sites. With two weeks you can drive from Bodrum to Antalya without rushing. A gulet cruise of 4 to 8 days is another approach; two choices are our 4-day gulet cruise from Fethiye to Olympos and our 8-day gulet cruise from Fethiye to Bodrum.

When to go

Swimming and sailing run from May to October. For warm sea and smaller crowds, June and September are the sweet spot. July and August are the busiest and hottest months, often above 35°C away from the sea. Between November and April a lot of coastal businesses shut, yet the weather stays mild and the ancient sites are comfortable to explore.

Getting there from Istanbul

The coast has three airports: Bodrum (BJV), Dalaman (DLM), which serves Fethiye, Gocek and Marmaris, and Antalya (AYT). From Istanbul the flight lasts about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes. A smart plan is to arrive at one airport, leave from another, and drive the coast in between.

Top experiences

• Sailing a gulet among the bays of Gocek, Fethiye or Kekova.
• Kekova's sunken ruins and the castle on the hill above Simena.
• Patara, among Turkey's longest beaches, right beside an ancient city.
• The Lycian sites of Xanthos and the Letoon, both on the UNESCO list.
• At Dalyan, the rock tombs of Kaunos and the beach where loggerhead turtles nest.
• Olympos and the Chimaera, where natural gas flames burn out of the rock after dark.
• Kas, a laid-back harbour town with good diving.

Where to stay

First-timers do well in Fethiye or Gocek for the western bays, Kas or Kalkan for the Lycian shore, and Antalya for the east. See our guides to Antalya, Fethiye and Bodrum.

Food

Expect fresh fish and meze, dishes cooked in olive oil, grilled octopus and gozleme from village stalls. Around Antalya, order piyaz dressed with tahini and try the local citrus.

Practical tips

• The mountains make coastal drives long, so build in extra time.
• Pebbles cover many beaches, and water shoes are useful.
• Pack reef-safe sunscreen, and keep clear of turtle nesting zones at Dalyan and Patara.

Browse every one of our Mediterranean Turkey tours.