The Mediterranean Region of Turkey is a coastline of superlatives: the country’s most beautiful beaches, its best-preserved ancient theaters, and its most dramatic mountain settings. The region’s cities and towns each have a distinct character, from the bustling resort energy of Antalya to the quiet charm of the Lycian villages. This guide profiles the best of them, so you can match each destination to your mood and plan a journey along the coast.
Antalya: The Gateway to the Riviera
Antalya is the Mediterranean region’s capital and its largest city, a place where ancient walls meet modern resorts. The old quarter, Kaleici, is the heart of the city: cobbled lanes, Ottoman houses, and the ancient harbor, all within the city walls. The cliffs and the sea give the city a dramatic setting.
The city’s museums are among Turkey’s best, and the old quarter is full of restaurants, boutique hotels, and views over the water. Antalya is also the base for the region’s great ancient sites, from Perge to Termessos, and its airport connects the whole region.
Antalya works for every traveler: two days in the city, then the coast in either direction. It is the natural start or end of any Mediterranean itinerary.
Side: The Peninsula of Ruins
Side, on a small peninsula east of Antalya, is an ancient city that became a holiday town. The ruins are woven through the modern streets: the great theater, the colonnaded avenues, and the temples of Apollo and Athena standing at the water’s edge. The setting is one of the most photogenic in Turkey.
The town’s character comes from this marriage of antiquity and seaside life. By day the beaches and the harbor are busy, and in the evening the floodlit ruins rise above the restaurants. The temple of Apollo at sunset is a sight you will not forget.
Side suits travelers who want a resort with real history at its heart. The town is compact, walkable, and full of atmosphere.
Alanya: The Fortress by the Sea
Alanya, further east, is a city built around one of Turkey’s great fortresses. The medieval castle crowns the rocky peninsula above the sea, and its walls, towers, and cisterns are among the most impressive in the country. The views from the heights are spectacular.
Below, the city is a lively resort with a long beach, the famous red tower at the harbor, and a bustling promenade. The caves along the coast and the boat trips from the harbor add to the attractions, and the city’s energy is infectious.
Alanya offers a strong blend of history and holiday life, and it is especially popular with families. The fortress alone is worth the journey, and the beaches make the stay complete.
Kas: The Diving Town
Kas, on the Lycian coast, is a small town of outsized charm. The harbor, the lively center, and the stone streets give it a Mediterranean character that draws travelers from around the world. The town is famous for its diving, its sea kayaking, and its relaxed atmosphere.
The town is also a cultural base, with the ancient theater and the tombs of the Lycian city of Antiphellos at its edges. The boat trips from the harbor explore the coast’s coves and the sunken city of Kekova, and the views across to the Greek island of Kastellorizo are lovely.
Kas is the favorite of many travelers on the Mediterranean coast. It offers beauty, activity, and a warm welcome without the scale of the big resorts.
Kalkan: The Hillside Beauty
Kalkan, a little further west, is a town of white houses that climb a steep hillside above the sea. The old town’s lanes are full of boutique hotels, restaurants, and shops, and the harbor below is a center for boat trips. The town has a sophisticated, elegant atmosphere.
The coast around Kalkan holds some of the region’s most beautiful bays, and the boat trips from the harbor visit the hidden coves and the ancient ruins of the coast. The sunset views over the sea from the town’s terraces are legendary.
Kalkan suits travelers who want a refined, romantic base on the Lycian coast. It is quieter than the big resorts, and its beauty is understated and lasting.
Fethiye: The Town of Tombs
Fethiye, at the western end of the region, is a town of striking monuments and a beautiful bay. The rock tombs of the ancient city of Telmessos are carved into the cliffs above the town, and the market, the harbor, and the promenade give the town its daily life.
The town is a base for the region’s western highlights: the Blue Lagoon of Oludeniz, the ghost village of Kayakoy, and the Butterfly Valley. The boat trips and the paragliding from the mountain above the lagoon make the area a center of adventure.
Fethiye offers a combination of history, nature, and activity that few towns can match. It works well as a base for the western coast’s wonders.
Oludeniz: The Blue Lagoon
Oludeniz is not a town in the traditional sense but a bay of extraordinary beauty, home to Turkey’s most famous beach. The Blue Lagoon, a calm turquoise inlet protected by a sandbar, is one of the most photographed places in the country, and the beach is a bucket-list destination.
The village of Oludeniz, above the beach, is a relaxed resort with accommodation for every budget and the paragliding flights from the mountain that make the area famous. The lagoon is at its most beautiful in the early morning, before the crowds arrive.
Oludeniz suits travelers who want the region’s most iconic beach with easy access to the surrounding coast. The setting is almost surreal in its beauty.
Demre and Myra
Demre, on the coast between Kas and Antalya, is a town that holds the ruins of the ancient city of Myra. The rock-cut tombs of the Lycian necropolis and the great theater are the highlights, and the church of Saint Nicholas, the bishop who inspired the legend of Santa Claus, stands in the town.
The town itself is a working agricultural center, famous for its greenhouses and its oranges, and it offers a more authentic slice of Turkish life than the resorts. The ancient sites are remarkable, and the church draws pilgrims from around the world.
Demre makes a rewarding stop on the coastal route, and it pairs well with the sunken city of Kekova nearby. The history is deep, and the town’s life is real.
Olympos and Cirali
Olympos, on the coast between Demre and Antalya, is an ancient city in a forested valley, its ruins half-lost among the trees and the beach. The site has a wild, romantic character, and the famous eternal flame of the Chimaera, a natural gas fire that has burned for millennia, rises from the mountainside above.
Nearby Cirali is a village of citrus groves and a long, undeveloped beach, one of the region’s most beautiful. The village is a place of simple pensions and slow days, and the sea turtles nest on its beach. The setting is magical.
Olympos and Cirali offer the Mediterranean region’s most atmospheric escape. For travelers who want nature, history, and simplicity, they are unmatched.
Anamur and the Eastern Coast
Anamur, on the region’s eastern coast, is a town of ancient castles and quiet beaches. The castle of Mamure, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Turkey, stands on the shore, and the ancient city of Anemurium lies in ruins nearby. The town is far from the main tourist circuit.
The eastern coast beyond Anamur is even quieter, with long beaches, small villages, and a landscape of mountains and sea. The region is agricultural, famous for its bananas and oranges, and it offers a genuinely off-the-beaten-path experience.
Anamur suits travelers who want to see the Mediterranean region beyond the resorts. The castles and the quiet coast reward those who make the journey.
Kemer and the Gulf Coast
Kemer, west of Antalya, is a resort town at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, where the forest meets the sea. The town has a long beach, a lively marina, and a backdrop of dramatic peaks. The ancient city of Phaselis, with its three harbors and its pine-shaded ruins, lies a short drive along the coast.
The coast around Kemer is one of the region’s most beautiful stretches, with coves, cliffs, and the turquoise water of the Gulf of Antalya. The mountains rise directly from the sea, and the road along the coast is among the most scenic in Turkey. The Olympos cable car climbs one of the peaks for sweeping views.
Kemer suits travelers who want a full-service resort with outstanding natural surroundings. The combination of beach, mountain, and ancient history makes it a versatile base.
Finike and the Orange Coast
Finike, on the coast between Demre and Antalya, is the heart of the region’s orange-growing country. The town sits in a fertile plain where the citrus orchards run down to the sea, and the landscape is green and fragrant. The town’s port and its long beach give it a quiet, working character.
The coast around Finike holds the ancient city of Limyra and the dramatic ruins of the Lycian cities that rise on the hillsides. The mountains come close to the sea here, and the views are beautiful. The local produce, especially the oranges, is among the best in Turkey.
Finike offers a more authentic slice of the Mediterranean region than the big resorts. It is a place of orchards, sea, and slow days, and it rewards travelers who linger.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mediterranean town is the best base?
Antalya is the best all-round base, with the easiest access to the ancient sites and both directions of the coast. For a relaxed coastal base, Kas is the favorite, with Kalkan close behind. Fethiye is ideal for the western region’s wonders.
What is the best way to travel between these towns?
Buses and minibuses run along the main coast, and Antalya is the transport hub. A rental car gives the most freedom, especially for the Lycian coast and the eastern region. Boat trips connect many of the coastal highlights along the way.
How long should I spend in each place?
Plan two days for Antalya, one to two for Side and Alanya, and three to five days for the Lycian coast between Kas, Kalkan, and Fethiye. Oludeniz and Cirali deserve overnight stays. A two-week itinerary covers the region’s best at a comfortable pace.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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