MAIN Beaches International Turkey Beach Guide

The Mediterranean and Aegean coasts of Turkey - the "Turkish Riviera" - are most famous for Oludeniz Beach near Fethiye, more commonly known as the Blue Lagoon.

The extraordinarily beautiful mix of deep blue and bright green hues of the Blue Lagoon is the same reason that the whole of the Turkish seaside is sometimes known as the Turquoise Coast.

Another must-see for any summer traveler to Turkey is Patara Beach. Located in Antalya, the Patara is one of the Mediterranean's longest beaches at 18 km. in length, and under protection by the Turkish government for nesting sea turtles!

Curvy, sweeping sand dunes, surrounded by ancient ruins - along with stiff coastal breezes for excellent wind surfing - takes Patara Beach to the top of lists of World's Best Beaches for both natural beauty and great value.

It doesn't stop there, however, as Istanbul boasts one of the country's best beaches right in its own backyard at Suada, set in the middle of the Bosphorus with a 360-degree view of the metropolis. Other beaches usually making Turkey's "best of" list include the wild surf at Pirlanta Beach and the golden sands of Altinkum Beach on the Cesme Peninsula,

More about Turkey's best beaches around the Web:

Turkey Beaches - Good overview from Bugbog.com with mini-guides to Patara Beach, Olu Deniz, Gemile Bay, Turtle Beach, Calis Beach and more with pictures, best times to go, and tips on related activities.

Turkey's Best Beaches - Excellent guide and one-stop browsing for pictures, maps, attractions.

Beauties of the World: Beaches of Turkey - A 'been-there' traveler's blog post with pictures and information on top beaches including Patara, Oludeniz, Olimpos and Cleopatra Beaches with related resources.