The Turquoise Coast
Turkey's dazzling southern shore - pine-clad mountains plunging to a turquoise sea, hidden coves and the famous lagoon of Oludeniz, dotted with ancient ruins, sailed by wooden gulets.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
The Turquoise Coast is Turkey's dazzling southern shore, where pine-clad mountains plunge to a sea of impossible blue, indented with hidden coves and beaches. Famous for the blue lagoon of Oludeniz, the sunken ruins of Kekova and the long beach at Patara, it is scattered with ancient Lycian tombs and cities, and best explored on a leisurely cruise aboard a traditional wooden gulet.
What you actually see
- The Oludeniz lagoon - the famous blue lagoon and paragliding beach.
- A gulet cruise - the leisurely sail aboard a traditional wooden boat.
- The Lycian ruins - the ancient tombs and cities along the coast.
- Kekova's sunken city - the ruins beneath the clear water.
When to go
Late spring and early autumn for warm seas without the peak heat and crowds; high summer is hot and busy. The gulet cruises and boat trips run through the warm season, and the sea is warmest in late summer.
Honest expectations
The famous Oludeniz beach and resorts get busy and built-up in peak summer; quieter coves and a gulet cruise escape the crowds. Some resort strips are heavily developed. The best of the coast, the ruins and hidden bays, is reached by boat rather than road.
Nearby
The ancient sites of Lycia, the city of Antalya and the mountains of the interior are close.
What to pack for The Turquoise Coast
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
