20 Resorts In Turkey

Turkey’s tourist numbers, other than during the COVID epidemic, have been growing steadily through the first two decades of the 21st century. While temperatures do fall in the winter, there are usually 300 days of sunshine on the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines each year. Part of this coastline is nicknamed “The Turquoise Coast”, which gives you a clue not only of the cloudless skies but also the clear blue and warm water surrounding the mainland. The resorts covered in this article have an international, regional airport with direct flights from Europe and the Middle East from spring until winter arrives.

Turkey also has an extensive Black Sea coastline where summer days are nice, but none of its resorts attracts travellers looking for a beach holiday. By all means, explore places like Sinop, which has always been popular with residents of Istanbul and Ankara. Sinop’s history and the history of other towns and cities as you head east to Trabzon and beyond to the Georgian border is certainly interesting. Likewise, the natural beauty of inland areas near the Black Sea merits investigation for a holiday but not for those seeking beaches and warm waters.

Here are 20 ideas of places to satisfy those looking for a beach and sea holiday. They begin at the midpoint of the Aegean coast and head south, then west to places east of Antalya to Alanya. Beyond Alanya, the coastline is still beautiful, but it is rugged, with sandy bays below cliffs difficult to access, hence they remain quiet.

Resorts In Turkey

20 Best Resorts In Turkey

1- Cesme

Cesme is an hour due west of Izmir, whose airport, Adnan Menderes, has significant daily flights from outside Turkey.

Cesme is a ferry port with connections across the Aegean, but it has always been a popular holiday resort for Turkey’s city dwellers before charter flights brought overseas visitors.

There are numerous beaches and coves in the immediate area, with Ilica famous for its beaches and thermal baths.

Cesme is known for the excellent surfing it offers.

There is plenty of accommodation in the area, hotels, pensions, and private villas available to rent.

Where to stay? Reges, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cesme.

2- Kusadasi

Kusadasi is easily accessed from Adnan Menderes via a six-lane highway while it is also an important place for cruise ships touring the Aegean and beyond.

It is just a short distance from Ephesus, which is on the “to see list” of many travellers to Turkey. Kusadasi is around 100 kilometres (62.5 miles) south of Izmir.

Tourism is the backbone of Kusadasi’s economy, with plenty of accommodation available for every budget.

Several beaches include Ladies Beach, right in the heart of Kusadasi.

Where to stay? Charisma De Luxe Hotel.

3- Altinkum

Altinkum is 90 minutes by road south of Kusadasi and close to several Greek Islands, such as Kos and Samos.

Before tourism developed, this was a region of small fishing villages, but now tourism dominates its economy.

It has become home to many overseas residents, mostly British and German.

Each of its beaches has a “blue flag” status, demonstrating the water’s quality and clarity.

Umbrellas and loungers are available to rent, and the well-developed tourist infrastructure includes a range of water sports and tours out to sea.

Where to stay? How about a private villa with pool and sauna?

4- Didim

Tourism growth means that Altinkum and Didim have effectively become a single town of around 35,000.

Didim’s marina can take 12,000 boats, a far cry from when it was a mere fishing village.

It is not just overseas holidaymakers that have been attracted to Didim.

Many Turks from cities like Istanbul and Ankara have built holiday homes in Didim, with elderly ones regularly moving down there permanently.

Akbuk, in the same bay, has a permanent population of 4,000, which multiplies by 10 in the weeks of summer.

Where to stay? The Yacht Club Didim.

5- Bodrum

Bodrum’s growth in recent years is phenomenal, and the Bodrum-Milas Airport is especially busy in the tourist season.

Although most visitors fly here and then take a half-hour drive to the city, Bodrum is just a short ferry ride to the Greek Island of Kos and some people arrive by ferry.

What was a small town where sponge fishing was important is now truly a city.

In history, this region was important to the Crusaders and even before then, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, the tomb of Mausolus, stood here.

You will enjoy the history of Bodrum and the tourist infrastructure that has grown with the city.

Where to stay? Radisson Collection Hotel Bodrum.

6- Gumbet

Bodrum sits east of a large peninsula on which you will find many small resorts.

Gumbet is an excellent example of the qualities you will find, yet it is just a short distance from Bodrum.

It is a busy town with plenty of accommodation for holiday visitors.

The long stretches of beach are lined with bars, restaurants and hotels, with many having their own stretches of beach on which they have put sunbeds.

The shallow water is ideal for children and swimmers who are not too confident.

After a lazy day on the beach, there are plenty of places locally if you want lively nightlife.

Where to stay? Jasmin Elite Residence & SPA.

7- Turgutreis

Further around the peninsula, you will find Turgutreis, from where you can catch a ferry to the Greek Island of Kos.

Turgutreis has a permanent population of around 16,000, swelled enormously during the main holiday period.

There is a 5-kilometre (3-mile) beach and all the infrastructure needed to provide a great coastal holiday, umbrellas, sunbeds, bars and restaurants.

It gets its name from a famous Ottoman admiral, Turgut Reis who led many expeditions around the Mediterranean before being killed in the siege of Malta.

You are less than half an hour from the centre of Bodrum by bus.

Where to stay? Sianji Well-Being Resort.

8- Gümüşlük

If you want to enjoy the beach and sea but prefer to avoid crowds, this small place, north of Turgutreis and at the extreme western end of Bodrum Peninsula, may be for you.

There is simple accommodation for the most part, but there are apartments and a hotel with private bungalows and private beaches as well.

You will need to book well in advance to find something you like but imagine dining at a waterfront restaurant next to a private beach.

Tours from the small harbour can take you out to sea, anchoring for lunch near one of the small offshore islands.

Where to stay? Paradise Gumusluk.

9- Datca

Yachts heading south down the Aegean before turning east will turn around Datca Peninsula in the extreme southwest of Turkey.

The narrow peninsula is 100 kilometres (62.5 miles) long, with small villages, coves and beaches to enjoy.

The town of Datca facing the Greek Island of Simi is a popular stopping point for sailors and for “landlubbers”, although it is quite a drive from either Bodrum-Milas Airport or Dalaman to the east.

The road trip down this peninsula is interesting; however, this region is said to have the best tomatoes in Turkey, which are top quality anyway.

Where to stay? Datca Vineyard.

10- Marmaris

Arguably the most famous resort on the Turquoise Coast is the ever-expanding town of Marmaris.

It has a natural deep-water harbour which means that the Turkish Navy has a presence and regular ferries head back and forth to Rhodes, a trip of around an hour.

Marmaris is located at the eastern end of Datca Peninsula and is just under 90 minutes west of Dalaman Airport.

It was a small fishing village at one time, but its permanent population has now reached 30,000, with more than 10 times that at the height of summer.

If you want a quiet holiday, Marmaris is not the place, but conversely, if you are looking for a busy nightlife, you’ll love it.

There are numerous daily tours if you want more than to lie on the beach, but if you are going to party until the early hours, perhaps lying on the beach is the best idea.

Where to stay? Joya Del Mar Hotel & Marina.

11- Gocek

Gocek is a fairly sophisticated town with a marina that can cater to even the largest yachts.

It is just about 20 minutes east of the airport at Dalaman, so it is easily accessible from both land and sea.

The Ottomans used the harbour for trade, but these days it is the visiting yachts and the locals offering trips out to sea for tourists that anchor in the marina.

Despite its popularity with yachts, this small town retains its tranquil atmosphere with a wide promenade where bars and restaurants cater for tourist demand.

The sheltered bay makes it an exceptional destination in southwest Turkey.

Where to stay? D Resort Gocek Special Category.

12- Fethiye

The Fethiye Municipality includes several small towns, each with a loyal tourist following.

Calis, a short distance west of Fethiye, has a significant ex-pat population, plenty of accommodation and a long pebble sand beach.

From the heart of Fethiye, you can head to several small resorts with their own tourist infrastructure and beaches, Hisonaru, Ovacik and perhaps the most famous, Oludeniz (Dead Sea).

Photographs of Oludeniz regularly appear promoting the Turquoise Coast, with hang gliding off the massive mountain that towers above the beach, a popular pastime for the adventurous.

Where to stay? Sundia By Liberty Oludeniz.

13- Kalkan

There are two roads east from Fethiye to Antalya.

One heads over the mountains, reaching a height of 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) and the other hugs the coast, where you will find several popular resorts.

The first is Kalkan, found where the road emerges back at the coast after a period through fertile lands, perhaps an hour by road in total.

Kalkan is extremely popular with ex-pats and some permanent inhabitants.

It is built on a mountainside with stunning views out to sea and a small harbour at the bottom.

You can enjoy small beaches and day trips out to sea, then find restaurants and bars to spend your evenings.

Where to stay? Greenbeach Hotel.

14- Kas

It is almost 30 kilometres (18 miles) east along a narrow road below mountains and hugging the sea before you reach Kas, another very popular holiday destination known for its many dive sites.

The Greek Island of Meis is visible offshore, with the journey time by ferry for this 6-kilometre (4-mile) trip around half an hour.

It was once just a fishing village, but today its modern marina hosts plenty of yachts sailing these waters.

Kas is about at the midpoint between two international airports, Dalaman to the west and Antalya to the east.

The advantage it holds over Kalkan is that there is more flat land in front of the impressive mountains.

Where to stay? Villa Hotel Tamara Kas.

15- Finike

Finike was a port in ancient times, with archaeologists dating early settlements at the 2nd century BC.

Agriculture remains important to Finike, with tourism yet to hit the numbers of other resorts along this coast.

To date, tourism is largely domestic, yet therein lies an opportunity.

The main season for fresh produce is outside the main holiday season, so the two activities balance nicely.

Finike is still 90 minutes west of Antalya, with the road heading inland for most of the journey.

The marina is fairly small but welcoming, while visitors who spend a weekend here will see a fantastic range of fresh fruit, especially oranges and vegetables, at the Saturday market.

A very long stretch of beach is east of the centre.

Where to stay? Keramos Pansiyon Finike.

16- Kemer

When you reach Kemer, you are just 30 minutes from Antalya.

Kemer has grown enormously in recent years, with the 320-berth marina making it a regular anchorage for yachts heading along this coast.

While the beaches in the bays are largely pebble, they are popular with the ever-increasing number of tourists who make Kemer their base.

There is plenty of accommodation here if you do, with all-inclusive package deals widely available.

You will find a good infrastructure and several “blue flag” beaches here.

Those looking for an active holiday beyond the beaches will find several alternatives.

Where to stay? ASTORIA HOTEL & Spa Kemer.

17- Antalya

Antalya is a major port city that has existed since before Roman times.

It has everything you would expect of a modern city, including numerous accommodation options.

The beaches east of the centre, Lara, are lined with top-quality hotels, most certainly open even through the winter months offering all-inclusive deals.

The airport is less than 15 minutes from many of them.

As you approach Antalya from Kemer, you go through Konyaalti, which has a long stretch of sand/pebble beach with bars, restaurants and hotels close by before you reach the centre.

Where to stay? Porto Bello Hotel Resort & Spa.

18- Belek

The town of Belek is around a further hour on from Antalya.

It has developed as the centre of golf in Turkey and before COVID, it hosted the second last European (now DP World) Tour event before the season’s finale in Dubai.

With top-quality championship golf courses come top-quality hotels.

The town has a population in the mid-70s, with tourism a significant part of its economy.

It is an area rich in history (Aspendos amphitheatre) as well as nature (Kursunlu Waterfall).

The Belek Beach Park has “blue flag” status with changing rooms, showers, toilets and car parking.

Where to stay? Regnum Carya Belek.

19- Side

Side is one of the most important historical sites in Turkey.

The modern city thrives with the ruins of the ancient one, telling stories of the time when Alexander the Great with his Macedonians and then the Romans controlled the city.

Side is 80 kilometres (50 miles) east of Antalya.

Its decline as an ancient city began in the 4th century, but today, the ruins and its beaches attract visitors.

There is plenty of accommodation available now that will suit those with an eye on their budget.

Where to stay? Side Star Elegance Hotel – All Inclusive.

20- Alanya

It will take you around 90 minutes by road to get to the city of Alanya from Antalya Airport.

Its resident population is approaching 100,00, with a quarter of a million in the metropolitan area itself.

This is a fertile region with citrus fruits, bananas, tomatoes and cucumbers grown, but tourism is now the most important contributor to the economy producing over $1 million annually.

There are plenty of activities for the adventurous with water sports, including parasailing and windsurfing.

There are more than 150,000 beds available for visitors to Alanya, so you can see it has plenty of capacity and, at the same time, plenty of attractions, and hence popularity.

If you’re visiting Turkey, you may also like to visit Greece.

Where to stay? Club Porto Amore Hotel Adults Only Alanya.