From enchanting hidden coves to dazzling sweeps of sand and shingle, Turkey has an enviable collection of beaches. With places to stay right on the shore, the Turquoise and the Mediterranean Coasts boast many of the greatest places to relax on a chilled-out break. Nestling in the immense bay of Marmaris next to the broad golden sandy beach, Icmeler hotels make a great base from which to explore Turkey’s breathtaking coastline.

Istuzu beach near Dalyan is one of several flawless beaches along the Turquoise Coast that has been spared damage by dint of its status as a favoured nesting ground for endangered Loggerhead turtles. Holidaymakers won’t have any problem nabbing a quiet corner for a swim and to wonder at the tree-covered slopes and tranquil countryside as the beach is broad and the sea not deep.

Possibly the most beautiful beach in Turkey can be found at Oludeniz, a camera-worthy stretch of sand which curls around the turquoise lagoon. This sheltered lagoon is a heavenly spot to while away a day, in front of pine-covered mountains and with the air singing with the music of birds and insects. The waters of the lagoon are quiet and not deep and the tiny sand-filled beaches, which gradually slant into the sea, are made for children. With a host of eating places and shops in the core beach area behind the promenade, Oludeniz is easy to reach from most Turkey hotels in the south-west, sitting as it does in the heart of the Turquoise coast.

Accessed by boat or a precarious cliff descent, Butterfly beach is a hidden gem sandwiched between limestone cliffs east of Oludeniz. Its secluded location means the beach is never too busy, though it only has sparse facilities - one restaurant, and a scattering of beach huts. Alanya’s duo of broad bays, which are divided by an enormous peninsula crowned by a citadel from the Middle Ages, are wonderful locations to bask under the Turkish sun on the Mediterranean Coast. The popularity of the area has led to the development of tourist resorts brimming with bars and restaurants, so in Alanya hotels next to the beach are easy to find.

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