Turkey's 10 Best Beaches

 

1. Patara (Fethiye)

50 meters/yards wide and 20 km (12.5 miles) long, this beach 75 km (47 miles) south of Fethiye is Turkey's finest. Accommodations—and shade—are limited, though.

 

2. Ölüdeniz (Fethiye)

Very fine, with good hotels, restaurants and bars, but because it's Turkey's most famous, it can get crowded.

 

3. Olimpos (Antalya)

The opposite of the others: small, secluded, atmospheric, backed by a forest filled with Roman ruins. 79 km (49 miles) southwest of Antalya

 

4. Side (Antalya)

The once-idyllic village 65 km (40 miles) east of Antalya is now crowded and noisy, but the beaches are still fine and unspoiled. Roman ruins abound

 

5. Alanya

The town (115 km/72 miles east of Antalya) is busy and crowded, but the beaches are so long (22 km/14 miles to the east) that there's plenty of sand for everyone. Great Seljuk castle, too

 

6. İztuzu (Dalyan)

Good beach, with or w/o logger-head turtles. The town, 8 km (5 miles) NW of Dalaman Airport, the river, cliff tombs and Caunos ruins are a nice bonus.

 

7. Bodrum Peninsula

Beaches in the towns are not great, but good smaller ones abound: Ortakent Yalısı (coarse sand & pebble), Turgutreis (surfy), and gem-like Gümüşlük

 

8. Kemer (Antalya)

Very mod-resorty, but near a lot of interesting day-trip possibilities

 

9. Pamucak (Ephesus)

Big, broad, dark sand, only 7 km (4 miles) west of Ephesus, relatively clean with a few cig butts and bottlecaps (map).

 

10. Sarıgerme (Dalaman)

Very near busy Dalaman Airport, this well-kept beach is somewhat undiscovered, quieter, great for families and those interested mostly in beach time.