View From Above Marmaris. Photo courtesy of Andrew Hurley via Flickr.
Relatively unheard of outside of Turkey, the gorgeous Turkish Riviera encompasses much of the country’s southwest coastline, including the provinces of Antalya and Muğla and parts of Aydın, southern İzmir and western Mersin.
Luring visitors from around the world with its favorable climate, warm seas, picturesque coastal villages, comely bays, abundant natural beauty, more than a thousand kilometers of shoreline and scores of ancient ancient ruins, the Turkish Riviera is ideal if you want to experience the best of the Turkish coast.
This extensive stretch of coastline is truly a cultural treasure trove, often mentioned throughout history in the histories and folklores of various cultures and home to ancient scholars, saints, warriors, kings, and heroes. The archeological highlights even include two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the ruins of the Mausoleum of Maussollos in Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum).
The are many port towns to base yourself as you explore the region, but one of the most popular and glamorous is Marmaris Port in Muğla Province, a former fishing village that has whole-heartedly embraced yachters from around the world and is now considering worthy as one of the best marinas in Turkey. But Marmaris in not only a launch point. According to famous historian Herodotus, the city’s history stretches back at least to 3, 000 BC, and there are a few sites of historical interest around the city, including Marmaris Castle, built by the Ottomans in 1522.
From Marmaris, you can head to destinations such as Gocek, Sarsala, the scenic Kumlu bay or the rustic peninsula of Datca, with its landscape dotted with renovated windmills. Other popular destinations include Bodrum, Alacati and Cesme. Further east on the Mediterranean coast, the ports of Fethiye, Kas, Demre and Olympus are equally beautiful, but more popular with budget-minded travelers.
In short, it would be impossible to list all that the Turkish Riviera has to offer in one short article. In addition, the region cannot be really defined as favoring one particular genre of tourism. One thing is for sure though: the best way to explore the Turkish Riviera is on one of the internationally-known ‘Blue Voyage’ cruises, which allow cruisers enjoy trips lasting from a few days to up to several weeks on Turkish schooners called gulets. These cruises vary widely in itinerary, depending on your departure point and how long you wish to stay at sea, but nearly all feature visits to ancient cities and harbors, tombs and mausoleums, sunken cites, seluded beaches and sequestered coves along the Turkish Riviera.