Patara Beach

Patara Beach is Turkey's longest uninterrupted stretch of sand — an awe-inspiring 18 kilometers of fine golden sand backed by rolling dunes that feel like a mini-Sahara on the Lycian Coast. This protected beach is a nesting ground for endangered loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), which means development is strictly prohibited and the beach closes at sunset during nesting season (May–October). The result is a beautifully wild, undeveloped coastline where you can walk for kilometers without seeing another person.

At the eastern end of the beach lie the ruins of ancient Patara — birthplace of St. Nicholas (the original Santa Claus) and once the principal port of the Lycian League, featuring a restored Roman theater, a triumphal arch, and the world's oldest known lighthouse. The Lycian Way, Turkey's most famous long-distance hiking trail, passes directly through Patara.

The Turkish Riviera's warm Mediterranean climate ensures water temperatures above 25°C from June to October.