Turkey has over 8000 kilometres of coast on 4 different seas: the Black Sea, the Marmara Sea, the Aegean and the Mediterranean.
With such a phenomenal choice, from the wild expanse of Patara (with its own Lycian ruins) to the tiny coves of the Datça Peninsula, it’s hard to find a bad beach.
Here’s our top 5 Turkish beaches:
Gallipoli Peninsula:
The remote beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsula are not only historically significant, but they are totally unspoilt. We frequently found ourselves the only people on the beaches we visited. There are 31 Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries for soldiers from containing mainly dead from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, India and Newfoundland. Plus, over 50 memorials, and cemeteries commemorating the Turkish casualties.
Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove are the two main beaches, but we found the Lancashire Landings beach the most evocative.
Tip – you can swim at all of the beaches, the water is crystal clear, but look out for jellyfish.
Olu Deniz:
Olu Deniz is the most famous beach in Turkey, and we love it. At the end of a long curve of beach, a giant spur of sand juts into the ocean creating a vivid turquoise lagoon surrounded by pine clad mountains. Not only is the view stunning, but the beach has enough room for all the visitors – especially at the end furthest away from the lagoon.
Tip – the lagoon can be quite warm for a good swim and the best view is from Mount Babadag.
Dalyan:
At the end of the historical Dalyan River lies Iztuzu Beach. Also, known as Turtle Beach, it’s a nesting place for the endangered loggerhead turtle and has a protected area. Iztuzu also has views of the nearby ruins of Kaunos. However, the best thing is the boat journey along the river which features views of the unique Lycian Tombs.
Tip – don’t miss the boat trip up the river to the natural mud baths and inland lake.
Kaputas Beach:
Kaputas Beach is another instagram favourite, deservedly. It’s edged by mountains has a perfect triangle of white sand and aquamarine sea. Kaputas is wedged at the mouth of a deep gorge, there’s 200 steps down to it and it’s a 10 minute drive from Kas. It does get busy, so go early morning or late afternoon.
Tip – visit on a boat trip. Not only can you swim off the boat and escape the crowds, but you get the best view of this spectacular beach.
Cirali Beach:
Cirali Beach lies between two pine-clad rocky headlands on the Lycian Peninsula. The perfect arc of beach is unspoilt and home to the low key resort of Cirali. In Summer, loggerhead turtles lay their eggs on the pebbles and human activity is limited to the town end of the beach.
Tip – don’t miss the nearby Chimaera – the flames that naturally occur on the slopes of Mt Olympos.