Exploring the 13 Best Beaches in Turkey

What does a summer vacation look like for you?

In our family, I am the culture and history buff. My husband would rather sit by a beach and read.

What if you could do both?

Turkey has been a top summer vacation spot for Europeans for many years, and people from further abroad are just starting to realize how amazing it is. You can go to incredibly preserved Roman ruins and then watch the sunset on the beach on the same day. Win-win!

If you live here and are looking for a great beach to visit, or if you are planning a vacation and aren’t sure where to start, I’ve got you covered!

I’ve spent over 18 summers in this beautiful country and enjoyed many wonderful seaside moments (thanks to my shore-loving husband) that I can’t wait to share with you.

In this list of 13 best beaches in Turkey, we cover the four seas that surround this country (Black, Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean) and help you figure out how to choose the best beach for you.

We even include three options right around Istanbul if you have limited time, but still want to catch some sand and surf.

Best Overall Beach: Oludeniz, Fethiye
Best Beach in Turkey for Families: Lara, Antalya
Best Beach near Istanbul: Şile

What to Expect

With literally hundreds of beaches and coastlines on three sides of the country, Turkey is a summer holiday paradise.

Some beaches have fine white sand, like in Şile. My girls loved making sandcastles and playing with their beach toys there when they were younger.

Other beaches have small pebbles like at Oludeniz, which are much easier to manage when you have water shoes (sold everywhere at beachside shops). We love pebble beaches because that means we don’t end a day at the beach with sand in every crevice.

Two websites that I’ve found helpful are this one that helps you locate the Blue Flag beaches (an international designation for top quality), and this one that tells you about the cleanliness of the water at various beaches around Turkey.

Be aware: even though municipal workers do their best, you’ll often find small bits of trash (plastic bottle caps, cigarette butts, etc) at the shore. Turks smoke a lot, so you might have to move around to find a smoke-free zone. And various beaches play loud music.

There are some downsides, but if you set your expectations correctly, you can still enjoy the amazing view and the summer fun and turn a blind eye to small inconveniences.

1. Ölüdeniz Beach, Fethiye

Pebble | Where to Stay: Villa Rental | Where to Eat: Carikli Et Restaurant

Who is this beach best suited for? Everyone! Especially those who like to explore (lots of side trips and hiking, as well as paragliding).

This is my favorite beach in Turkey. When I first came in 2003, a picture of Oludeniz was on the cover of the Lonely Planet guide that I carried everywhere. It’s the “poster child” of Turkish beaches, literally.

I got to see it myself a few years later, and it truly is amazing. You can swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by mountains, and then relax on the shore while you watch paragliders float to the ground.

I also love the option of hiking on the Lycian Way or taking side trips to Saklikent Gorge and other local spots.

Just over the hill in the town of Fethiye, you can also find some nice sandy beaches and a lovely promenade with shops and restaurants (like the one in the link above).

2. Patara Beach, KaŞ

Sand | Where to Stay: Flower Hotel Patara | Where to Eat: Patara Gozleme Evi

Who is this beach best suited for? People who love to combine history and seaside relaxation.

Patara Beach is the longest beach in Turkey (11 miles long!), and it is a beautiful stretch of sandy dunes where Mediterranean turtles lay their eggs.

Just up from the beach is the Patara Ancient City, which used to be located right on the seaside, but over the last 2,000 years, the port has filled in with silt and sand. It’s now about a quarter of a mile away from the shore.

Because the beach is connected to the Ancient City, this entire area is under the jurisdiction of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and therefore, there is a 15 Euro entry fee.

Kimberly went here recently and absolutely loved it. Highly recommended!

3. Altinkum Beach, Çeşme

Sand | Where to Stay: Kandira Butik Hotel | Where to Eat: Babanin Yeri Altinkum

Who is this beach best suited for? Families with kids who like soft sand and shallow water.

We lived in Izmir for our first two years in Turkey, and couldn’t get enough of the beaches on the Çeşme (pronounced “chesh-meh”) peninsula.

It tends to be known for the jet-setters who come for summer holidays, but it’s also a place where families from Izmir will go to enjoy a day at the beach.

Altinkum (meaning “gold sand”) beach is one of the prettiest bits of shoreline on the peninsula. The sand of this Blue Flag beach is soft and fine, and the water is clear and shallow for quite a while, so it’s great for kids.

The only thing to keep in mind is that the water can be a little cold, so be prepared! The Aegean Sea tends not to get as warm as the Mediterranean.

As with many beaches in Turkey, various businesses rent sunbeds and umbrellas. The prices are usually around $10 per person.

Alternatively, you can find a spot between businesses and claim a bit of sand with your towel.

4. Lara Beach, Antalya

Sand | Where to Stay: IC Green Palace Lara | Where to Eat: Anarkali Restaurant

Who is this beach best suited for? Families who want an all-inclusive hotel experience.

The city of Antalya is one of the gems of the Mediterranean. It is a summer holiday town with many all-inclusive hotel options alongside more standard hotels and apartment rentals.

It’s even mentioned in the Apostle Paul’s journeys, with the ancient name Attalia.

Lara Beach is located on the eastern side of the city. Lining the beach are many wonderful all-inclusive hotels that have staffed kids’ play rooms alongside amenities like water slides and “animation” (aka entertainment) teams.

Both Kimberly and I have stayed at the IC Green Palace Lara, and it’s a luxurious option with wonderful food and a dedicated beach area.

5. Konyaalti Beach, Antalya

Pebble | Where to Stay: Onkel Rada Apart Hotel | Where to Eat: Bragi Brasserie

Who is this beach best suited for? Families who are renting an apartment in the area.

On the western side of Antalya, Konyaalti Beach is a family-friendly Blue Flag pebble beach with a lovely boardwalk for walking or biking.

When our family goes to Antalya, we have stayed at the Onkel Rada twice and really enjoyed the home-like atmosphere. We have some great memories of building little rock piles on Konyaalti Beach.

We also like the side trips you can take from this part of town, including hiking up Mount Chimaera (where natural gases create small flames that pop out of the rock and never go out). Amazing!

6. Palamutbuku Beach, Datça

Pebble | Where to Stay: Butik Mor Salkim Evleri | Where to Eat: Sarihos Restaurant

Who is this beach best suited for? Families with small kids who enjoy a shallow sea.

Palamutbuku is a small pebble beach on the Datca Peninsula, about a 40-minute drive from the main town of Datca.

This part of the country has many small bays surrounded by mountains. Each bay has its charm and personality, and the incredibly beautiful blue water is refreshing and cool. Perfect summer vibes!

The Sarihos Restaurant is a great place to eat and also has sunbeds and umbrella rentals.

7. Içmeler Beach, Marmaris

Coarse Sand | Where to Stay: Loryma Resort Hotel | Where to Eat: Taj Mahal Icmeler

Who is this beach best suited for? People staying in the beautiful Marmaris area who are looking for a quieter beach.

A bit further up the peninsula, Marmaris is a popular holiday location for visiting Brits. The main bay of Marmaris has a lovely beach area and a hopping town.

Our family loves water slides, so we had a day at the water park in the main town a few years back. But when we wanted a quieter beach area, we took the local bus over to Icmeler.

Icmeler is the next bay over from Marmaris, and it’s a beautiful beach surrounded by mountains and a cute town of its own.

British people love Indian food, so in many of these holiday areas, you can find some amazing Indian restaurants! We celebrated my daughter’s birthday at the Taj Mahal Icmeler, and since I called ahead, they decorated our table and made our night very special.

8. Bodrum Kultur Bakanligi Halk Plaji

Wooden Platforms into the Sea | Where to Stay: Senses Hotel | Where to Eat: Snackbar on the Beach

Who is this beach best suited for? Adventurers looking for deep blue water.

Bodrum is just north of Datca and is amazingly picturesque with its sugar cube white buildings. My daughters’ friends often vacation in Bodrum every summer, and we love exploring the little villages along the coast.

Bodrum has its share of sandy beaches all along the peninsula, but some of the best places to jump into the water are from wooden platforms set up over craggy bits of shoreline.

The Kultur Bakanligi Halk Plaji (Ministry of Culture Public Beach) in Bodrum is an incredible hidden gem with clear, clean water, perfect for snorkeling and relaxing.

You enter the sea via two platforms, where you can descend down a short ladder into the water.

9. Ören Beach, Balikesir

Sand | Where to Stay: Pidasus Hotel | Where to Eat: Paprika Beach Restaurant

Who is this beach best suited for? Travelers who want a local beach holiday experience with not too many foreigners.

My friend Reyhan moved from crowded Istanbul to the small town of Oren a few years ago and hasn’t looked back.

This laid-back town in the North Aegean is a popular holiday destination for local Turks, for good reason.

Oren has it all–the soft sands of the Blue Flag beach, the beach volleyball stadium, the cute town with tea houses and souvenir shops.

The waters of the North Aegean are not as crystal blue as the Mediterranean, but they are cool and refreshing in the summer.

Just a 4-hour drive from Istanbul, Oren is particularly great for a weekend getaway for residents of the big city.

When Reyhan moved, I didn’t lose a friend, I gained a holiday destination!

10. Butterfly Valley, Fethiye

Pebble | Where to Stay: Butterfly Valley Glamping | Where to Eat: Beach Bar in the Valley

Who is this beach best suited for? Environmentalists and hikers.

I first went to Butterfly Valley on a day boat tour from Fethiye.

These boat trips are one of our favorite parts of the summer holidays. For approximately $40-50 per person, you get on a boat that takes you to 4 or 5 little bays along the shore.

At each stop, you jump in the water and swim, and in the middle of the day, your hosts cook and serve you lunch. It’s glorious!

A popular stop on the Fethiye boat tours is Butterfly Valley, a protected gorge with a pebble beach and a small glamping area. You can access the valley via boat, like we did, or from above (like the photo) if you’re a skilled hiker.

Over the years, Butterfly Valley has become very popular in the high season, so if you want to spend an extended time there, we recommend you visit in the shoulder season and avoid the busy months of July and August.

11. Şile Beach, Istanbul

Sand | Where to Stay: Phellos Suites | Where to Eat: Balkan Kafana Restaurant

Who is this beach best suited for? Istanbullites with access to a car.

Sometimes the best beach is the most accessible beach.

Our last three beach options are located in and around Istanbul. These are great places to go for a day trip or a quick getaway.

Şile (pronounced “Shee-lay”) is a town on the Black Sea with a nice sandy stretch of shore nestled next to some cute little coves.

Prices for entry to the beach (which includes the use of deck chairs and showers) can vary from about $10-20, depending on the day of the week, and sometimes there is a difference between the price for locals and foreigners.

The Black Sea is refreshingly cold and beautiful, but it can sometimes have intense waves and rip tides. I’m not a strong swimmer, so I tend to stay close to shore.

My husband and I have enjoyed staying at Şile for anniversary weekends and Sunday beach days with our kids.

12. Kinaliada Halk Plaji, Prince’s Islands, Istanbul

Pebble | Where to Stay: Istanbul Hotels | Where to Eat: Little cafe right next to the beach

Who is this beach best suited for? Day trippers from Istanbul who can’t get enough of the ferries!

The best way to get around Istanbul is by using a ferry. With my Istanbulkart, I can commute from Asia to Europe in 10 minutes and breathe in the sea air. It’s like a little mini-vacation in the middle of my day.

A few years ago, I took a personal day and decided to take a slightly longer ride. Kinaliada is the smallest of the four inhabited Princes’ Islands in the Marmara Sea, just off the coast of Istanbul.

I took the ferry from Kadikoy, and in just 30 minutes, I was in a different world. The Princes’ Islands are car-free, and I felt like I was hundreds of miles away from the mega-metropolis.

I walked around to the back side of the island and spent the day at the Kinaliada Halk Plaji (Public Beach), a small pebble beach with a little cafe next to it. After some journaling and a dip in the water, I returned to Istanbul refreshed.

Highly recommended!

13. Caddebostan BEach 2, Istanbul

Sand | Where to Stay: Istanbul Hotels | Where to Eat: Beltur Cafe

Who is this beach best suited for? Visitors and residents of Istanbul who want an afternoon at the beach.

“Mom, I’m going to the beach with my friends on Saturday.”

My daughters love swimming in the Marmara Sea with their friends at Caddebostan Beach–not because it has the bluest waters or the softest sand in Turkey, but because they can get there by public transportation in less than 30 minutes from our apartment!

For Istanbul residents or visitors with a tight itinerary, Caddebostan is an easily accessible bit of seaside in the heart of the city. Caddebostan Beach 2 has a minimal entry fee (about $2) that you can pay with an Istanbulkart or a touchless credit card.

It can get crowded on the weekends and isn’t the most pristine, but it has a beautiful view of the Marmara and lets you take a break from the busyness of the city.

FAQs About the Best Beaches in Turkey

Exploring More

There are so many wonderful beaches dotted all along the Turkish coast, it’s hard to choose one!

Each beach has its own personality and charm. And beaches are not only for summer vacations; they are wonderful places to get away and enjoy nature in every season.

As you plan your seaside getaway, read on for more information about this wonderful country that can help you decide where to go next.