Marmaris – Luxury yachts and traditional sailing boats jostle for position this cosmopolitan resort town’s natural harbour. Maramaris boasts beautiful beaches and a small castle, now a museum.

Alanya – With 20 km of gorgeous sandy beaches, Alanya has been attracting tourists for over 800 years. Most people come here strictly to sunbathe and swim, but the vast Seljuk fortress towering over the city is well worth exploring.

Tarsus – The birthplace of St Paul the Apostle, Tarsus has grown into a large commercial city. St Paul’s Church is an important place of worship for many pilgrims, and the Roman-era Cleopatra’s Gate marks the spot where the city walls once stood.

Patara – This small, traditional village was the birthplace of St Nicholas, the 4th-century Byzantine bishop commonly referred to as Santa Claus. Naughty or nice, everyone will enjoy the town’s long, uncrowded white-sand beach and fascinating ancient ruins.

Adana – This large industrial city doesn’t attract many tourists. However, the towering ivory-coloured minarets of Sabancı Merkez Camii – Turkey’s largest mosque – make a trip here well worthwhile.

Olympos & Cirali – These two neighbouring villages share a stunning little beach and a collection of overgrown marble ruins. On the mountainside above Cirali is the Chimaera – a natural eternal flame that has been burning for thousands of years.

Kas – A laid-back former fishing village, Kas attracts visitors with its relaxed atmosphere, dramatic mountains and charming cafes. The town has become a popular centre for adventure sports such as scuba diving, parasailing and sea kayaking.

Kizkalesi – A magnificent Crusader castle lies just 150 m offshore from the pretty beaches of this delightful resort town. You can take yourself out to the castle on a paddleboat or get there one of the many small ferries. 

Side – This popular resort town is well-known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, which stand just metres from the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean