Best Anchorages in Turkey

The Gulf of Gokova stretches west of Bodrum and offers some of the most varied anchoring on the Turkish coast — from the iconic turquoise bays of Orak Island to the all-weather refuge of Alakışla Bükü.

Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

The Fethiye-Göcek Special Environmental Protection Area is Turkey's most celebrated cruising ground. State-installed mooring buoys protect the seagrass; advance booking via TÜÇA mobile app required in peak season.

Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

The Hisarönü Gulf lies between the Datça Peninsula and the mainland, connecting Göcek with Marmaris. Remote fjord-like inlets, world-class sailing villages like Bozburun and Selimiye, and the spectacular Keçi Bükü (Orhaniye) with its unique sandbar.

Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

Marmaris Bay and the surrounding Bozburun Peninsula coves offer everything from busy resort anchorages to completely wild, roadless inlets. Kumlubük, Turunc, Bördübet, and Serçe Limanı are among Turkey's most varied and rewarding sailing destinations.

Best months: May–Oct

The Datça Peninsula (Reşadiye Yarımadası) stretches 70km west from Marmaris into the Aegean. Two contrasting coastlines — the sheltered Hisarönü Gulf to the north and the open sea to the south — flank some of Turkey's most spectacular and uncrowded anchorages, ending at ancient Knidos at the very tip.

Best months: May–Oct

The Bodrum Peninsula extends 42km into the Aegean, one of Turkey's busiest charter bases. South-facing bays (Aspat, Gümüşlük, Kargı Bay) shelter from the Meltemi; north-facing bays offer access to the upmarket villages of Göltürkbükü and Yalıkavak. Gümüşlük sits on the ruins of ancient Myndos — a 3-knot speed limit and cultural heritage protection apply.

Best months: Apr–Oct

The Çeşme Peninsula is the westernmost point of Turkey — and the windiest. Alaçatı is a world-class windsurfing destination with a charming stone-village centre. The east-facing bays (Çiftlik, Reisdere, Gerence) provide the best meltemi shelter when the NW wind screams across the open Aegean.

Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

The stretch from Kuşadası to Didim covers the ancient heartland of Ionia — Ephesus 20km from Kuşadası, the Oracle Temple at Didyma 5km from Didim Marina. The Dilek Peninsula National Park offers protected anchorages in pine-forested national park waters. The Turkish-Greek border runs through the Samos Strait.

Best months: May–Oct

Foça (ancient Phocaea) was the Mediterranean's greatest seafaring city — the Phocaeans founded Marseille in 600 BC. Today it's home to one of Europe's last Mediterranean monk seal colonies, with a Special Environmental Protection Area (ÖÇKB) around the sea caves. Sığacık to the south has one of the best small marinas on the northern Aegean.

Best months: May–Oct

Ayvalık's archipelago of 22 islands is one of Turkey's most rewarding sailing grounds — Greek-influenced architecture, exceptional olive oil, and completely sheltered inner-island channels. Cunda (Alibey) Island is connected to Ayvalık by causeway and is the social heart of the area. Lesbos is 6nm to the west — do not cross without completing Greek entry formalities.

Best months: May–Oct

Kekova is the defining anchorage of the Turkish Mediterranean — a long sheltered strait alongside a submerged Lycian city, with the village of Kaleköy (Simena) climbing the hillside above. Üçağız lagoon offers all-round shelter; Gökkaya is a deep fjord to the northwest. Note: anchoring on the north side of Kekova Island is prohibited — it lies directly over the sunken city.

Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

The eastern end of Turkey's Turquoise Coast runs from Finike's large all-weather marina to Antalya's ancient Roman harbour. Phaselis has three distinct bays — each sheltering from a different wind — flanking the ruins of an ancient Lycian-Greek city. Olympos (Çıralı) has the Chimaera — an eternal flame from natural gas seeping through the hillside, burning for 2,500 years.

Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov