Best Beaches in Turkey

When people think of grand beaches, they generally think of places like California, Florida or Hawaii, but they rarely think of a country like Turkey. Despite being under-publicized, Turkey offers a wide variety of beaches that stretch along the Mediterranean Sea.


Patara Beach:  Patara is the longest beach in the Mediterranean, and was hailed by The Sunday Times as the best beach in the world. Accommodations are limited, loungers and umbrellas are available to rent, and it is backed by ancient ruins and dunes.

Oludeniz Beach:  Oludeniz is Turkey's most famous beach, and therefore in peak seasons, is the most crowded. There are good hotels to stay at, very good bars, water sports available, scuba diving and is surrounded with resorts.

Olimpos:  If you are looking for a more romantic and relaxed atmosphere, then this is the beach for you. It is far more secluded and smaller than the other two beaches mentioned so far, and is backed by a forest, which is filled with Roman ruins.

Side:  Side is only an hour away from the airport, and is very popular with holiday groups. There is a village and a beach filled with fine sand, as well as some Roman ruins to explore nearby.

Iztuzu Beach:  Iztuzu Beach is a national conservation area, and is one of the last breeding places in Europe of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. It can only be reached by a 20 minute boat ride from the nearby town of Dalyan. There is a lot of beach, and the water is warm and shallow. Nearby, there are some cliff tombs you can explore as well.

Cleopatra's Beach (Alanya):  Alanya is one of the biggest resorts found in Turkey, and Cleopatra's beach is splendid and very popular. The beach and resort offer great accommodations, facilities and things to do. There is also an old fortress nearby.

Kemer:  Kemer is a lovely seaside town located right on  the sea front. There are a number of small beaches you can visit, as well as many day-trip opportunities. Most of the beaches are made up of small pebbles, although there are a few with sandy beaches.

Bodrun:  Bodrun is home to the original mausoleum, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is also home to the Castle of St Peter, which used to be a crusader fortress but now serves as the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The beaches in town are small, but many people visit them as an afterthought to sightseeing.

Pamucak Beach:  Most of the beach is public, but on the south side there are some resorts. It is close to the Aqua Fantasy water park, and there is a small hotel where you can get refreshments and amenities. The water is pretty choppy, and there aren't any life guards, so be careful.