
Oludeniz beach © Ross Hawkes
The coastline along the Mediterranean Sea is an alluring
destination, renowned for its magnificent scenery with picturesque
coves and rocky headlands, turquoise waters, golden beaches and
pine forests. The beautiful landscape, where the Aegean meets the
Mediterranean, is the beginning of the Turquoise Coast, dominated
by the mountains of the Taurus range whose cliffs plunge into the
sea of intense blue. Further along the Mediterranean one reaches
the Turkish Riviera and the region of Antalya; and together, these
areas make up the tourism capital of Turkey. Simple villages share
the water's edge with sophisticated resorts, and fishing vessels
and pleasure yachts mingle together in the sheltered harbours.
Endless days of sunshine make it a paradise for boat cruises,
sunbathing and swimming and numerous water sports, and there are a
variety of restaurants and bars to round off a day on the
water.
The coast also boasts a rich cultural legacy from early
civilisations and is imbued with history and legend, found in
ancient cities and at sites such as the fires of Chimaera at
Olympos, and numerous ruins dotted about the countryside.
Resorts
See our separate guides to the following Mediterranean Coast holiday resorts: Dalyan, Kalkan, Kemer, Belek, Alanya, Fethiye, Antalya, Calis, Turunc, Kas, Marmaris, Oludeniz, Hisaronu, Side and Icmeler
Attractions
Blue Cruise
Undoubtedly one of Turkey's most popular tourist attractions,
the Blue Cruise offers visitors an unforgettable boat trip along
the Turkish Riviera. Sometimes called the Blue Voyage, and known as
Mavi Yolculuk in Turkish, the Blue Cruise - although a
prime recreational activity - was...
see full detailsMamure Kalesi
The Mamure Castle (
Kalesi in Turkish) is a medieval
structure located near the coastal town of Anamur, about 125 miles
(200km) from Antalya, the traditional end-point of the famous Blue
Cruise along the Turkish Riviera that is so popular amongst
tourists to Turkey. The...
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Ruins of Olympos © ekkeekke
Olympos and the Fires of Chimaera
The ancient site of Olympos dates back to Hellenistic times when
it was an important Lycian city and became famous as a place of
worship honouring Hephaestos or Vulcan, the God of Fire. Located on
a beautiful sandy bay, the ruins are spread...
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