10 Amazing Beaches of Turkey

Do you love hot summer days on beautiful beaches in far away lands? If you’re a summer fan and love to spend the hot days away on the beach taking a dip the cool waters, then Turkey as a summer destination should be on your to-do list!

Why? Because the country boasts a number of breathtaking beaches in amazing locations with green mountains as backdrops and turquoise waters! Have you convinced you yet?! Book your trip to Turkey and discover its beautiful beaches and turquoise coloured bays! 

Learn more about summer destinations in our article: The Ultimate Guide to Summer Destinations in Turkey! Check out our article on the some of the best islands in the country here: Discover Turkey’s Must-See Islands!

Now, quick! Plan your trip and have an unforgettable summer adventure in 2022! Don’t miss out!

Let me give you the best information to plan your summer beach vacation! Discover 10 Amazing beaches this beautiful country has to offer below.

1. Blue Lagoon Beach, Ölüdeniz/Fethiye

Photo by Dilek Durgun on Unsplash

The Blue Lagoon and its beach is unlike any other beach in Turkey. It is probably the most photographed beach of Turkey’s Turquoise coast – popular for its shades of blue in turquoise and azure and for its white sand! The long beach is surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters, mountains on all sides also stretches to the east to form the Ölüdeniz beach, part of a protected national park.

Kumburnu beach pictured above is quite unique for its shoal where you’ll find hundreds of people sunbathing and enjoying the waters. Facilities are plenty and you can choose to do water sports too such as diving at the Lykia World Diving Centre close by. At the shallow  lagoon itself it separated by a narrow channel. You an choose to paddle boat here or swim. No motorized boats are allowed here however so as not to disturb the peace. Water sports such as diving, snorkeling and the most popular of them all – paragliding.

Photo by Artem Bryzgalov on Unsplash

One thing you won’t be able to miss here is the para gliders jumping from the Babadağ mountain slopes to land along the beachfront at times. If you’re here in October, the place hosts the International Air Games event where you can see crazy stunts by some of the best paragliding and extreme sports professionals!

2. Butterfly Valley Beach, Fethiye/Muğla

Photo by Doğacan Düğmeci on Unsplash

A hidden spot that’s only reachable by boat? That’s Butterfly Valley Beach, home to some endemic species of butterflies. At the foothills of the Babadağ mountain, you’ll find the tiny village of Faralya and downhill from there you’ll see Kelebekler Vadisi. Steep walls on both sides of the small beach with a small creek and two small waterfalls cascade down from 60m.

Butterfly Valley beach, Turkey, Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Daily boat trips with tons of tourists and locals during high summer season to and from Ölüdeniz keeps the beach busy. However, there are limited facilities, restaurants or cafes. The only other way to get here is to hike from the tiny village of Faralya and that’s tough activity. Instead, choose the boat trip and enjoy a hassle-free beach experience.

Enjoy nature at its best here and go exploring the cliffs to see the waterfalls if you wish. Spend time swimming in the clear blue waters, sunbathe on the beach or enjoy a beer or some local snacks in the rustic bohemian cafe on the water’s edge.

3. İztuzu Beach, Ortaca/Muğla

Photo by Dilek Durgun on Unsplash

Iztuzu beach is a tranquil and calm experience.

You’ll be lucky to even catch the glimpse of the lives of the loggerhead turtles that come back to this one particular beach to lay their offsprings each year! Such a magical experience! Endangered Caretta Caretta loggerhead turtles visit this 5 kms long curvy beach.

As a protected site, Iztuzu has not seen any development and that’s the way it  should stay! Not only for the turtles sake but for nature as well, given the shallow marshy areas of the delta that forms the Dalyan River up north. A day trip and a boat ride in Dalyan to see the tombs of the Kaunos Kings should be on your to-do list!

Small cafes and sunbeds along with some water sports such as kayaking are available; but you won’t find any big hotel chains here. You should be careful not to venture into the turtle nesting grounds, especially in the night – signs indicate the specific times. Enjoy the waters and the sandy beach and be mindful of nature on this beautiful small piece of sandy heaven!

4. Kaputaş Beach, Kaş/Antalya

Photo by Serdar Dincer on Unsplash

A tiny bay at a dramatic location of steep tall cliffs has made Kaputaş Beach one of the most favourite spots for locals and visitors alike. Situated between Kalkan and Kaş, Kaputaş Beach can be reached after you go down a 200 step staircase from the road above or you can choose to take a boat directly to the beach itself.

As a popular spot, Kaputaş is a busy spot during the summer months and known for its breaktaking beach pictured above and powder like sand. Basic facilities are available with a cafe, bathroom and lots of sunbeds! 

5. Patara Beach, Kaş/Antalya

Image sourced from Google Maps

The nearby ancient city of Patara, not far from the beach, gives its name to this uber long beach in Kaş, Antalya. The warm sand and the cool waters makes for an interesting combination of both nature and history, given that Patara was an important Lycian port city with allegedly the world’s first lighthouse.

The protected area/beach is a nesting ground for endangered Caretta Caretta/loggerhead turtles who lay eggs on the beach, so its use is restricted during parts of the night/day along with a ban on motorized vehicles. The beach is part of the a national park as well to protect biodiversity in the area. 

What’s unusual about this beach is that you can find sand dunes resembling a mini desert here. Today, you can enjoy the 18kms long beach, while the sand dunes are protective, they’re very popular with the Instagram set who love to snap photos here! 

6. Delikliköy Beach, Çeşme/İzmir

Image sourced from Visit Izmir website

Located some 15kms away from Alaçatı, Çeşme, Delikliköy beach is a unique beach amongst the ones listed in our article. Chalk white rocks break the water around the cove’s turquoise waters via a pebbly beach.

Delikliköy is similar to the famed white cliffs of Realmonte, Sicily called Scala dei Turchi (Staircase of the Turks) funnily the name has some links to the sea-faring Barbary/Ottoman Turks. “Molded by waves and wind over millenniums into a grandiose natural staircase, legend has it that it was the favorite landing spot of pirates and invaders from faraway lands, like the Turks, hence its name”, according to the New York Times.

During high season in the hot summer months, Delikliköy is glistening white with people enjoying its cliffs as there are camping options available. Some bring their own chairs and beach towels, some to picnic on this unique beach, while others choose to take photographs (such as young couples about to wed – the area is popular with outdoor wedding photography) or there are those that enjoy the blue waters in the cove nearby.

Delikliköy actually means ‘village with holes’ and it probably refers to the white rocks that have some holes in it. We recommend a face snorkeling mask and some water shoes and you’re good to explore the waters – don’t be surprised if you find crabs, sea urchins and even fish! Bring your own snacks as facilities are limited, but you can find some food vendors selling Turkish street snacks such as boiled sweet corn or gevrek/simit!

7. Cleopatra-Damlataş Beaches, Alanya/Antalya

Photo by Nihat Sinan Erul on Unsplash

A  long beachfront in the smaller city of Alanya, Cleopatra and Damlataş Beaches are both on the same sandy area. Kleopatra is on the western front, while Damlataş is closer to the mountain and caves overlooking the area. You can choose either of them because the waters are such a beautiful emerald green here (see picture above!) You can choose to rent out sunbeds if you wish or bring your own equipment.

Nearby, you’ll find a “restorative” cave called the Damlataş caves of stalactites and stalagmites over thousands of years old; as well as another one called Lovers cave. On the hill, you’ll find the medieval Alanya castle, Alanya Castle Panorama Observation Deck and the historic shipyard of Alanya. You can take the cable car up to the Alanya castle. On the eastern end, you’ll see Alanya’s present day port and lighthouse!

When you go to Alanya, you’ll enjoy not only the sun and the sea but also part of its history!

8. Gümüşlük Beach, Gümüşlük/Bodrum

Image sourced from Google Maps

9. Kabak Beach, Fethiye/Muğla

Photo by alevision.co on Unsplash

A secret spot that’s hard to get to, Kabak beach is worth all the trekking down hilly landscape. Sea green/turquoise waters meets a small stretch of beach is home to bohemians, hippies, backpackers and nature lovers.

Camping is an option, so is glamping at some of the many valley retreats offering yoga, such as Shiva Kabak Camp or Kabak Valley Camp. Just the fresh air of the valley is worth it!

A pristine beach is hidden and difficult to get to from the main Kabak village but if you want to try, it takes about 30 minutes. However, the mountainous landscape with pine forests leading to a rocky beach with sea green waters is something that you won’t find elsewhere.

Rent a cabin or a forest bungalow in one of the retreats up the hill and enjoy a few days of tranquility and even meet some cool bohemians at this spot! This is probably the one beach on our list that still unspoiled and protected from big hoteliers. Try coming during spring and autumn, to enjoy its calmness. 

10. Ilıca Plajı, Çesme/İzmir

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Izmir’s best public beach, Ilıca Beach  in Çesme takes its name from the natural hot thermals (Ilıca) that are present in the area. A Blue Flag beach, the water is warm and enjoyable. You can enjoy a day out with friends and family without having to worry about loud music or rowdy tourists here as local frequent this beach more than foreigners. 

As it’s a public beach, you can choose to bring your own towels, parasol and even portable sunbeds. If you want, you can also rent them for a price from the caretakers. There is a free public toilet and shower facilities. Food vendors regularly pass by and there’s even a nearby cafeteria so you don’t have to worry about going hungry.

Many beachgoers bring their own snacks and drinks and you could do the same. However, if you want, you can try some great local spots serving local Izmir sandwiches called Kumru at Kumrucu Şevki. Want to learn more about Izmir, then head over to Discover Turkey’s Third Largest City, Izmir.