Experience Legend at Cleopatra Island

Cleopatra Island (Sedir Adası) sits in the Gulf of Gökova and owes its fame to its sand. The grains are tiny spheres very rare in the Mediterranean, and legend says Mark Antony shipped the sand from Egypt as a gift to Cleopatra; scientific studies show the sand formed here, in the bay itself, so the Egyptian story is a legend. The island is a protected environmental area, reached by boat tours. To protect the famous sand, taking sand away is forbidden and visitors are asked not to lie or walk on parts of the beach. The rest of the island holds the ruins of the ancient city of Cedrae, including a well-preserved ancient theatre, city walls, and remains from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, so bring shoes you can walk in. Tours from Marmaris pick you up in the morning and drive you to the boats at Çamlı or Taşbükü; most include lunch.

What to see

• The famous beach: fine, round, white sand grains, said by legend to have been brought from Egypt for Cleopatra.
• Ancient Kedrai: ruins of a theatre, a temple and city walls.
• Clear water for swimming from the rocks and jetties.
• The boat ride through the Gulf of Gökova.

Tips

• Getting there: boats leave from Çamlı and Taşbükü, about 30–40 minutes’ drive from Marmaris; many day tours include transfers.
• Go early to avoid the busiest hours in summer.
• Bring water and shoes for walking among the ruins.

What’s nearby

Combine it with Marmaris, the red sandbar of Kızkumu, or one of the Marmaris boat tours.

Photos: Semih Ekinci, CC BY-SA 3.0; BoRa KiLiC, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons