47 Best things to see & do in Turquoise Coast

Wonderful classical sites, surprisingly little visited and often still in their atmospheric ‘unimproved’ state, give glimpses of Byzantine and Ottoman life.

Our summary of the typical foods, ingredients and flavours, cooking styles, dining scene and best foodie experiences in Turkey’s Turquoise Coast.

Selling everything from fruit and veg to fake designer goods and hand-made leatherware, Turkey’s weekly markets are heaven for shoppers and an authentic experience for all comers.

The hamam, or Turkish Bath, is the most civilised of rituals – a deeply restorative sweat-out, skin cleanse, relaxation and massage rolled into one. A quintessential Turkey experience.

A thrilling adventure activity combining swimming, abseiling waterfalls, walking/wading and jumping into pools. All amidst a setting of towering limestone gorges and canyons.

Afkule, which translates as ‘Tower of Forgiveness’, is an abandoned monastery in a remote and beautiful cliffside location, near Kayakoy. It’s a 20-minute walk through pine trees from the end of the dirt track – worth it to see the former monks’ cells, a cistern and lovely views over the sea.

A former hippie hangout, now a mindfulness and yoga mecca, Kabak occupies a lovely beach at the end of the road east of Oludeniz. Campsites and simple bungalows close to the Lycian Way.

One of the most beautiful coves on the Lycian coast, Butterfly Valley is either accessible by boat from Oludeniz, or by an extremely vertiginous walk down from Faralya. It’s not advised to try this hike without a guide and the right equipment.

A compellingly haunting ‘ghost town’, hidden in the mountains behind Oludeniz, providing moving insights into little-known aspects of modern Turkish history.

The beach that launched a thousand brochure covers, Oludeniz combines a gorgeous swathe of sandy beach with a tranquil lagoon, backed by tamarisk trees and mountains.