The Turkish Riviera: 12 Best Beaches and Coastal Towns in Turkey

Turkey's south-west coast is one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean: pine-covered mountains plunge into turquoise water, ancient ruins sit above sandy beaches and fishing towns turn into lively harbours at night. Here are the best beaches and coastal towns, from the Aegean to Antalya.

The Turquoise Coast

1. Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon

A sheltered, shallow lagoon of brilliant blue water beside a long pebble-and-sand beach. The lagoon is a nature park with an entrance fee, and paragliders land on the beach after jumping from Babadağ.

Paragliders drift down from the mountain like coloured confetti while you float in calm, glassy water so clear you can see your toes. Come early – by noon the beach is packed.

2. Butterfly Valley

Reachable by boat from Ölüdeniz, this secluded beach sits at the mouth of a gorge with a waterfall. Day boats stop for a swim and a short walk.

The water taxi drops you in a cove walled in by cliffs, and a short shady walk leads to a waterfall. It's rustic and quiet once the day boats leave.

3. Kaputaş Beach

A tiny cove of turquoise water at the foot of a gorge between Kaş and Kalkan – reached by a long flight of steps from the coast road. Go early; it fills up fast.

From the road you look down on a tiny cove of white pebbles and the brightest turquoise water on the coast, then climb down about 180 steps. The water is cold and clear, there's no natural shade and the beach fills up fast – come early with an umbrella.

4. Patara Beach

One of the longest beaches in Turkey – around 18 km of sand dunes – backed by the ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Patara. It's protected for nesting turtles and closes at night.

Eighteen kilometres of golden sand and dunes stretch away almost empty, with only the wind and the waves for company. Behind the beach are the ruins of ancient Patara, and turtles nest here in summer – the beach closes at night to protect them.

5. Kaş

The prettiest town on the coast, with a harbour, bougainvillea-covered lanes, rock-platform swimming spots and some of the best diving and kayaking in Turkey.

Bougainvillea-draped lanes lead down to a small harbour where dinner is served by the water and divers swap stories in the cafés. Swim from wooden platforms built over the rocks into deep, clear water.

6. Kekova

Kayak or take a boat over the sunken ruins of an ancient city off Kekova Island, then climb to the castle above the village of Kaleköy (Simena).

From the boat, you look down through the clear water at the stairs and walls of a sunken ancient city, then land at Kaleköy, where a castle and Lycian tombs overlook the bay. Kayak tours glide even closer to the ruins.

7. İztuzu Beach, Dalyan

Take a river boat past Lycian rock tombs to this long beach between river and sea, a protected nesting site for loggerhead turtles.

The boat drops you at a long sandy spit between river and sea – warm, shallow lagoon water on one side, waves on the other. Loggerhead turtles nest here, and the beach is protected and quiet in the evening.

Antalya and the east

8. Antalya – Kaleiçi and Konyaaltı

Antalya combines a beautiful walled old town with the long pebble beach of Konyaaltı, backed by mountains. The Düden Waterfalls tumble straight into the sea.

Spend the morning on the pebbles of Konyaaltı with the mountains rising behind the sea, then wander up into the lanes of Kaleiçi for dinner in an Ottoman courtyard lit by lanterns.

9. Cleopatra Beach, Alanya

A long sandy beach below Alanya's castle peninsula, with clear water and all the facilities of a big resort.

A long arc of fine golden sand beneath the castle rock, with clear, gently shelving water – lively, sunny and easy to reach from the town.

The Aegean coast

10. Bodrum

Whitewashed houses, a Crusader castle and a busy marina. The peninsula's bays – from quiet Gümüşlük to upmarket Yalıkavak – each have their own character.

Whitewashed houses, boats bobbing in the harbour and the castle lit up at night – and some of the busiest bars and beach clubs on the coast when the sun goes down.

11. Çeşme and Alaçatı

West of Izmir, Çeşme has sandy beaches such as Ilıca, and Alaçatı's stone streets are full of boutique hotels and restaurants. The wind makes it a windsurfing capital.

Alaçatı's stone houses with blue and lilac shutters line narrow lanes filled with boutique hotels, cafés and bougainvillea. The windmills on the hill and the steady wind make it a paradise for windsurfers.

12. Take a Blue Cruise

Spend several days on a traditional wooden gulet, sailing between quiet coves around Fethiye, Göcek or Bodrum, with swimming stops and meals on deck.

Imagine waking in a different cove each morning, diving straight off the deck into clear water and eating long lunches in the shade of the awning.

When to go

The Turkish beach season runs from May to October. June and September offer warm water and fewer crowds; July and August are hottest and busiest, especially on the most famous beaches. In May and October, the sea is cooler but still swimmable on sunny days.

Bazaars and markets

Every coastal town has a weekly market (pazar), selling fresh fruit and vegetables, cheeses, olives, spices, textiles and souvenirs. Fethiye's market (Tuesdays), Manavgat's market near Side (Mondays) and the markets in Bodrum and Kaş are among the best. Bargaining is expected for souvenirs but not for food.

Nightlife

Bodrum's Bar Street and Gümbet, Alanya's harbour, Hisarönü near Fethiye and Antalya's Kaleiçi have the liveliest nightlife. Alaçatı's stylish bars and Kaş's laid-back waterfront are good for a more relaxed evening.

Which coast for you?

• Families: Ölüdeniz, Side, Belek, Lara and Bitez – shallow, sandy beaches and family resorts.
• Nature lovers: Patara, Kaputaş, Butterfly Valley and Kekova on the Lycian coast.
• Food and style: Bodrum, Alaçatı and Kaş.
• History plus beach: Side, Antalya and the coast near Ephesus.

For more detail, see our guides to Antalya, Side, Bodrum and Fethiye and Ölüdeniz.

Beach tips

• Book ahead in July and August – the coast is very busy.
• Respect turtle beaches: don't dig holes or leave rubbish, and leave beaches that close at night.
• Walk the Lycian Way: the long-distance trail along this coast has easy sections between beaches.

For more of the country, see our guide to the most beautiful places in Turkey.