TÜRKİYE IN COLOUR · REGION GUIDE
🐢 The Turquoise Coast in Colour
Lycian tombs, sunken cities and the bluest water in the Mediterranean
by Fatih Koçoğlu, born in Şanlıurfa, raised in Istanbul
Between Antalya and Fethiye the mountains fall straight into the sea. This is ancient Lycia: its people carved their tombs into cliffs and built cities that now lie half under the water. Today you find small harbour towns, pine forests, turtle beaches and the colour that gave this coast its name.
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At a glance
- Best time
- May, June, September and October. The sea is warm until early November.
- How long
- One week for the full route, more if you want to slow down.
- Airports
- Antalya (AYT) in the east, Dalaman (DLM) in the west. Fly into one and out of the other.
- Getting around
- The D400 coast road is one of the most beautiful drives in Türkiye. A car is best. Buses connect all the towns.
- Suggested route
- Antalya → Side → back west to Olympos & Çıralı → Demre & Kekova → Kaş → Kalkan → Patara → Fethiye
The places
SIDE
1 day · 1 hour east of Antalya
Temple of Apollo
White columns standing on the edge of the sea. Come at sunset.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
OLYMPOS & ÇIRALI
2 days · 1.5 hours south of Antalya
Olympos ruins
A Lycian city hidden in a forest by a stream, which leads you to the beach.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Çıralı Beach
A long, wild beach where sea turtles lay their eggs. Simple pensions in orange gardens.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Chimaera (Yanartaş)
Flames that come out of the rocks and have burned for thousands of years. Walk up after dark.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
DEMRE & KEKOVA
1 day · 1 hour west of Olympos
Myra rock tombs
A cliff full of Lycian tombs that look like houses, above a Roman theatre.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Kekova boat trip
Sail over the Sunken City, ruins under clear water, from Üçağız harbour.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Kaleköy (Simena)
A tiny village reached only by boat, with a castle and a Lycian tomb in the sea.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
KAŞ
2–3 days · The heart of the coast
Kaş old town
White houses, bougainvillea and a Lycian sarcophagus (the Lion Tomb) in the middle of the main street.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Antiphellos Theatre
A small Greek theatre on the seafront. Bring a drink for sunset.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Kaputaş Beach
A small beach between two cliffs with water you will not believe. 20 km west.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Day trip to Meis (Kastellorizo)
A Greek island 20 minutes away by ferry. Bring your passport.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
💡 Local tip: Kaş is one of the best places in Türkiye for diving and kayaking.
KALKAN
1–2 days · 30 minutes west of Kaş
Kalkan old village
White houses tumbling down to a small harbour. Rooftop restaurants with sea views.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
PATARA
1 day · 20 minutes from Kalkan
Patara Beach
18 km of golden sand and dunes, protected for sea turtles. Closes at night for them.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Patara ancient city
The parliament building of the Lycian League, one of the first democratic assemblies in history.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
🍽️ What to eat and drink
- Grilled fishFresh from the harbour, with rocket salad.
- GözlemeFrom village women along the road.
- Tahini and pekmezTahini mixed with grape molasses, a sweet breakfast of the region.
- Bitter orange (turunç)Used in jams and juices in Antalya villages.
- Village breakfastPensions in Çıralı and Kaş serve big breakfasts with eggs, honey and homemade jams.
✅ Good to know
- Lycian sites are in the open sun. Visit in the morning.
- Patara and Çıralı are turtle nesting beaches: no umbrellas in the wet sand, no lights on the beach at night.
- The Lycian Way trail runs along this whole coast. You can walk short parts between towns.
- Boat trips leave from almost every harbour. Choose the smaller boats for a calmer day.
🗣️ Speak a little Turkish
Locals light up when you try. Tap a phrase for audio and a full lesson.
- Merhaba!mehr·hah·bahHello!Listen
- Teşekkür ederim.teh·shehk·kewr eh·deh·reemThank you.Listen
- Lütfen.lewt·fehnPlease.Listen
- Bu ne kadar?boo neh kah·dahrHow much is this?Listen
- Tuvalet nerede?too·vah·leht neh·reh·dehWhere is the toilet?Listen
- Hesap lütfen.heh·sahp lewt·fehnThe bill, please.Listen
- Burası çok güzel!boo·rah·suh chohk gew·zehlThis place is beautiful!Listen
- Afiyet olsun!ah·fee·yeht ohl·soonEnjoy your meal!Listen
▶ Video lessons
Turkish guides for your trip
What's next
Next destination🐟 Şanlıurfa🧭 Türkiye travel essentials
Istanbulkart, taxi apps, airport transfers, tickets, a SIM, money, 112 and the official e-Visa — plus the Turkish phrases you need.
🎁 Get all 13 guides free
All thirteen “Türkiye in Colour” PDF guides in one go: itineraries, Google Maps links, food and phrases for the whole country.
Information checked in November 2026. Opening hours, ticket prices and visiting rules change often, so check the official site before you go.
More destinations
- 🕌 IstanbulThree days in the city on two continents
- 🎈 CappadociaFairy chimneys, cave churches and balloons at sunrise
- 🏖️ AntalyaOld town, ancient theatres and the turquoise sea
- ⛵ BodrumWhite houses, a crusader castle and the bays of the Aegean
- 🌊 İzmirThe Aegean city, Ephesus and the windmills of Alaçatı
- 🫒 Aegean TownsAncient cities, olive groves and white villages by the sea
- 🪂 Fethiye & ÖlüdenizRock tombs, the Blue Lagoon and a ghost village
- 🐟 ŞanlıurfaGöbekli Tepe, the City of Prophets and my hometown
- 🍯 Southeast TürkiyeMesopotamia: mosaics, stone cities and the best food in the country
- ⛰️ Eastern AnatoliaMount Ararat, a lost medieval capital and a church on an island
- 🕋 Central AnatoliaRumi's Konya, Ankara, colourful Eskişehir and the Hittite capital
- 🍃 Black SeaGreen mountains, tea fields and a monastery on a cliff
Photo credits
- Kaputaş Beach, Turquoise Coast, Türkiye — Tbakky, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sunken city of Kekova, Türkiye — JamesDavidShoots, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kaş harbour, Türkiye — HALUK COMERTEL, CC BY 3.0
