Turquoise Coast
Lycian rock tombs, sunken ruins, bays and gulet cruises on Türkiye's southwest coast, reached from one beach base or by road from town to town.
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The Turquoise Coast is the stretch of Türkiye's southwest shore that runs from Fethiye and the Ölüdeniz lagoon east through Kalkan and Kaş toward Antalya. Travelers come for the bays and the Lycian heritage: the Lycians cut tombs into cliffs above several towns, and some still stand above the modern streets. The Lycian Way long-distance footpath follows much of the coast, and boat trips from Kaş reach the sunken ruins off Kekova.
Most trips take one of two shapes. Stay in one base, such as Ölüdeniz or Kalkan, and make day trips by boat or dolmuş. Or move along the coast by car or bus, spending a night or two in each town. Late spring to early autumn suits swimming and boat trips, and the shoulder months suit walking. Give yourself at least a week if you plan to use more than one base.
Turquoise Coast in five
- Choose the base by style, not by mapÖlüdeniz for paragliding and the lagoon, Kalkan for villas and Patara, Kaş for diving and an old town. Each is an hour or two apart, so one base plus day trips beats moving often.Ölüdeniz or Kaş
- Fly into Dalaman or Antalya and drive one wayA one-way rental between the two airports covers the coast without backtracking. Ask about drop-off fees and whether the contract allows unpaved bay roads.Getting around
- Buy the Mediterranean MuseumPass for four or more sitesThe pass costs €90 for 7 days and lists Patara, Xanthos, Myra, Phaselis and Olympos. Count your ruin days first, because beaches and boats do not need a pass.MuseumPass
- Walk a Lycian Way stage outside JulyThe waymarked footpath links the Fethiye area with Antalya. Shade is sparse, so short stages in April, May or October are far more comfortable than midsummer.
- Book gulets and day boats with a licensed operatorAsk what the price covers (food, fuel, port fees), the boat's license and its safety gear. Weekly gulet cruises fill early for June and September.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Turquoise Coast, the full guide
Antalya
- Price band: $$
Fethiye
- Price band: $$
Kaş
- Price band: $$
Marmaris
Marmaris is a port resort on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Türkiye, known for its beaches, boat trips and a ferry to the Greek island of Rhodes.
Things to do in Turquoise Coast
See all attractions in Turquoise Coast
Need to know
- Airport
- Dalaman (DLM) in the west, Antalya (AYT) in the east
- Getting there
- Flights to either airport, then transfers, buses or a rental car
- Getting around
- Car for freedom; buses and dolmuş link the main towns; boats for bays
- Best base
- Ölüdeniz, Kalkan or Kaş, each with day trips
- Time needed
- 7–10 days for the whole coast; 4–5 for one base
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryMild, wet
- FebruaryMild, wet
- MarchCool sea
- AprilWalking
- MayWarm, green
- JuneWarm sea
- JulyHot
- AugustHot
- SeptemberWarm sea
- OctoberWarm, quiet
- NovemberMild, wet
- DecemberCool, wet
Right now in Turquoise Coast
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 16°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 93%
Bodrum Town
11:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°19°93%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 20°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Tue20°19°93%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 20°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Wed22°18°76%Wednesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Thu20°15°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri17°13°0%Friday: Clear. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat18°14°3%Saturday: Clear. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun19°14°1%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 1%.
Updated 09:09 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 49.94 TRY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Ölüdenizabout 1 hour from Dalaman airportThe lagoon beach, Babadağ cable car and paragliding at the western end.Read the guide
- Kalkan and Pataraabout 2 hours from Dalaman airportVilla village plus the long sand beach and ruins at Patara.Read the guide
- Kaşabout 2.5–3 hours from either airportA harbor town with boats to Kekova and the Greek island of Meis.Read the guide
Before you go to Turquoise Coast
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Rules for Turquoise Coast, checked
- The Mediterranean MuseumPass costs €90 for 7 days and lists Olympos, Phaselis, Patara, Xanthos, Myra, Simena and Termessos.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Turquoise Coast
Lagoon beach, Babadağ and paragliding
Read the guideKalkanVillas, Patara beach and Xanthos
Read the guideKaşDiving, Kekova boats and a Lycian old town
Read the guideAntalyaThe old town and ruins at the eastern end
Read the guideAll of TürkiyeRegions, entry rules and when to go
Read the guideSideA Roman harbor town east of Antalya
Read the guideFethiyeBoat days and Kayaköy, next to Ölüdeniz
Read the guideTurquoise Coast FAQ
Where is the Turquoise Coast of Türkiye?
The name is used loosely for the Aegean and Mediterranean shoreline in Muğla and Antalya provinces. This guide covers the Lycian stretch from Fethiye and Ölüdeniz east through Kalkan and Kaş toward Antalya.
How many days do you need on the Turquoise Coast?
Four or five days suit one base with day trips. A one-way road trip from Dalaman to Antalya works best with seven to ten days, with two or three nights in each of three bases.
Which is better, Ölüdeniz, Kalkan or Kaş?
Ölüdeniz for the lagoon and flights, Kalkan for villas and Patara, Kaş for diving and an old town. A combination of two bases suits a week.
Do you need a car on the Turquoise Coast?
Not for one base with boats and dolmuş, but a car opens bays, ruins and the Lycian Way trailheads. Buses link the main towns only.
When is the best time to visit the Turquoise Coast?
May, June, September and October. July and August are hot and crowded, and some boats and restaurants close from about November to March.