Patara Beach

Patara beach is around 50 minutes from Fethiye by car. Patara is part of a national park, it is a key biodiversity area, rich in birdlife and the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtles (caretta caretta). Patara beach has been declared off-limits for development because of the turtles, they are extinction and protection of their nesting sites on the Turkish coast is very important. The beach is closed after sunset from May to October to give the turtles peace in which to lay their eggs as it is the second most important turtle nesting beach after dalyan iztuzu in Turkey.

Patara is a sandy beach, has many shells at it’s shore line and is good for swimming, although care needs to be taken with currents. At 12km long, it is a lovely place to walk, with sand dunes and mountains providing a  very scenic back drop.

Patara is voted as one of the top beaches in the world by Times Online in 2005, a visit to Patara beach also enables visitors to look around the major Roman and Lycian historical ruins Xanthos, Letoon,  just 15 minutes drive.

Even in the height of summer patara beach is never crowded. The absence of development and no water sports means that it is always peaceful. There is a café at the end of the boardwalk that sells snacks and drinks, and hires sunbeds and parasols.