6 Best Beaches in Turkey

Turkey, where the Aegean sea meets the Mediterranean, is a natural paradise for beachgoers. Here, you’ll find the best beaches in Turkey, which will surely amaze you.

You have a lot to consider when you’re looking for the perfect destination for your summer holiday, especially visiting a foreign country. Knowing what to expect beyond the picture-perfect advertisements is important. That’s why we gathered a list of the beaches in Turkey and give you a detailed review of each of them.

Surrounded by the sea on three sides and brimming with various tourist attractions, Turkey is an excellent choice for a summer vacation. The Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines offer pristine beaches, six of which are on this list.

Three of these beaches are located in the city of Muğla in the Aegean region of Turkey, and the other three are in Antalya in the Mediterranean region. 

So, what are the best beaches in Turkey?

6 Best Beaches in Turkey

1. Blue Lagoon / Ölüdeniz, Fethiye, Muğla

Blue Lagoon is probably the most famous beach in Turkey. Its breathtaking beauty attracts thousands of tourists every year, causing long queues at the entrance. This turquoise watered surreal beach is within a preserved national park. The still, warm sea and the pool-like sandy bay is perfect for children.

Do you want to see this world-famous lagoon, but prefer swimming in a deeper sea with more waves? Or maybe you just don’t want to wait in line under the sun to take a dip in the cool water.

Don’t worry, Belcekız Beach awaits for you, right before the Blue Lagoon. The water is just as beautiful. You can also try paragliding from the pine-covered Babadağ mountain onto the beach.

Ölüdeniz district is also the warmest part of Muğla. So if you want to avoid the high season crowds, you can choose September or October to make the trip and still enjoy the sun and the sea.

Ölüdeniz and Belcekız are also the liveliest beaches on the list, with lots of entertainment options right behind them. The beach bars, cafes, and restaurants on the coast offer live music until late October. Hotels in the area also organize special events in their bars, and they are mostly open to the public.

If you have the time, we highly recommend taking a daily boat trip to the nearby beaches and bays as well. There are incredibly beautiful natural coves around, including the next beach on our list.

2. Butterfly Valley / Kelebekler Vadisi, Fethiye, Muğla

This is another breathtaking turquoise beach in Turkey. The hippie-vibed valley is visited by not only hundreds of tourists but also butterflies, giving the place its name. But their numbers seem to be decreasing as the number of tourists rises, so please respect mother nature and her wildlife!

The easiest way to access the beach is by boat from Ölüdeniz. On a cruise, you’ll be given around an hour to swim and explore the valley.

The land on the valley is privately owned, and there’s an entrance fee. So if it’s not the butterfly season, you can skip the tour and enjoy the deep blue sea.

The beach has heavy boat traffic during the summer. In some parts of the beach, there are plates of rocks on the sea surface.

So, with a sudden drop in depth and waves from the boats, this is not the safest place for children. If you want to swim comfortably, you need to get away from the boats as much as possible.

Although not recommended, the beach is also accessible from land, through a very steep hike. If you aren’t an experienced climber with the right gear, it’s best left to avoid this route and enjoy the cruises. The cruises also give you the chance to see some other amazing beaches and bays around.

3. Kaputaş Beach, Kaş, Antalya

Kaputaş Beach is a small turquoise gemstone hidden beneath two forested cliffs under the coastal road between two coastal towns, Kaş and Kalkan. Taking a steep staircase of 187 steps, you can reach the sandy coast and enjoy the foamy waves breaking and ebbing away. It’s definitely worth it!

Keep in mind that this small beach might be packed during high season. The sea temperature is generally low around the Kaş region, which is widely preferred by divers. So don’t expect warm water that you can relax in.

Though a wonderful view to look at, the sea is less than ideal for swimming. It gets very deep very quickly, and there are strong waves. So if you’re not a good swimmer, be careful.

A quick dip in the sea will refresh you, but most people cannot stay in the water long as swimming against the waves gets tiring. Needless to say, it’s not safe for children without supervision.

There used to be no facilities on the beach. But as it got more and more attention from tourists, the municipality decided to provide service there. Now, there is a cafe, changing rooms, bathrooms, and showers on the beach, so you don’t have to pack food and drinks for longer stays.

4. İztuzu Beach, Dalyan, Muğla

İztuzu Beach is a 4.5-kilometer sandy beach that gives a postcard-like view to the beholder. It’s in all of the top ten lists of the best beaches in Turkey.

The golden sands of the beach constitute a natural border between the sea and the freshwater delta. It’s a unique view to look at, and you might enjoy taking a long walk along the beach.

İztuzu beach is also the nesting spot for Caretta Carettas, the loggerhead turtles in Turkey. That’s why the beach is closed at night, and there are strict rules on how to use the beach.

For example, no beach umbrellas are allowed in most parts as the sharp end that gets in the sand might break the eggs. However, there are facilities near the entrance.

This long beach never feels too crowded. It’s open to winds, so the sea gets wavy, but the water is shallow. So you can play with your children in the sea, jumping over the waves. It’s also perfect for sunbathing.

You can access the beach by land. But if you want to get the full delta view and explore the area further, you can take a boat trip to the beach from the nearest town, Dalyan.

Boat-trips are a must-do in the Dalyan Delta to explore the ancient ruins of Kaunos and the magical canals of the delta flowing through the beautiful villas and gardens of the town.

5. Olympos, Çıralı, Antalya

You should definitely have a pair of hiking sandals for this long bay! Olympos is a preserved natural hippie haven.

Staying in Olympos, to enter the beach, you need to take a hike through an open-air museum in the forest, full of ancient ruins. So you need to pay a daily entrance fee 30 TRY ($4.00 USD), but you can also get a three-day pass or a weekly pass.

The beach’s covered with large pebbles; so, pack your water shoes as well. There’s no establishment on the coast. So you might want to pack your lunch, water, and beverages if you plan to spend the day on the beach. It’s also closed at night to preserve the Caretta Caretta nests.

The boho culture rules Olympos with the tents, wooden bungalows, tree houses, and bars playing gypsy & Balkan music. Çıralı district, situated on the other end of the beach, is more suitable for families as there are more comfortable accommodation options.

The region is also home to Chimera or Yanartaş, an eternal flame burning in rocks. It’s best enjoyed during the night. You can hop on a sight-seeing tractor from Olympos to the Chimera site in Çıralı, paying a small fare around 10 TRY (around $1.30 USD).

There’s also a 10 TRY (around $1.30 USD) entrance fee to the Chimera. From there, you need to take a steep hike uphill to see Chimera. 

People usually bring a bottle of wine with them to enjoy the night. They form a line and climb the steep hill in the dark, holding hands.

You can also rent lanterns or flashlights for the climb at the entrance. The rental fee is 5TRY (around $0.60 USD), but you give 25 TRY (around $3.20 USD) including the deposit, and get 20 TRY (around $2.60 USD) back when you return the lantern.

6. Patara, Kaş, Antalya

Patara is the longest beach in Turkey with 18 kilometers of sand, with dunes along the way. It’s only natural that it’s in almost all the top ten lists, as this beach makes almost any kind of beachgoer happy.

Patara is perfect for swimming and sunbathing, suitable for children as well. You can make sandcastles and have fun throughout the day. The sea entrance is shallow, occasionally wavy with the winds.

The beach is 140 miles (3 hours 15 min)  away from Antalya city center, 128 miles (2 hours 45 min)  from Muğla, and 71 miles (1 hour 45 min) away from Dalaman Airport. You can always book a tour from any part of both cities to visit the world-famous beach.

You can access the beach by land. There are facilities near the main entrance, so you don’t need to worry about bringing food and beverages.

If you want to be away from the crowds, just walk along the beach to find a private spot. This beach is also a nesting area for the Caretta Caretta turtles, so be careful not to stick any sharp objects like parasols into the sand.

If you don’t want to spend the whole day in the sea, visit the magnificent ruins of the ancient Lycian city right behind the dunes. The beach entrance fee of 30 TRY ($4.00 USD) includes the visit to the ruins.

Enjoy Your Holiday!

We hope our list of the top six beaches in Turkey will help you plan your next trip.

Turkey has many other wonderful beaches on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. So you won’t regret visiting Turkey no matter which destination you choose to spend your summer holiday.