Beaches of Lycia
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The Lycian coast holds every kind of beach at once: from the crowded Blue Lagoon of Ölüdeniz with paragliders overhead to wild coves under the cliffs, reachable only by boat or kayak. Here you get the pebbles and turquoise of Kaputaş, the caretta turtles of Çıralı and the Maldives-like Suluada an hour by boat from Adrasan. The table below sorts beaches by type, their headline feature and the nearest town, while the FAQ covers free wild coves, boat-only spots, turtle nesting and the swimming season.
Beaches of the Lycian coast: type, highlight and nearest town
| Beach | Type | Highlight | Near |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ölüdeniz | Lagoon | paragliding, Blue Lagoon | Fethiye |
| Kaputaş Beach | Pebble cove | turquoise, ~180 steps down | Kaş |
| Paradise Bay (Cennet Koyu) | Cove | by trail or boat | Faralya |
| Kabak | Wild | camps, end of the descent | Faralya |
| Çıralı | Sand and pebble | caretta turtles, Chimaera nearby | Olympos |
| Adrasan | Bay | calm inlet, pines | Adrasan |
| Suluada | Island cove | Maldives look, by boat | Adrasan |
| Karaöz Beach | Pebble, wild | quiet, end of the coast | Karaöz |
| Limanağzı | Cove | by boat across the bay | Kaş |
| Ufakdere | Pebble, wild | secluded, clear water | Kaş |
| Volcanic Beaches of the Lycian Way | Black sand | volcanic shore of the trail | Lycian Way |
Places11
Articles5
FAQ5
Which Lycian beaches are wild and free, and which are organised?
Kabak, Karaöz, Ufakdere and the trail's volcanic beaches are wild, free to enter and barely developed. Ölüdeniz, Çıralı and Adrasan are set up with sunbeds, cafes and parking, and the Blue Lagoon nature-park section charges entry. Kaputaş is free but has loungers and a snack bar up top.
Which spots are reachable only by boat or kayak?
Suluada is reached by boat from Adrasan - the island has no landing beach, so you swim off the deck in turquoise water. Limanağzı, across the bay from Kaş, is easiest by water taxi. Paradise Bay below Faralya is a steep hike or a boat drop-off, and many small coves between Kaş and Kekova open up only from the sea.
Where do caretta sea turtles nest, and what are the evening rules?
The main nests are at Çıralı and along the long beach of Patara, both protected. The laying season runs roughly from May to October. In the evening the beach closes to visitors, and lights from torches and phones, umbrellas stuck in the sand and litter are all banned: light disorients the hatchlings so they cannot find the sea.
Is there shade and are there sunbeds on the beaches?
On the organised beaches (Ölüdeniz, Çıralı, Adrasan, Kaputaş) you can rent loungers and umbrellas and there are cafes. On the wild Kabak, Karaöz and Ufakdere natural shade is scarce, so bring an umbrella or tarp; the pines behind Çıralı and Adrasan offer some shade. The volcanic beaches and boat-only coves have almost none.
When is the swimming season on the Lycian coast?
Swimming is comfortable roughly from May to October. The warmest water is in July to September, when the sea heats up most. May and October feel warmer in the air than in the water, but the beaches are emptier; in winter the sea is cool and most beach cafes are closed.