The Best Beaches in Turkey's Turquoise Coast

Turkey's Turquoise Coast: Where the Mediterranean Meets Antiquity

The Turquoise Coast — known locally as the Lycian Coast — runs from Antalya south and west to Fethiye and beyond, covering roughly 300 miles of Mediterranean shoreline. The name comes from the water color, which shifts between deep blue and vivid turquoise depending on depth and sunlight. Ancient Lycian ruins dot the coastline, pine forests drop down to the water's edge, and the swimming season stretches a full six months from May through October.

Turkish beach culture centers on "plaj" (beach) life: arriving mid-morning, swimming, eating lunch at a beachside restaurant, napping in the shade, swimming again, and staying until sunset. The coast is well-equipped for this lifestyle, with beach restaurants, sunbed rental ($5-10/day), and cold Efes beer ($2-3) available at most locations.

Oludeniz and the Blue Lagoon

Oludeniz is the most photographed beach in Turkey, and the images do not lie. The Blue Lagoon — a sheltered, almost entirely enclosed body of water — sits at the end of a long pebble beach backed by forested mountains. The lagoon's water is remarkably calm and shifts through shades of turquoise depending on the time of day. Entry to the Blue Lagoon area costs about $3 (100 TL), and sunbed rental runs $5-8.

The main Oludeniz beach (Belcekiz Beach) is public and free, with coarser pebble sand and open Mediterranean water — good for swimming but less sheltered than the lagoon. Oludeniz is also Turkey's paragliding capital; tandem flights launch from the 6,500-foot summit of Babadag Mountain and land on the beach. A flight costs $100-150 and lasts 25-45 minutes depending on thermals. The aerial views of the lagoon are worth every lira.

This is one of the reasons Turkey'S Turquoise Coast Beaches continues to draw visitors year after year.

Patara Beach

Patara is Turkey's longest uninterrupted sand beach — 18 km of wide, golden sand backed by dunes and wetlands. Building restrictions (the beach is a protected nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles from May through October) have prevented the hotel development that mars many Turkish beaches. The result is a vast, uncrowded beach with enough space for everyone even in August. See NOAA Fisheries sea-turtle program for current guidance.

The ancient city of Patara sits at the entrance to the beach, with a restored Roman theater, a parliament building (said to be the world's first democratic assembly), and a monumental arch. Entrance to the archaeological site and beach costs about $3. There is one basic restaurant at the beach entrance selling gozleme (savory flatbread, $2-3) and cold drinks. Bring your own umbrella for shade — there is very little natural shade on the sand. The nearest accommodation is in the village of Gelemis, 2 km from the beach, with pensions from $25/night.

Kabak Beach

Kabak is a remote valley beach accessible by a steep 30-minute walk down from the road, or by boat from Oludeniz ($15-20 per person). The beach is pebble and small, but the setting — a deep valley with forested cliffs dropping to clear Mediterranean water — is genuinely dramatic. The handful of treehouse camps and yoga retreats in the valley (Turan Hill Lounge, Reflections Camp) charge $30-60/night including meals and create an intentionally unplugged atmosphere.

Compared to similar options, Turkey'S Turquoise Coast Beaches stands out for its mix of quality and accessibility.

Kabak sits on the Lycian Way, Turkey's premier long-distance hiking trail. The section from Oludeniz to Kabak (12 km, 5-6 hours) is one of the trail's most scenic segments, with coastal views and ruins along the route. The beach is a perfect reward at the end of the hike.

Kaputas Beach

Kaputas is a small cove beach at the base of a deep gorge between Kas and Kalkan. You access it by descending about 190 steps from the roadside parking area — the view from the top looking down at the turquoise water framed by orange cliff walls is one of the most photographed scenes on the coast. The beach itself is a mix of sand and pebble, maybe 150 meters wide, with clear water and no facilities beyond a seasonal vendor selling water and snacks.

The beach gets packed in July and August when every tour bus on the coast seems to stop here. Visit in June or September, or arrive before 9 AM in summer, to experience it without the crowds. Parking is free but limited. Browse more Mediterranean beach destinations in our destinations section.

Kas

Town Beaches and Platforms

Kas is a small, charming town on the coast between Antalya and Fethiye. The town does not have a sand beach — instead, locals and visitors swim from concrete platforms and rocky coves built into the waterfront. The main swimming area, Kucuk Cakil (Small Pebble Beach), has crystal-clear water, and the platforms at the western end of the harbor have ladders into deep water with excellent visibility for snorkeling.

Diving Capital of Turkey

Kas is Turkey's best diving destination. The underwater terrain includes caves, canyons, and several wrecks, with visibility regularly reaching 30+ meters. A two-tank dive trip costs $50-80 from operators like Bougainville Travel and Dragoman Diving. The highlight dive is the Dakota C-47 airplane wreck at 20 meters depth, deliberately sunk as an artificial reef. Non-divers can take boat trips to the sunken city of Kekova ($15-25 per person), where you view ancient Lycian ruins submerged in shallow, clear water from a glass-bottom boat.

Cirali and Olympos

Cirali Beach

Cirali is a 3-km pebble beach backed by a grove of orange and pomegranate trees. The beach is a protected turtle nesting site, which has limited development to small family-run pensions and treehouse accommodation. This gives Cirali a peaceful, uncommercial atmosphere unique on the Turquoise Coast. Pension rooms run $30-60/night, and the beachfront restaurants serve home-cooked Turkish food (grilled fish, mezes, fresh salads) for $8-15 per meal.

Local travel experts consistently recommend Turkey'S Turquoise Coast Beaches as a top choice for visitors.

The Chimaera — naturally occurring flames fueled by methane gas seeping from the rock — is a 30-minute hike from the north end of Cirali beach. The flames have been burning for at least 2,500 years and were used by ancient sailors as a navigation landmark. Visit at dusk for the most dramatic effect. Entry is about $2.

Olympos Ruins

The ancient Lycian city of Olympos lies in a forested gorge at the south end of Cirali beach. The ruins — including tombs, a theater, and a Byzantine church — are scattered through the trees along a stream that empties onto the beach. Entry costs $3. The combination of ruins, forest, and beach in a single location makes Olympos one of the most atmospheric archaeological sites in Turkey.

Butterfly Valley

Butterfly Valley is a deep gorge that opens onto a small pebble beach, accessible only by boat from Oludeniz ($10-15 round trip, boats run every hour in summer). The valley is named for the Jersey tiger butterflies that breed here, though their numbers have declined in recent years. The beach has a basic campsite ($10/night including meals), and the swimming is excellent in the clear, sheltered cove. A waterfall at the back of the gorge is reachable via a moderately difficult scramble up the valley floor.

If Turkey'S Turquoise Coast Beaches is on your list, booking during shoulder season typically delivers the best value.

Butterfly Valley works best as a day trip — swim, eat lunch at the beach restaurant, explore the lower valley, and catch a boat back. Overnight camping suits those comfortable with basic facilities (composting toilets, cold showers). For a useful planning resource, see TripAdvisor's Oludeniz and Turquoise Coast reviews.

Getting There and Around

Dalaman Airport (DLM) is the main gateway, with direct flights from European cities on Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, and charter operators. From Dalaman, shared airport transfers run to Fethiye (1 hour, $10-15), Oludeniz (1.5 hours, $15), and Kas (3 hours, $20-25). Dolmus minibuses connect coastal towns cheaply ($2-5 between most destinations), though service frequency decreases for remote spots like Kabak and Cirali. Renting a car ($25-40/day) gives the most flexibility for beach-hopping.