Many people go for the Cultural Triangle when visiting Turkey – this involves a week to 10-day Turkey trip to Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus. It is an overwhelming experience of history, culture, city vibes, and natural beauty. And what could be better than finishing this off with Turkey beach holidays? Doesn’t an extended stay at one of the beach holiday resorts on the Turkish Riviera sound great?
A stay at the Turkish Riviera is the perfect and relaxing ending to a cultural tour of Turkey’s highlights. You are guaranteed to fall in love with those turquoise waters, Turkish hospitality, and delicious food. These are my picks of the best beach resorts in Turkey and scenic towns for beach-lovers.
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Turkey Beach Resorts Location
Best time to visit Turkish Riviera
The Turkish Riviera is located along the southwestern coast of Turkey and is known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and beautiful landscapes. Alanya, Antalaya, Kemer, Fethiye, Cesme, Bodrum, Belek, Kas, Kalkan, Side, Didim, Marmaris & Kusadasi are the towns that make up the Turkish Riviera.
The climate along Turkey’s coast is Mediterranean: cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The best time to visit Turkey beach towns would be in the summer, between June and August. But this is also peak season for beach seekers, so prices for a beach holiday in Turkey would be high. If you want a more budget-friendly option, visit during the fall months of September and October.
Turkey Beach Holidays: Fashionable Bodrum Peninsula
Bodrum is located on Turkey’s southwest coast, on the Aegean Sea. While travelers and booking agents alike often refer to the whole Bodrum peninsula as Bodrum, the resorts on the peninsula each have a unique vibe. Fly from Istanbul to Bodrum for a stay on the Bodrum Peninsula.
Bodrum – the city from which the peninsula got its name – is said to be the Turkish Saint-Tropez. It offers some of the best beach resorts in Turkey.
The many luxury yachts and gullets in the marina that lies in the shadow of the medieval fortress must have something to do with that. In any case, I can honestly say that no matter what type of resort you are looking for, you’re bound to find it on the Bodrum Peninsula, except maybe for the enormous all-inclusive villages for which the Antalya coastline is famous.
Depending on your mood, stay in the buzzing heart of Bodrum city, windmill-dotted Yalıkavak, upscale Türkbükü, bohemian Gümüşlük, beach-oriented Bitez, or party-animal heaven Gümbet. For a dose of nature combined with history, hike up to Pedasa, almost in the heart of the peninsula and admire the view.
Look up hotels and resorts in Bodrum:
Turkey Beach Towns: Small-scale Marmaris
The Mediterranean resort of Marmaris is located on the Turquoise Coast and makes for a quintessential Turkey beach holiday. Dalaman is your go-to airport for Marmaris. Beach-lovers are spoiled as Marmaris boasts a long pebbly beach and a seafront promenade.
Apart from its famous nightlife, you’ll find beautiful pine-clad mountains surrounding the city, as well as a large marina, and a quaint old town, dominated by a restored castle.
Adjacent to Marmaris is Içmeler with a long sandy beach. If you are looking for a laid-back vibe on Turkey beach holidays, then it is perfect for you. If you’re going to Marmaris, and you’re looking for something different to visit, head over to Nimara Cave on Heaven Island for an out-of-this-world cave scenery.
Check out hotels and resorts in Marmaris:
Turkey holiday resorts: Down-to-earth Fethiye
Fethiye, also on the Turquoise Coast has a stunning natural harbor and bay and is on the list of top Turkey holiday resorts. The port city is still very Turkish, despite a growing amount of holidaymakers. Dalaman is your go-to airport for Fethiye. One of the famous landmarks of Fethiye is the 4th-century B.C. rock tomb of Amyntas. It is carved into the rocks overlooking the bay.
Most tourists visiting Fethiye do not actually stay in the city but go to the neighboring resorts of Çalış or Ölüdeniz, which is famous for its lagoon and paragliding off Mount Babadağ. The Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz is one of the famous natural landmarks in Turkey.
Another favorite activity on one of Turkey beach holidays in the area is the 12-islands boat tour or a trip to Butterfly Valley.
Cultural activities in the area include a trip to Tlos, or Unesco World Heritage sites Letoon and Xanthos. For the real activity-seekers, there is an option to hike to these places along the famous Lycian Way, a waymarked footpath that goes from Ölüdeniz to Antalya.
See the hotels and resort options in Fethiye:
Best beach resorts in Turkey: Buzzing Antalya coast
Antalya is a big city, lively, with plenty of shopping malls, a stunning coastline, a charming old town, and a long stretch of designated tourist resorts south of the city. Antalya has its own international airport and thus makes for a good option for Turkey beach holidays. The area around Antalya tends to have several hotels with heated and indoor pools that stay open all year.
Turkey beach resorts of Lara, Side, and Belek are famous for their large all-inclusive hotels.
These places are almost small villages on their own, with all the amenities you can think of, going from entertainment, several restaurants, numerous swimming pools, to shopping or hairdressers. Name it, chances are you will find it in those hotels. These places are vacation heaven for some, and a nightmare for others.
But Antalya has more to offer! Kaleiçi or Antalya old town is full of charm, with many boutique style hotels in old Greek houses. One of the main attractions of Kaleici is the Hadrian’s Gate. Konyaaltı, Antalya’s city beach enjoys the stunning backdrop of Mount Olympos and has some friendly, upscale hotels with beach access. If you are looking for a scenic way to explore the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, you should consider taking a boat trip from Antalya Harbor. So many things to do in Antalya City.
And for those looking for something a bit different, head to Çıralı, next to the ancient site of Olympos. You’ll find a pristine beach, soaked in history with the eternal flames on the mountain behind you and an excellent choice of tree house hotels, lodges, or other quirky accommodations.
Check out hotels and resort options in Antayala:
Do remember this is just a small selection of popular and well-established beach resorts in Turkey. If you plan on extending your stay by visiting one of these holiday resorts in Turkey, you will find that domestic flights are cheap and plenty. Bear in mind that the season in most resorts runs from May to the end of October.
Packing for Turkish beach resorts: Wearing bathing suits, t-shirts, shorts, skirts, are completely acceptable. You can dress casually during a beach holiday in Turkey. Here is a complete family beach packing list.
This is a guest post by Pascale. Pascale is the heart and soul of Slow Travel Guide. She’s a copywriter, nature lover, blogger, and coffee aficionado. She likes all things slow and immersing herself in travels, stories, and life in general.
Planning a trip to Turkey?
Check out this Classic Turkey Itinerary: Places to visit in Turkey: Explore the Classic Turkey Itinerary
For Cappadocia, do read What to Do in Cappadocia: Highlights in 3 days
Explore the stunning ancient ruins at Ephesus walking tour: Visiting the ancient city of Ephesus
If you are figuring what to buy in Turkey, check out this post on Best souvenirs from Turkey
Also, check out Landmarks in Turkey
[This post was originally published in 2018, and last updated in Feb 2024.]
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I have been dying to visit the Turquoise coast since a long time! The becahes of Fethiye and the water sports and diving off these coasts has tempted me for so long! Have heard of so many cooking courses in Antalya as well! Hope to see this soon!
The Turkey coastline and the wonderful places along the riviera often get overlooked in the face of the other attractions. Places like Cappadocia and Istanbul are the places that come instantly to mind. But indeed the beaches of Turkey are a treasure in themselves. Bodrum and its resorts like really exclusive and the perfect place for a rejuvenating stay. Antalya is another place that we would love to visit in Turkey.
The pictures are beautiful! Turkey has been on our radar for some time. This post is really helpful to plan a couple of days on the beach while in Turkey.
Whenever you do decide to go to Turkey, do look up my itinerary and guides to Istanbul, Cappadocia as well.
Never seen a more colorful post. The umbrella image is just so beautiful.
The photos are drool-worthy for sure!