Turkey is surrounded by three seas: Mediterranean Sea to the south, Black Sea to the North and Aegean Sea to the west. That means, there are a lot of beautiful beaches to enjoy. Combine this with really affordable airfare and accommodation and you’ve got yourself one crowded country during the peak season.

When?

The peak season and when the Turkish beaches are at their best is between May and October. The water is still rather cold until June but the prices clearly recommend May as a shoulder season. The beaches are very crowded during July and August.

Where?

There are a lot of beaches in Turkey and it’s impossible to write about all of them. However, we can easily list the most popular beaches.

Patara Beach (Fetiyhe)

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This beach is Turkey’s best and was even rated as the best in the world by The Sunday Times. It’s the longest beach on the Mediterranean shore. Accommodation is limited but inexpensive. Camping is not an option either. And there isn’t any possibility for water sports. Patara town can be reaches by public transport or by foot (a rather longish walk).

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Ölüdeniz (Fetiyhe)

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This is Turkey’s most popular beach. The resort area is beautiful and there are beautiful hotels in the town and in the near-by resorts. But the beach can get overcrowded. A wide variety of water sports are available, as well as numerous cafes, restaurants and bars. Paragliding and Hangliding off the near-by hills and landing on the beach is one of the popular activities among tourists. Locals say the resort is open all year round. During summer it gets as hot as 32 C/89.6 F, while during winter it’s never colder than 20 C / 68 F.

Olympos (Antalya)

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Having a tiny pristine beach, Olympos (alternative spelling: Olimpos) is a small town near Antalya where you can also see ruins of Roman temples, hike in a pine forest and be amazed by the Chimera, a natural flame which has been burning naturally for hundreds of years.

Initially discovered by backpackers traveling to Turkey on a budget, Olympos is now famous for its tree-house camps and pensions.

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Iztuzu Beach (Dalyan)

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A really big beach, tucked away from the cities, Iztuzu leaves you the impression that it’s totally undiscovered. Far from that, but clearly it’s not crowded at all. It’s one the best beaches in Turkey. Take an excursion boat from Dalyan to get in the mood even before arriving on the beach.