Turkey Holidays: Where to Go, When to Go and How to Plan

Turkey is one of the easiest and most varied holiday countries in the Mediterranean. In one trip you can swim in a sheltered lagoon, sail past ancient rock tombs, walk through a 2,000-year-old theatre and eat breakfast in a mountain village. This guide helps you choose the right part of Turkey for the holiday you have in mind. It is written by people who live here, so you’ll find our own tips along the way.

⛵ New: Blue Cruise in Turkey: gulet routes and tips

Where to go in Turkey

Most holidays in Turkey fall into one of these regions. Each has its own airport, character and kind of holiday.

What kind of holiday?

• Beach holidays: the Turquoise Coast and the Turkish Riviera have clear, clean water and many Blue Flag beaches. Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon is the most famous beach in the country.
• All-inclusive holidays: mostly around Antalya, Belek, Side and Alanya, with large resorts and family-friendly hotels.
• Villa holidays: popular around Kalkan, Kaş, Fethiye and Bodrum, often with a private pool and sea view.
• Boat and gulet holidays: traditional wooden gulets sail the bays between Fethiye, Göcek, Marmaris and Bodrum. Day boat trips run from almost every harbour.
• Culture and history: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, the Lycian rock tombs of Dalyan and the ghost village of Kayaköy.
• Adventure: paragliding from Babadağ, canyoning at Saklıkent, diving, and hiking the Lycian Way.
• Food holidays: from Istanbul street food to village breakfasts and fresh fish by the sea. See our Turkish food guide.

When to go

For beach holidays, the season runs from May to October, with the hottest weather in July and August. May, June, September and early October are often the most pleasant months: the sea is warm, the crowds are smaller and it is comfortable for sightseeing. Istanbul and Cappadocia are lovely in spring and autumn, and Cappadocia has a special charm under winter snow. Read more in our guide to the best time to visit Turkey.

Getting there and around

• Airports: Dalaman for Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Dalyan, Göcek and Marmaris; Antalya for the Riviera, Kaş and Kalkan; Bodrum and İzmir for the Aegean; Istanbul for the city and onward flights.
• Transfers: most hotels and villas can arrange an airport transfer. Book ahead in high season.
• Getting around: the dolmuş (shared minibus) is cheap and goes almost everywhere. A hire car gives you freedom to explore beaches and villages.
• Money and entry rules: the currency is the Turkish lira. Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality, so check the current rules for your passport before you travel.

Our favourite first holiday in Turkey

If you have one week and it’s your first time, fly into Dalaman, stay in Fethiye or Ölüdeniz and take it slowly: a lagoon morning, a boat trip to Butterfly Valley, breakfast on Babadağ while the paragliders take off, a walk through Kayaköy, a day of turtles and mud baths in Dalyan, and a summer evening at the Fethiye fish market. It’s the Turkey we love most.

Header photo: Blue Lagoon, Ölüdeniz, by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.