The Turquoise Coast

Bodrum to Antalya — pine forest running into water, over sunken Lycian cities.

Overview

The Turkish coast between Bodrum and Antalya is the least developed serious cruising ground in the Mediterranean, and the most consistently beautiful. Pine forest comes down to the waterline, the bays are deep and sheltered, and the archaeology is extraordinary and largely unfenced — you anchor above a Lycian city that subsided into the sea two thousand years ago and swim over its foundations. Göcek and its twelve bays are the usual base. Meltemi wind builds in high summer in the north; the Lycian coast further east stays calmer.

Where to dine

A table by the water

Orfoz
Bodrum
A small seafood kitchen on the rocks east of the castle, working entirely from the day's catch.
Maça Kızı
Türkbükü
The Bodrum peninsula's long-established hotel and waterfront restaurant. Tender access from the bay.
The fish tavernas of Gümüşlük
Bodrum peninsula
Tables set on the sand above the sunken city of Myndos. Choose the fish, then wait.
Kalkan's rooftop restaurants
Kalkan
The old town stacks up the hillside; nearly every roof is a terrace looking down at the harbour.
Gulet lunches, Göcek
Göcek
Mezze brought out to the anchorage by boat — the local way of eating, and the best of it.

What to do

Anchorages & excursions

Kekova and the sunken city
Simena's Lycian ruins slid into the sea after earthquakes — swim over walls and staircases in clear water.
The Twelve Islands, Göcek
A cluster of sheltered bays within a morning of each other. The reason the fleet is based here.
Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz
A steep canyon opening onto a beach, reachable only by sea.
Ephesus
One of the most complete classical cities anywhere — the Library of Celsus and a theatre seating 25,000.
Knidos
An ancient city on the tip of the Datça peninsula with two harbours; still best reached by yacht.

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A table by the water

Orfoz

Bodrum

A small seafood kitchen on the rocks east of the castle, working entirely from the day's catch.

Maça Kızı

Türkbükü

The Bodrum peninsula's long-established hotel and waterfront restaurant. Tender access from the bay.

The fish tavernas of Gümüşlük

Bodrum peninsula

Tables set on the sand above the sunken city of Myndos. Choose the fish, then wait.

Kalkan's rooftop restaurants

Kalkan

The old town stacks up the hillside; nearly every roof is a terrace looking down at the harbour.

Gulet lunches, Göcek

Göcek

Mezze brought out to the anchorage by boat — the local way of eating, and the best of it.

Anchorages & excursions

Kekova and the sunken city

Simena's Lycian ruins slid into the sea after earthquakes — swim over walls and staircases in clear water.

The Twelve Islands, Göcek

A cluster of sheltered bays within a morning of each other. The reason the fleet is based here.

Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz

A steep canyon opening onto a beach, reachable only by sea.

Ephesus

One of the most complete classical cities anywhere — the Library of Celsus and a theatre seating 25,000.

Knidos

An ancient city on the tip of the Datça peninsula with two harbours; still best reached by yacht.