Patara Beach (Patara Plaji)

Untouched Patara Beach presents an idyllic nesting ground for sea turtles and native birds on immaculate sands. At its easternmost edge is a stunning rocky cove offering beautiful views. A mesmerizing half-buried Roman amphitheater adds historic significance. Protected as a national park, Patara Beach remains undeveloped. As a very long beach (12 miles or 19 kilometers long), it has plenty of space to spread out and not feel overly crowded, even in summer.

• There is an entrance fee to access the beach.

• Access to showers, changing rooms, and toilets are available on the beach and included in the entrance ticket.

• Sunbeds and umbrellas can be rented for an additional fee.

• The beach closes at night to protect the ecosystem and allow sea turtles nesting space.

Patara Beach is located between the popular resort towns of Kaş and Fethiye. There are many daily buses running between Kaş and Fethiye that can drop passengers in Kalkan, from where you can either take a local shared minibus/dolmus or a private taxi to the village and beach at Patara. If you're traveling in your own vehicle, there are large parking lots near the entrance to the beach just five minutes from central Patara.

The most ideal times for visiting the coast of Turkey are May–October. In these months, visitors can bask in the warm, sunny weather with temperatures averaging around 85°F (29°C) and enjoy splashing in the turquoise-blue waters. High season runs June–August, so you might want to visit outside of this time to avoid the crowds and high prices of the nearby restaurants and hotels.

Patara Beach is a vital habitat for the endangered loggerhead turtles—one of the few remaining breeding grounds of the species in the Mediterranean. In May–October, these magnificent creatures come ashore. Not only a beautiful sight, their presence highlights the ecological significance of this natural area and is a major reason why the beach is closed at 8pm to the public.