Among all the Mediterranean coasts, one stands out for its dazzling nature: endless turquoise waters, the tranquility of the environment, hundreds of kilometers of rugged beaches, cliffs, gigantic mountains and very few modern buildings. The Lycian Coast It is one of the most impressive, with enormous beauty and home to an enigmatic Mediterranean civilization. The Lycians, skilled sailors and merchants, chose this southwestern part of Asia Minor, a coast that today belongs entirely to Türkiye.
The Lycian Coast is one of the most impressive, with enormous beauty and home to an enigmatic Mediterranean civilization
Here mainly in the provinces of Antalya and Muğla, They developed a unique and rich culture. Although The first settlements date back to the Bronze Age, It was in the 7th century BC when they began to organize themselves as a civilization with their own identity, language and writing, as well as a modern political system based on a confederation of city-states.
Unique legacy
Starting in the 4th century BC, the Lycians began to lose their identity, gradually integrating into the emerging powers of the Mare Nostrum: the Persian Empire, Greece and Rome. Nevertheless, On this stunning coast they left a cultural and architectural legacy that gives it a unique character.unmatched in the world. Their tombs, carved into the rocks of the mountains and always oriented towards the sunrise, in order to be reborn every day, are the most surprising vestiges of this civilization, about which we still know very little.
The tombs of the Lycians, carved into the rocks of the mountains and facing the sunrise, are the most surprising vestiges of this civilization.
The coast stretches from west to east, from Muğla to Antalya. Whether you travel by car, boat or schooner, The ideal is to take the city of Göcek as a starting pointbecause it is more or less in the center of the route and next to the Dalaman airport. In this way, you can choose to explore one side or the other of the coast or, if the duration of the trip allows it, explore it in its entirety.
The Tombs of the Kings of Kaunos
Towards the west there are the Tombs of the Kings of Kaunos, which can be accessed by foot or by boat, sailing along the Dalyan canal on a romantic walk among reeds and meadows. This area is ideal for hikers, with different routes depending on the desired level of difficulty. A low risk and medium difficulty route is the one that leads to the Radar Hill Viewpoint, accessible by car to a certain point, and then continue on foot. You don’t have to reach the antenna to enjoy the incredible views of the Sülüngür Lagoon and the fabulous white sand beach of Iztuzu, where the Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is located.
Virgin coast
On this coast, as wild as it is winding, there are hardly any towns, but an essential stop is the port city of Marmaris, famous for its small restaurants, museums and shops. Is one of the largest natural harbors in the world and a tourist epicenter of Türkiye, where the Aegean kisses the Mediterranean. Marmaris is surrounded by hills covered with pines, gall oaks, cypresses and lavenderand has hundreds of bays along a zigzagging virgin and spectacular coast, where the sea plays with tones ranging from green to blue.
The port city of Marmaris is famous for its small restaurants, museums and shops
From here you can reach the Datça Peninsula, Bozukkale and the little one beach with a curious name, Gebe Kilise Koyu or Pregnant Church Bay. This area is located in front of the large island of Rhodes, and from the boat it is difficult to choose between so many corners to enjoy the sea at its best.
paragliding flights
To the east, the Lycians left a important legacy near the city of Fethiye. The tombs of Amyntas They rest under the imposing peak of Babadag, almost 2,000 meters high. From there, the bravest can paraglide over the sea and their courage will be rewarded with one of the most impressive views of the Mediterranean. The Taurus Mountains frame this scene with overlapping layers reminiscent of impressionist brushstrokes, creating a landscape that surprises with its majesty.
Saint Nicholas (the future Santa Claus or Father Christmas) is believed to have lived on the island of Gemiler and his first tomb can be seen next to one of the five churches on the island.
not far away, on the island of Gemiler, it is believed that Saint Nicholas lived (the future Santa Claus or Father Christmas). It is said that his first tomb was the one that can still be seen next to one of the five churches whose ruins mark a path full of history and emotions. Saint Nicholas was bishop in Myra, where he rested before being transferred to Bari. The church of St. Nicholas in Demre is a place of pilgrimage for both Catholics and Orthodox, with incalculable historical and artistic value for its frescoes that tell the life of the saint. Long before their time, the Lycians left one of the largest cemeteries of their civilization in Myra.
Charming towns
The traces of the people who inhabited these lands, from Lycians to Romans, Greeks, Ottomans and Christians, are relics of a glorious past. The charming town of Kaş is ideal to enjoy a “dondurma”, an ice cream prepared with fresh local fruits. Its streets, full of bougainvillea, cozy terraces, small shops and colorful corners, invite you to get lost in its tranquility. The Lycians founded this city, and at the top is the tomb of one of their kings. There is also a Roman amphitheater, although perhaps the most impressive thing about this area is the sunken city of Kekova, where an earthquake overturned the tombs into the sea. Some Lycian sarcophagi appear to emerge from the waters near the Simena castle, from where the panoramic views of the coast compete to be the best memory of this paradise between East and West.
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