A Guide to Datça's Coves: Where to Swim and When

In Datça the sea is never far away; the real question is which cove to head for on which day. The wind, the type of shore and what you're after — sand for the children, a long swim, or a fish lunch with your feet practically in the water — all shape the choice.

This guide will help you read the coastline and find the right spot for the day.

The peninsula's north coast faces the Gulf of Gökova; the south coast looks out over the Hisarönü Gulf towards the Greek island of Symi. Datça town and most of the coves in this guide are on the south side.

In summer, the deciding factor is the meltem, a northerly wind that usually builds through the afternoon. On those days, north-coast coves take the wind head-on and can get choppy, while the south coast, sheltered by the mountains, is often calmer. That said, the wind can shift, and strong gusts can come tumbling down the hills onto the south coast too. When the wind blows from the south, the picture can flip, and the north-coast coves may be the calmer choice. The sea is usually at its calmest in the morning, and a quick look at the wind forecast before you set off is a good habit.

Most of Datça's beaches are pebble or a mix of sand and shingle; fine sand is the exception. Kumluk, right in the middle of town, lives up to its name — kum means sand in Turkish — and is the easiest option for families with small children. Palamutbükü's long beach, by contrast, is pebble, which helps keep the water beautifully clear.

On pebbly and rocky shores, water shoes make life a lot easier. Watch out for sea urchins around the rocks.

A quick look at the best-known coves:

The peninsula's shoreline is dotted with small coves that are hard or impossible to reach by road. The easiest way to see them is on a day boat trip from Datça harbour in summer: the boats stop at several coves for a swim, and lunch is usually served on board. Bring a towel, a hat and sunscreen, and ask for a life jacket if you're not a confident swimmer. If you're sailing your own boat, the peninsula is known for its sheltered anchorages, Bencik among the best known.

The peninsula is part of the Datça–Bozburun Special Environmental Protection Area, and small habits make a real difference. Take everything you bring back with you — cigarette butts included. If you're on your own boat, drop anchor on sand rather than on the seagrass meadows (Posidonia), which help keep the water clear and shelter a wealth of marine life. Retreat to the shade in the middle of the day, and don't skimp on a hat and sunscreen.

In Turkey the shoreline is open to everyone. Where a business has set out sunbeds and umbrellas, they usually come with a charge or a minimum spend on food and drink, but you're free to spread your towel on the public stretches. Either way, respect other people's space and quiet.

If you can't decide: