Turkish Riviera

The combination of a favorable climate, warm sea, mountainous scenery, fine beaches along more than a 1,000 km (620 mi) of shoreline along the Mediterranean and Aegean waters, and abundant natural and archaeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey's coastline a popular national and international tourist destination.

Mark Antony of the Roman Republic is said to have picked the Turkish Riviera as the most beautiful wedding gift for his beloved Cleopatra of Egypt.

[1] Saint Nicholas, who later became the basis of the Santa Claus legend, was born in Patara, a small town close to present-day Demre.

[3] The volcanic mountains to the west of Antalya, near Dalyan, are believed to have been the inspiration for the mythical Chimera — the fire-breathing monster that Bellerophon slew.

[1] Many cities, towns and villages in the area are internationally known, such as Alanya, Antalya, Belek, Bodrum, Çeşme, Dalyan, Didim, Fethiye, Kalkan, Kaş, Kemer, Kuşadası, Marmaris, and Side.

Map of the Turkish Riviera, highlighted in blue, with the major resort towns (from east to west) of Alanya , Antalya , Kemer , Fethiye , Marmaris , Bodrum , Kuşadası , and Çeşme
Ölüdeniz Beach in Fethiye
Castle of Bodrum , ancient Halicarnassus , the city of Herodotus and the home of the Mausoleum of Maussollos , one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Castle and harbour of Marmaris
Beach and marina of Kemer
Mt. Olympos (Mt. Tahtalı) was the namesake of the town of Olympos in Lycia
Castle and harbour of Alanya