Where pine-forested Taurus mountains drop into clear Mediterranean waters, the southwestern shoreline of Turkey forms the Turquoise Coast.
This practical Turkish Riviera Turquoise Coast guide shows you how to sail on wooden boats, hike ancient ruins, and travel between harbour towns. The coastline blends classical history with relaxing beach life.
Unlike overdeveloped resort strips elsewhere in the Mediterranean, this southwest coastline preserves ancient Lycian ruins, stone sarcophagi, and submerged Byzantine foundations that sit side by side with working fishing villages. It's an exceptional region to explore.
You can moor a wooden yacht beneath rock tombs from the fourth century BC. You can swim above sunken Roman ruins in crystal bays. The water sparkles.
You can also hike parts of the 500-kilometre Lycian Way. Check packing essentials with our packing list tool. For further travel ideas across Turkey, read our Cappadocia hot air balloon guide or our Istanbul transit and sights guide.
1. Turkish Riviera turquoise coast guide to key hubs
The Turkish Riviera spans roughly four hundred miles across Muğla and Antalya provinces, with four main anchor towns.
| Coastal town | Character | Best for | Transport link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodrum | Whitewashed Aegean chic | Castle of St. Peter, marina life & nightlife | Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV) |
| Fethiye | Mountain-backed working port | Blue Cruise departures, Ölüdeniz & paragliding | Dalaman Airport (DLM, 45 min) |
| Kaş | Bohemian fishing village | Diving, sea kayaking, ruins & Greek ferry | Shared bus from Dalaman or Antalya |
| Antalya | Historic provincial capital | Roman ruins, Kaleiçi old quarter & museums | Antalya Airport (AYT, large hub) |
Whether you sail or take coastal buses, each town has its own pace. Official regional destination guides are published by GoTürkiye.
2. Sailing the Blue Cruise on a wooden gulet
The classic voyage along this coast is the Blue Cruise (Mavi Yolculuk). Turkish writers and intellectuals started this sailing tradition in the mid-twentieth century.
Voyages take place on a gulet, a handcrafted wooden motor-sailer built from local pine and mahogany.
- The classic sailing route: The four-day Fethiye to Olympos boat trip is the most popular route. You'll stop at Butterfly Valley, St. Nicholas Island, and Kekova.
- Turkish gulet cruise prices: A single cabin on a shared 6-cabin gulet costs €450 to €850 per person per week as of October 2026. Private charters for groups cost €3,000 to €8,000 per week depending on the month.
- What meals include: Fares are full-board, including breakfast, light lunches, afternoon tea, and freshly grilled fish or köfte dinners served on deck.
3. Fethiye, Oludeniz and Lycian rock tombs
Most gulet cruises depart from the natural harbour of Fethiye, built on the ancient site of Telmessos.
Walk up the quiet backstreets above Fethiye to find the Tomb of Amyntas. Stone masons carved this ionic temple tomb into sheer limestone cliffs in 350 BC. Its columns look out over the modern town and yacht marina.
Fifteen kilometres south lies Ölüdeniz, famous for its calm tidal lagoon and white sandspit. The peak of Mount Babadağ rises 1,969 metres behind the beach. It's one of the best paragliding launch points in the world.
Gliders launch directly from the windy 1,969-metre summit of Mount Babadağ, spiraling through thermal updrafts over the turquoise bay for forty-five minutes before touching down smoothly along the beach promenade. The views reward.
4. Kas and the sunken city of Kekova
Traveling east along the Mediterranean coast brings you to Kaş. It's a charming fishing town that keeps its historic stone homes.
Cobbled streets lined with timber-balconied houses run down to the sheltered Mediterranean harbour. A twenty-minute ferry links Kaş daily to the Greek island of Kastellorizo. You can stamp your passport, enjoy a seafood lunch in Greece, and return to Turkey for dinner.
An hour east of Kaş lies the Kekova archipelago. Second-century earthquakes tilted the land into the sea, flooding ancient Dolchiste.
You can join a Kekova sunken city kayak tour to paddle right over submerged stone staircases, foundations, and ancient pottery lying five metres deep in clear water. Official preservation policies are managed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
In Kaş, local diving schools run daily boat trips to offshore reefs and sunken aircraft wrecks. Warm water offers up to 30 metres of visibility.
5. Antalya old town and Roman gates
At the eastern end of the Turquoise Coast sits Antalya, a historic provincial capital where clifftop parks overlook wide beaches.
Enter the historic quarter of Kaleiçi through Hadrian's Gate (Üçkapılar). Roman builders raised this three-arched marble gate in 130 AD to honour Emperor Hadrian's visit.
Within the old city walls, restored Ottoman mansions (konaks) host courtyard boutique hotels and garden cafés. The historical significance of Lycian settlements along this coastline is recognized by UNESCO.
Walk down the steep stone stairs to the Roman harbour (Yat Limanı). From here, small boats run sunset cruises toward the Lower Düden Waterfall, which plunges 40 metres off sea cliffs straight into the ocean.
6. Overland transit by buses and dolmus minivans
If you prefer exploring the Turquoise Coast by land rather than water, local transit is cheap and frequent.
- Central bus terminals: Every town has an otogar (bus station). Companies like Kamil Koç run air-conditioned coaches between Antalya, Fethiye, and Bodrum with reserved seats.
- The convenient Dolmuş: For short hops between nearby beaches, flag down a dolmuş (shared minibus). Pass your cash fare forward to the driver. Fares run from 20 to 50 TRY (under US$1.50) as of October 2026.
- Lycian Way coastal hiking: You can hike waymarked trail sections between Kaş and Kalkan for sweeping sea vistas. Start early. Carry plenty of water on warm days.
- Car rental tips: Driving the coastal D400 highway between Fethiye and Antalya is scenic and paved. However, sharp curves between Kaş and Kalkan require care. Compact cars make parking in village lanes easy.
Whether you anchor in a quiet pine bay on a wooden boat or drink tea above Roman walls in Antalya, the Turkish Riviera delivers a classic Mediterranean journey.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit the Turkish Riviera?
The prime sailing and swimming season runs from May through October. July and August are hot with temperatures reaching 38–42°C (100–108°F), though sea breezes keep boats cool. For hiking coastal trails and touring unshaded ruins, May, June, September, and October offer warm sea water and mild air around 25–28°C (77–82°F).
Can you take ferries to Greek islands from this coast?
Yes, regular passenger catamarans connect Turkish harbour towns to the Greek Dodecanese islands between April and October. Daily boats run from Bodrum to Kos (20 minutes), Fethiye to Rhodes (90 minutes), and Kaş to Kastellorizo (20 minutes). Passports are checked and stamped on both sides.
Do you need to worry about seasickness on a gulet?
Because gulets stay close to the coast and anchor in calm bays every night, big open-sea waves are rare. However, if you get motion sickness easily, pack standard motion tablets for open-water stretches around exposed headlands like Cape Gelidonya.
