Villa Labne

On Turkey’s south-western coast, the attractive town of Akyaka is the perfect place for a relaxing break. As part of the Cittaslow movement, it prides itself on a slower pace of life, and you will find the town is far from a high-rise tourist resort, even if it still gets busy during the summer. Akyaka enjoys a wonderful location too, with its hillside spot enjoying mountain views in one direction and a stunning outlook on Gökova Bay to the other.

Taking a boat trip along the River Azmak is a pleasurable way to see the wildlife which lives in its cold waters. The Akyaka waterfront is perhaps a more tempting place to go for a swim, and you will also find a few nice restaurants nearby. On the beach, you also have opportunities to dine which is a real treat – the freshly caught fish is certainly worth trying.

Many products are grown or made locally, and twice-weekly markets in Akyaka offer you the chance to buy some. You can try tasty homemade burek pastries or gosleme pancakes at stalls in the market, or buy some locally produced honey or freshly baked bread from the local bakery. Stalls selling craft items are also a regular feature down by the beach.

Another notable attraction is Akyaka’s Olive Farm and Restaurant. All sorts of products incorporating the olive oil are made on site, including food and toiletries, and you can buy them while you are there. There is also a restaurant offering dining by the river, which serves a great Turkish-style breakfast. The Olive Farm is located on the outskirts of the town, not far from the rock tombs which are among the remains of the Carian city of Idyma.

The beautiful and dramatic landscapes of Akyaka and its surroundings lend themselves to outdoor pursuits, and you will find opportunities for paragliding, kayaking and boat cruises out to Cleopatra Island. The Gulf of Gökova is also a popular kite-surfing location.

If you fancy travelling further, the larger city of Muğla has plenty to keep you busy. While not a tourism hotspot in the way Bodrum or Marmaris are, its Ottoman-era bazaar, Turkish baths and local museum provide pleasing diversions. Marmaris itself is a similar distance south of Akyaka. This riviera resort is certainly worth a visit if you’re looking for beaches, nightlife and watersports, and you can take a ferry to the Greek island of Rhodes too.

Read more about Akyaka

Turkey is an eclectic mix of dramatic scenery, amazing food and a deep history.  A visit to Turkey almost always inspires comment about the hospitality, maybe because the Turkish people believe a visitor is a gift from God. A trip to Turkey will almost definitely inspire you to return. You’ll be following in the footsteps of many a famous person from ancient history.

The South West coast of Turkey offers the perfect climate for your holiday, boasting over 280 dry days a year and an average June temperature of 28C in Akyaka, with sea temperatures of 23 degrees Celsius.  

Akyaka sits where the Kadın Azmak river joins the sea. Enjoying a Turkish breakfast or fish lunch at one of the many restaurants it is difficult to imagine anything disturbing the peace. Ducks and geese jostle for bread, fish swim past and bright green reeds wave in the slow-moving water, fed by cooler waters from the mountains above. Favoured by local day trippers from nearby Bodrum and Denizli, who gather on Akyaka’s wide sandy beach with shallow water meaning you can go a way out and the water is only up to your waist.

In recent years, Akyaka has become Turkey’s centre for kitesurfing and you’ll see all the kites in the sky, above the beach on the head of the gulf. There are several schools so if you fancy a go. Contact them beforehand, so you can get booked in as it is particularly popular during the holidays and weekends.
Akyaka is a member of the cultural Cittaslow organisation, recognising its connection with tradition. The local architecture of wooden balconies and white walled houses with terracotta roof tiles, bow thanks to 70’s architect Nail Çakırhan. The coast up from here has lots of small bays where you can swim and sunbathe, just drive through the forest and along the coast road to find them. Akyaka has a local market on Wednesday, or visit the huge very Turkish market in Mugla, which is the administrative centre of the area. In recent years Mugla has expanded as it’s university has gained popularity, but the centre still shows architectural signs of its Italian occupation last century.

For Turks, breakfast is a key meal, and you see family groups enjoying a feast late morning. Other than the riverside restaurants who serve a hearty feast, go to Sakartepe, at the top the mountain has the most amazing panoramic views.