Patara
Turkey's longest beach — eighteen unbroken kilometres of dune-backed sand — comes with its own Lycian ruins: you stroll through an ancient city to reach the sea.
- Best forBeach lovers · Walkers & hikers · Couples
- In March17°C · 9 rainy days · sea 18°C
- Ideal stay4–5 nights
- Approx. flying time~14h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyTRYTurkish lira
- LanguageTurkish
- Local time13:192h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+90
Why go
Eighteen kilometres of sand backed by dunes and protected as a turtle nesting site, with no buildings at all along the shore. You reach it through the ruins of a Lycian city, past a theatre, a colonnaded street and a monumental gate, then over the dunes to the sea. The beach closes at dusk for the loggerheads. Days here are simple: ruins in the morning, sand all afternoon.
Gelemis, the village behind, is small and low-key, with family-run pensions rather than resorts. Kas, Kalkan and the Saklikent gorge are all within an hour and the Lycian Way passes through, which makes this a good base for a week of walking and swimming. Dalaman is roughly ninety minutes away. May and late September have warm water and comfortable temperatures; July and August are very hot.
- Ideal stay
- 4–5 nights
- The vibe
- Empty, dune-backed, unhurried
From our guides
Loggerhead turtles nest here, so development is banned and the beach empties completely after dusk. The village of Gelemiş behind runs to family pansiyons and fresh pomegranate juice rather than resorts. Fly to Dalaman, drive ninety minutes, and come in May or late September, when the sand is warm but still walkable.
Featured in Ten quieter beach escapes: when to go and where to stay
Things to do
-
The main beach
Long enough that ten minutes' walking in either direction from the entrance leaves you almost alone, with a shore break and no development behind the dunes.
-
Patara ruins
A Lycian and Roman city with a restored parliament building, a large theatre and a triumphal arch, all passed on the walk down to the sea.
-
Loggerhead nesting
Turtles come ashore between May and October, which is why the beach empties at sunset and vehicles and lights are banned along the sand.
-
Lycian Way stages
The long-distance path runs through the village, with sections west towards Kalkan and east into the hills, both walkable as day loops.
-
Saklikent gorge
A deep limestone canyon about an hour inland, waded rather than walked, with cold water that is very welcome in August.
-
Xanthos and Letoon
Two UNESCO-listed ancient sites a short drive away, with rock tombs and inscriptions and far fewer visitors than the coast.
Getting there
-
Fly to
Dalaman (DLM)
Nearest airport to Patara, about 69km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Gelemiş
About an hour and a half by car from Dalaman airport (DLM) along the coast road towards Kaş.
-
On the ground
Getting around
From Gelemiş village it is a two-kilometre walk or short shuttle down through the ruins of ancient Patara to the beach, with a small entry fee covering both.
Public transport: Long-distance buses stop at the Patara turning on the main road and a minibus runs down to the village, but a car makes the Lycian coast far easier.
Flights
Los Angeles Patara, Turkey
Fly from anywhere — search 4,000+ airports worldwide.
Roughly 14h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 15°C in January to 34°C in July. Driest June to August; wettest in January, with rain on about 15 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 30°C, coolest at 18°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March17° · rain 9 days · sea 18°Cool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — April to October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Family-run pansiyons, small boutique hotels and a few villas with pools. Development is restricted because of the turtle nesting site, so there are no beach hotels at all.
-
Best base overall
Gelemiş
The village behind the ruins, close enough to walk or cycle to the sand through the ancient city. It is small and quiet, with pansiyons rather than hotels and one main street of restaurants.
Find stays in Gelemiş -
Best for couples
Kalkan
Twenty-five minutes east, a steep whitewashed town of rooftop restaurants and villas with pools above the harbour. Smarter and dearer, and the beaches are pebbly rather than Patara's sand.
Find stays in Kalkan -
Best value
Kaş
Forty-five minutes on, with a wider spread of guesthouses, boat trips and a livelier evening. You commute to Patara, but the town gives you more to do on non-beach days.
Find stays in Kaş -
Best with children
Gelemiş village edge
The quieter lanes towards the fields have family pansiyons with gardens and pools, a short shuttle from the beach. Bring shade, because Patara itself has very little.
Find stays in Gelemiş village edge
Worth knowing before you book: The beach closes at dusk for nesting turtles, so evenings happen in the village. Book July and August pansiyons ahead, as Gelemiş has only a few dozen properties.
Search everything else in Gelemiş by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Dalaman is around ninety minutes by road and Antalya about three and a half hours. Dolmus minibuses connect Gelemis to the coastal highway.
- Timing
- The beach closes at dusk during turtle nesting season and there is no lighting on the sand. Plan evenings back in the village.
- Pack this
- There is very little shade and the walk from the car park crosses hot sand. Bring an umbrella, water and something for your feet.
- Swimming
- The open Mediterranean here has a real shore break and occasional rip currents. Stay near the lifeguarded section if you are unsure.
- Tickets
- The beach sits inside the archaeological site, so a single entry ticket covers both. Keep it, as it allows repeat visits while it is valid.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Patara?
For warm, mostly dry days, April to October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 15°C in January to 34°C in July. Driest June to August; wettest in January, with rain on about 15 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 30°C, coolest at 18°C.
How long should I spend in Patara?
Our suggestion: 4–5 nights.
How do I get to Patara?
About an hour and a half by car from Dalaman airport (DLM) along the coast road towards Kaş.
Do I need a car in Patara?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Long-distance buses stop at the Patara turning on the main road and a minibus runs down to the village, but a car makes the Lycian coast far easier.
What currency and language are used in Patara?
Currency: Turkish lira (TRY). Language: Turkish. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Patara best for?
Best for beach lovers, walkers & hikers and couples. In a phrase: empty, dune-backed, unhurried.