Turkey’s Beautiful South Coast Beaches
There is a very good reason why Turkey has been high up on the holiday hot list for so long. Whether you’re looking for history, culture, food, traditions, beaches, nature, or fantastic weather, there is a destination to fulfil your needs. From the beautiful architecture and buildings to be found in Istanbul, the to the stunning natural landscapes of the south coast, Turkey has it all.
Of course, one of the main reasons that people visit Turkey in the summer time is for total beach fun, and there are countless beaches to chill the hell out on; many of these beaches are Blue Flag rated also.
Because Turkey is such a huge country, it can be easy to get a little confused in terms of where to go. It’s difficult to pinpoint the ‘best’ beach resort, because every single one of them is fantastic in their own right, but there are things which stand out for some, and different things for others. For that reason, it is a good idea to research ahead of time, to ensure you’re getting everything you want from your break.
Let’s explore those south coast beach resorts a little.
On the south west coast you will find Kusadasi, Bodrum, and Gumbet. These three beach resorts are quite close to each other, but you will also find Calis not too far away too. Kusadasi and Gumbet are certainly party places, and you won’t find many revellers up before midday! Having said that, Kusadasi is more of a blend of party and chill out, so you will find many families holidaying there also. Calis is a little more upmarket, and when you see the amazing beauty of the beach, you will understand why! For that reason, you can expect prices to be slightly higher than you will find in some other resorts close by. That leaves Bodrum.
Bodrum is a mix of city and beach, and whilst there is no specific beach in Bodrum itself, there are a few which are a very short distance away. Bodrum is about culture and architecture, and it is also a great place for shopping. All of these resorts are served by either Izmir or Bodrum airports.
Moving further down the south coast, you will find Icmeler, Marmaris, Dalyan, Fethiye, Hisaronu, and Olu Deniz, in that order. These resorts are all served by Dalaman Airport, with the furthest away resorts, i.e. Marmaris and Icmeler, having a 1.5 – 2 hours’ transfer time. Icemler is a family kind of place, but it is also just 10 or 15 minutes’ away from Marmaris, so you can easily reach the noise if you want to. Whilst Marmaris is more of a party place, it is a mix, just like Kusadasi, and you will find families and groups, with everything in-between.
Dalyan is much more laid back, and it is a place that the older generation tend to go to. The nature around Dalyan is amazing, especially Turtle Beach. Fethiye and Hisaronu are quite close together and are a mixture of nightlife and chill out time; you’ll find a huge mix of people here. That leaves Olu Deniz, which is famous for parasailing! Again, Olu Deniz is a mixture, but you will find a lot of families enjoying the beach time and chilled out feel around the resort.
As you move further east, you will reach the Antalya region. This area is served by Antalya Airport, and covers the main resorts of Side and Alanya. There are a few smaller resorts, but these are the main ones to mention. Side is a beautiful, Mediterranean resort, and has many old Roman ruins from centuries past. Alanya is a very scenic resort, and one which has plenty of night life, but it is more aimed towards families and those who prefer to chill out, rather than party until dawn.
We haven’t mentioned every single beach resort on Turkey’s vast south coast, because there are many smaller ones to check out too, such as Turunc, near to Icmeler. These main resorts are the ones which you will find easily on holiday searches however, and once you identify what it is you want from your holiday, you can tailor-make your destination to suit your needs. Remember that each resort is quite close to some other areas of interest, e.g. those resorts near to Izmir make a visit into the city easy, as well as a trip to the ruins of Ephesus, and the natural landscape of Pamukkale.
