Ultimate Guide to Discovering the Turkish Riviera

Behind its blue-green natural beauties, the Turkish Riviera embodies the Mediterranean’s unique culture and deep-rooted history. This culture, which is a wonderful combination of nature, art, and culture, reveals itself at every step in the region.

With this 3-day route in the three different places of the Turkish Riviera, you will discover this ancient culture. Here are three symbolic locations to find out more about natural beauty, cuisine, and ancient cities of the Mediterranean coast:

3 Points

690 km

10 h

Route points

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The first destination of the route is Demre, the historical and magical district of Antalya. On the first day, you will meet the rich historical heritage of the Turkish Riviera. Demre is an essential centre for exploring the ancient civilisations that once lived in the region. You can choose and visit the ancient cities in this region that catch your interest.

Myra, Simena, Andriake, and Kyaneai are among the ancient cities in Demre. There are also ancient cities, such as Antiphellos, Apollonia, and Limyra, located in Kaş and Finike nearby. While visiting Kaş, spend some time at Kaputaş Beach and enjoy its clean, turquoise waters. Myra was an important city during the Lycian and Roman periods, known for its impressive rock-cut tombs and well-preserved Roman theatre. Church of St. Nicholas, where the tomb of St. Nicholas, the original Santa Claus, can be found. Your next destination will be Simena Ancient City. This ancient Lycian city features well-preserved ruins such as a Roman theatre, a necropolis, and ancient houses. Perched on a hill overlooking the sea, it offers stunning views, and its boat-only access adds to the site’s unique charm, surrounded by nature.

Although the Turkish Riviera is known for its bright blue waters, it also embodies unique natural beauty, featuring forests, mountains, and canyons. After exploring the ancient cities in Demre, you can travel one or two hours away from Kemer to discover its natural beauties.

First, visit Çıralı and Olympos beaches. If you’re in Antalya between July and September, you can witness the miraculous natural phenomenon of Caretta Caretta’s hatching season on these beaches.

Then, visit Mount Tahtalı, where a cable car ride takes you to the summit for magnificent views of the Mediterranean. Its foothills offer lush vegetation and scenic trails. Nearby, Göynük Canyon awaits hiking and rafting enthusiasts with its towering cliffs and stunning landscape.

Lastly, Beldibi Cave is a significant prehistoric site renowned for its ancient rock paintings, dating back to the Upper Palaeolithic period. Visit to explore significant archaeological findings, including tools and animal bones, to gain a deeper understanding of the region's early history and human development.

The last destination of the route is Mersin, which nurtures Mediterranean cuisine with its delicious and distinctive recipes. In addition to the flavours commonly found in Mediterranean cuisine, such as kebap, künefe, and mezes, you can also taste the unique dishes specific to this city.

If you're visiting Mersin for the first time, you should taste tantuni, a popular and indigenous street food of the city. Tantuni is made from thinly sliced beef or chicken, cooked with spices, and served in a flatbread or pita, often accompanied by onion mixed with sumac and lemon. To accompany this dish, you can choose traditional drinks like ayran (salty yoghurt) and şalgam suyu (fermented turnip and purple carrot drink), which are unique to Mediterranean culture.

For those who want to try a different flavour, blue crab is another authentic delicacy of Mersin and can be found in local seafood restaurants. Its distinctive blue claws and hard shell make it a unique and sought-after delicacy. Finally, you can try kerebiç, a famous local dessert, which is a type of cookie filled with pistachios or walnuts.