Province · Costa Turquesa

Muğla

Muğla is the Turquoise Coast: Bodrum, Marmaris, Datça, Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Göcek and Dalyan, with pine‑lined coves, rock-cut tombs and gulet cruises.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Muğla

Muğla occupies southwest Turkey, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean, with one of the country's most indented coastlines: peninsulas, gulfs and pine‑fringed coves. The capital, also called Muğla, lies inland and preserves old houses with tall chimneys; most travelers stay on the coast.

Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, has St. Peter’s Castle housing the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, and the site of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The peninsula hosts marinas and coves such as Gümüşlük, Yalıkavak and Türkbükü.

Marmaris and İçmeler sit in a sheltered bay, a departure point for boat trips and for the Datça peninsula, with the ancient city of Cnidus at its tip. Further east, Dalyan has rock‑cut tombs above the river, the ruins of Kaunos and İztuzu beach, a turtle nesting area.

Fethiye is the base for the Ölüdeniz lagoon, paragliding from Mount Babadağ, the abandoned village of Kayaköy, Butterfly Valley and the Saklıkent canyon. Göcek, among islands and bays, is one of the hubs for gulet cruises, the traditional wooden boat, known as the Blue Voyage (Mavi Yolculuk).

On the table, Bodrum’s çökertme kebabı—meat over fried potatoes with yogurt—fish and herb meze. Pine honey from Muğla is a typical product of the province.

Destinations

2 destinations in Muğla

4 cities

Bodrum

3 cities

Marmaris and Datça

Cities

7 cities in Muğla in the guide

Muğla

Bodrum

Bodrum occupies ancient Halicarnassus, with a castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology on the waterfront. The mausoleum and the theatre add remains of the ancient city. The peninsula widens the itinerary to coves and settlements such as Gümüşlük, Yalıkavak and Türkbükü, which have different locations and access.

Muğla

Datça

Datça stretches along a peninsula of coves and coastal settlements. Eski Datça adds stone houses in an inland cluster, while Knidos sits at the tip and requires its own road. Having a base allows spreading landscape and archaeology over different days instead of treating the whole peninsula as a single beach.

Muğla

Gümüşlük

Gümüşlük includes a cove and the settlement linked to the ancient Myndos on the west side of the peninsula. The shoreline allows a scenic walk, with attention to archaeological protection zones. It’s a choice for slowing the pace between Bodrum’s heritage visits and other coastal stretches.

Muğla

İçmeler

İçmeler is a bay-side settlement near Marmaris, with a beach and walking areas along the shore. The tree-covered slopes form the backdrop, while the center concentrates access points and services. A visit here works as a coastal stop, not requiring a boat trip or a club stay.

Muğla

Marmaris

Marmaris is centered on a bay and a port quarter with a castle and museum. The waterfront allows urban walks, while Sedir requires a boat trip and a road transfer to the embarkation point. The town also serves as a base for İçmeler and for gulet trips, whose routes should be checked separately.

Muğla

Türkbükü

Türkbükü is a coastal settlement on the northern part of the Bodrum peninsula. The bay concentrates seaside stay options, with accesses and services that should be compared. The visit can be short, but basing yourself locally requires considering the road to the castle and the sites in central Bodrum.

Muğla

Yalıkavak

Yalıkavak is located on the northern part of the Bodrum peninsula, around a bay associated with boating. The central waterfront offers an urban stroll, while other coastal options depend on the chosen access. The presence of marinas does not replace the landscape as the reason to visit nor does it require visiting specific businesses.

When to go

May, June, September and October usually combine sea and hiking with milder temperatures. July and August are the hottest, busiest months, with the boat and beach season at its peak. From November to March it rains more, and some excursions and beach services operate less frequently.

Getting there

The province has two airports: Milas‑Bodrum (BJV), serving Bodrum and the peninsula, and Dalaman (DLM), serving Fethiye, Göcek, Dalyan and Marmaris. Both have domestic flights—mainly from Istanbul and Ankara—and seasonal international flights. Check before booking. Long‑distance buses connect the coastal cities with each other and with İzmir and Antalya.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Muğla

Bodrum, Marmaris or Fethiye: which to choose?

Bodrum has marinas, nightlife and coves on the peninsula; Marmaris has a large bay and boat trips, with Datça nearby; Fethiye is a base for Ölüdeniz, Kayaköy, Saklıkent and hiking routes. With a week or more you can combine two of them.

Which airport to use: Bodrum or Dalaman?

Milas‑Bodrum (BJV) serves the Bodrum peninsula. Dalaman (DLM) is closer to Göcek, Dalyan, Fethiye and Marmaris. Choose based on where you’re staying and check transfer times.

What is a gulet cruise?

It’s a multi‑day trip on a traditional wooden boat, the gulet, stopping in coves to swim and sleeping aboard. The most common departures are from Bodrum, Marmaris, Göcek and Fethiye, between May and October.

When do turtles use İztuzu beach?

İztuzu beach, in Dalyan, is a nesting area for the loggerhead turtle, which typically nests between May and September. At that time the beach has protection rules and closes at night.

What is the paragliding flight in Ölüdeniz like?

Tandem flights with an instructor launch from Mount Babadağ and land on the Ölüdeniz shore, with views of the lagoon. They depend on wind and weather: confirm with the operator on the day.