Where to Stay. Turkey
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Home / Regions / Mediterranean Riviera (Turquoise Coast)

Mediterranean Riviera (Turquoise Coast)

Beaches with Roman ruins on top of them, the Lycian Way, the bluest water in Turkey.

From Antalya east to Alanya and west to Fethiye, the Turquoise Coast is the Mediterranean at its most photogenic. Lycian-era ruins built on cliffs above swimming coves, paragliding off Babadağ over Ölüdeniz, the gentle pace of Kaş.

Cities in Mediterranean Riviera (Turquoise Coast)

Turkey's Mediterranean capital — beaches, Roman ruins, and resort comfort.

Antalya

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Where to stay in Antalya →
Antalya's bigger, cheaper, beach-first coastal cousin — and home to Cleopatra Beach.

Alanya

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Where to stay in Alanya →
Roman ruins on the beach — a resort town built inside a 2,000-year-old city.

Side

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Where to stay in Side →
The bohemian Lycian coast town — diving, paragliding, and cobblestone streets.

Kaş

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Where to stay in Kaş →
Turquoise lagoons, paraglider sunsets, Blue Voyage gulets.

Fethiye

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Where to stay in Fethiye →

When to go

April–May or late September–October (warm enough to swim, no peak crowds). June–August for full beach season.

Highlights

Suggested 4-stop itinerary

  1. Day 1–3: Antalya (Kaleiçi base), day-trip to Aspendos / Termessos
  2. Day 4–5: Drive west to Kaş (3 hrs along Lycian coast)
  3. Day 6–8: Fethiye + Ölüdeniz, paragliding + Saklıkent canyon
  4. Day 9–10: Bodrum or fly out from Dalaman

Getting around the Mediterranean Riviera (Turquoise Coast)

The Mediterranean Riviera works as hub-and-spoke from a resort base — Antalya for Lara/Konyaaltı, Alanya/Side for the central coast, Fethiye for the Lycian Way, Kaş for the boutique-and-diving end. Antalya Airport (AYT) and Dalaman (DLM) are the two practical entry points; transfers between coastal towns are easier by Localrent rental car than by intercity bus.

What separates the Mediterranean Riviera (Turquoise Coast) from the rest of Turkey

The Mediterranean is Turkey's package-holiday capital — large all-inclusive resorts, sandy beaches, predictable family-friendly amenities, and the lowest peak-season prices of the coastal regions. The headline non-resort attractions are the Lycian Way (a 760km coastal hiking trail) and the dense Roman ruin chain (Aspendos, Side, Olympos, Patara, Phaselis, Termessos). Best for affordable resort holidays + Roman ruin enthusiasts.

How to combine with other regions

The classic 7-night first-Turkey trip is Istanbul + this region (3+4). Returning travelers often add Cappadocia for a 10-night three-region trip. Pair with the Aegean if your trip is coastal-themed.

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