Last updated: September 2026
Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays take you to one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world.
The Turquoise Coast — known in Turkish as the Turquoise Riviera or the Mavi Yolculuk coast — runs for hundreds of kilometres from Marmaris in the east to Antalya in the west, combining pine-forested mountains, ancient Lycian ruins and the clearest turquoise water in the Mediterranean.
Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays suit every kind of traveller. Marmaris offers a lively beach resort with a world-class marina.
Icmeler provides a quieter, family-friendly alternative nearby. Fethiye is the natural starting point for Blue Voyage gulet cruises and has magnificent Lycian rock tombs.
Kalkan is a boutique hilltop village with rooftop dining and access to the finest sandy beaches in Turkey.
The main gateway for Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays is Dalaman Airport (DLM), which receives direct flights from most UK airports throughout the summer season. The four main resorts are all within 90 minutes of the airport.
Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays deliver a natural beauty that few coastlines in the world can match. The sea colour here is genuinely extraordinary — a deep, vivid turquoise created by the clarity of the water and the light-coloured limestone seabed that gives the coast its name.
The landscape is dramatic. Pine-forested mountains rise steeply from the water’s edge. Ancient Lycian cities cling to clifftops above hidden coves. Wooden gulet boats rest at anchor in still mountain bays that have barely changed in centuries.
Value for money is consistently strong. Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays offer similar natural beauty to the Croatian coast or the Greek islands at noticeably lower prices for flights, accommodation and food. The Turkish Lira exchange rate has made this coast particularly good value for UK visitors in recent years.
The variety of experiences is remarkable. You can choose a lively all-inclusive hotel in Marmaris, a quiet family cove at Icmeler, a Blue Voyage gulet cruise departing from Fethiye, or a boutique villa with infinity pool above Kalkan — all within the same Turkish Turquoise Coast holiday zone.
The sailing and gulet cruise tradition makes Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays unique in Turkey. No other section of the Turkish coast has as developed or accessible a sailing culture, with hundreds of traditional wooden gulets departing daily from Marmaris, Fethiye and smaller harbours along the coast.
The four main resort destinations for Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays each offer a distinctly different experience, giving visitors a genuine choice of holiday character.
Marmaris is the largest and liveliest resort — a classic package holiday destination with a long beach, excellent nightlife, a world-class marina and a beautifully restored castle quarter. It suits families, groups and those who want a full resort experience.
Icmeler, just 8km from Marmaris around the bay, is smaller, quieter and more family-oriented. It has its own beach, calm shallow water and a relaxed pace that makes it one of the best Turkish Turquoise Coast destinations for families with young children.
Fethiye is an authentic Turkish market town with magnificent Lycian rock tombs, a superb gulet harbour and easy access to the world-famous Blue Lagoon at Olu Deniz. It is the most culturally interesting of the four main Turkish Turquoise Coast resorts.
Kalkan is a preserved Ottoman hilltop village that has become one of Turkey’s most prestigious boutique holiday destinations. Its rooftop restaurants, luxury villas and proximity to Patara Beach make it the most upmarket resort on the coast.
Marmaris holidays offer the full package: an 8km beach, a restored castle and bazaar quarter, one of the Mediterranean’s finest marinas and a nightlife scene that keeps the resort buzzing from May to October.
The setting is exceptional — a vast natural bay surrounded by pine-covered mountains, with the sea colour shifting from pale green in the shallows to deep turquoise in the bay.
The marina accommodates some of the largest yachts in the Mediterranean and is the main departure point for gulet cruises heading south and east along the coast.
Marmaris is well connected to Dalaman Airport with a transfer time of approximately 90 minutes. Direct flights from UK airports make it one of the most accessible Turkish Turquoise Coast resorts for UK package tourists.
Icmeler holidays provide the perfect contrast to busy Marmaris. The resort sits in its own sheltered cove 8km around the bay — close enough for easy day trips into Marmaris by dolmus or boat, but quiet enough to feel like a completely different holiday.
The beach at Icmeler is one of the most family-friendly on the Turkish Turquoise Coast. The water is exceptionally calm and clear, protected from wave action by the surrounding headlands. The bay is shallow close to shore and the sea bottom is sandy and even — ideal for young children.
Icmeler has developed a good range of hotels, restaurants and shops without losing the relaxed, village-scale character that keeps visitors returning year after year.
Fethiye holidays deliver the most culturally authentic experience of any resort on the Turkish Turquoise Coast. The working market town has magnificent 4th-century BC Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliff face above the town centre, a superb Tuesday market and the finest gulet cruise harbour on the coast.
The Blue Lagoon at Olu Deniz, just 15km from Fethiye, is one of the world’s most photographed natural features. Most Fethiye holiday visitors make the Blue Lagoon a day trip, combining authentic town life in Fethiye with access to one of Turkey’s finest beaches.
Fethiye is also the classic departure point for the Blue Voyage — multi-day gulet cruises exploring hidden coves, sea caves and uninhabited islands that are only accessible by boat. The Fethiye–Olympos route is one of the finest sailing journeys in the Mediterranean.
Kalkan holidays are a step above the typical Turkish Turquoise Coast resort experience. This beautifully preserved Ottoman hilltop village has narrow cobbled streets, restored stone houses, rooftop terrace restaurants with panoramic sea views and a harbour-front lined with excellent cafes and restaurants.
Patara Beach — 20km of completely undeveloped fine sand, protected as a sea turtle nesting reserve — is 30 minutes from Kalkan by dolmus and is widely regarded as the finest beach in Turkey.
Kaputas Cove, just 7km from town, is one of the most photographed small beaches in the Mediterranean.
Kalkan holidays are particularly popular with UK independent travellers who want luxury villa accommodation, high-quality dining and natural beauty over the standard package holiday formula.
The Blue Voyage — or Mavi Yolculuk in Turkish — is one of the defining experiences of Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays. Traditional wooden gulet boats follow a route through a coastline of extraordinary beauty: pine-covered headlands, ancient ruins at the waterline, crystal-clear coves and uninhabited islands with no road access.
The classic Blue Voyage route runs between Marmaris and Fethiye — or in reverse — over four to seven nights. Stops include Ekincik and Dalyan, the ancient sunken city at Kekova, Kas, Butterfly Valley and Olu Deniz. Each anchorage offers swimming in clear water and exploration of spectacular surroundings.
Both cabin-share cruises (joining a shared boat) and private charter are available. Cabin-share cruises are excellent value and a sociable way to see the coast; private charter suits families and groups who want the boat to themselves.
Departures from Marmaris or Fethiye give easy access for Turkish Turquoise Coast holiday guests flying into Dalaman.
The sailing season runs from April to October. May, June and September offer the best combination of good weather, calm seas and fewer boats. July and August are busiest but the coast handles the summer traffic well given its scale.
Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays put you within reach of some of the finest Lycian ruins in the world. The Lycian civilisation — a unique federation of city-states that resisted conquest by Greece, Persia and Rome — flourished along this coast from the 5th century BC through to the Roman period.
The most distinctive legacy of the Lycians is their rock-cut tombs. Carved directly into clifftops and mountain faces, these elaborate tomb facades — often in the form of wooden house or temple fronts — are visible at dozens of sites along the coast.
The finest examples are at Fethiye (the Tomb of Amyntas), Dalyan (accessible by river boat) and Tlos.
Dalyan, accessible from Marmaris as a day trip, is one of the most memorable Turquoise Coast excursions. The river winds through towering reed beds past the rock tombs of ancient Kaunos to Iztuzu Beach — a major loggerhead sea turtle nesting site.
The combination of river scenery, ancient ruins, thermal mud baths and wildlife makes Dalyan one of the outstanding day trips on the Turkish coast.
Knidos, at the tip of the Datca Peninsula west of Marmaris, was one of the most important Hellenistic cities in Anatolia.
Boat trips from Marmaris reach the site, whose remains include a well-preserved theatre, temples and the harbour walls that made Knidos a major trading port for over a thousand years.
Dalaman Airport (DLM) serves all four main Turkish Turquoise Coast holiday resorts. Transfer times: Marmaris approximately 90 minutes; Icmeler 85 minutes; Fethiye 45 minutes; Kalkan 75 minutes.
Direct flights from UK airports to Dalaman operate throughout the summer season. Airlines include TUI, Jet2, easyJet and Thomas Cook Airlines.
The flight takes approximately four hours. Charter flights from regional UK airports — Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Bristol, Edinburgh and others — keep the overall cost of Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays competitive.
Hiring a car at Dalaman Airport gives excellent flexibility for exploring the coast between resorts, visiting ancient sites and discovering the hidden coves that make Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays so memorable. The coastal road between Marmaris and Fethiye is one of the most scenic drives in Turkey.
| Airport | Dalaman (DLM) — serves all 4 main resorts |
| Flight time from UK | Approx 4 hours |
| Time zone | GMT+3 (no daylight saving) |
| Currency | Turkish Lira; euros and pounds accepted in resorts |
| Best months | May–October; gulet season Apr–Oct |
| Sea temperature | 21°C Jun · 26°C Aug · 24°C Sep |
| Visa | Turkish e-Visa required — apply online before travel |
| Main resorts | Marmaris, Icmeler, Fethiye, Kalkan |
| Key experience | Blue Voyage gulet cruises, Lycian ruins, Dalyan river |
| Top beach | Patara (near Kalkan), Blue Lagoon Olu Deniz (near Fethiye) |
Search4Sun works with leading UK tour operators to find the best value Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays. Browse departures from local airports across the UK.
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It depends on what you want. Marmaris is best for a lively beach resort with nightlife and a marina.
Icmeler is best for families wanting calm water and a quieter pace. Fethiye is best for culture, gulet cruises and access to the Blue Lagoon.
Kalkan is best for boutique luxury, rooftop dining and the finest beaches. All four are excellent Turkish Turquoise Coast holiday destinations in their own right.
The Blue Voyage is a traditional gulet cruise along the Turkish Turquoise Coast, typically lasting four to seven nights. Wooden motor-sailing gulets depart from Marmaris or Fethiye and explore hidden coves, ancient ruins and uninhabited islands along the coast.
You can book cabin-share (joining a shared boat) or private charter. Most UK tour operators offer Blue Voyage extensions to Turkish Turquoise Coast holidays.
Yes, particularly Icmeler and Marmaris. Icmeler has the calmest, most family-friendly beach water on the coast.
Marmaris has a wide range of family hotels and good beach facilities. The Dalyan river trip — with its rock tombs, sea turtles and thermal mud baths — is excellent for children.
The Turkish Turquoise Coast is very welcoming to UK family visitors throughout the summer season.
May, June and September are the best months — warm weather, swimmable sea, active resorts and fewer crowds than peak summer. July and August are the hottest months (35–38°C) but the coast is at its most lively.
October remains warm and is very popular for gulet cruises and walking holidays. The beach season runs from late April to late October.
Search4Sun has been comparing UK holiday packages since 2005. We work with some of the best ABTA-registered operators.
