Palamutbükü

Heading from Datça towards Knidos, a road branches south off the main road and drops down to Palamutbükü, about 23 km from town. This wide bay on the south coast runs along a long beach that is mostly pebbles. Guesthouses, small hotels and restaurants are strung out along the shore in a low, loose line, and because the beach is so long, finding a spot is rarely a struggle, even in summer.

The water is clear, and you can swim from almost anywhere along the shore. Beach businesses have their sunbed areas, but there are open stretches where you can simply lay down a towel. The small pier is a regular call for yachts and boats, and watching them drop anchor in the late afternoon is one of the bay's quiet pleasures. A walk from one end of the shore to the other is the best way to pick your spot. By day, the pace here is slower and calmer than at the town beaches.

In the evening, life in Palamutbükü moves to the fish restaurants along the shore, with tables set a few steps from the water and long meals of the day's catch and meze. Fish is usually priced by weight, so ask the price before you order. The road back to Datça has winding stretches, so if you're staying for dinner, plan your return or consider spending a night in the bay. Knidos in the morning and a swim here in the afternoon is a classic peninsula day.