Some investors selecting seaside homes in Turkey opt for the Aegean Coast, which is famous for its milder climate. There are many locations in this area to choose from besides Antalya, Alanya, Kemer, Side, and Belek on the Antalya Coast with its too-hot summer and high humidity.
Most people who have never lived in Turkey are only aware of the major cities, such as İzmir, Kuşadası, Bodrum, and Marmaris, and some have heard about Fethiye. The Aegean Coast, however, features other towns and villages definitely worth the attention of potential buyers, especially those selecting a home far from the most crowded tourist areas with their incessant hustle and bustle.
Let us have a brief look at some townships located on the Aegean Coast, on the seafront, or very near the sea, which could interest potential investors.
Content:
- Fethiye and its outskirts
- Marmaris and its outskirts
- İzmir and its outskirts
- Bodrum and its outskirts
Fethiye and its outskirts
With a population of over 150,000, Fethiye is one of the largest resorts on the Aegean Coast. It has well-developed transport infrastructure and social facilities, such as hospitals, private clinics, schools, kindergartens, other educational establishments, and veterinary clinics. There is also a shopping mall with a cinema, numerous stores, a sprawling waterfront, an entertainment area, and more.
The area around Fethiye also offers great options if you prefer more upscale or secluded locations. Here are some of the options:
Göcek
A small, breathtakingly beautiful resort town near Fethiye, about 20 kilometers from the Dalaman Airport (which usually receives many charter flights from spring to fall).
As a matter of interest, a version of the Greek myth has it that Icarus, burnt by the sun, fell near Göcek.
The town is incredibly picturesque. Its only shortcoming is probably that it has only one small municipal beach, as the seafront is occupied by several yacht marinas. After all, Göcek is the true capital of yachting on the Aegean Coast, even though it was formerly a simple fishing village. It’s a lovely place to live, relax, and swim, and you can also take a shuttle van or a water taxi to the neighboring islands and the nearest beaches.
As Göcek is now the renowned yachting heart of the coast, local housing is not cheap, but once you have purchased an apartment or a house here, you will not regret living in a cozy, quiet, and serene paradise. If you want any urban amenities (various banks, clinics, and other major facilities), a trip to Fethiye takes only a few minutes by a shuttle van or personal car. All other daily necessities are available in Göcek, such as ATMs, supermarkets, stores, cafés, restaurants, souvenir shops, sports courts, an Instagram-worthy waterfront for long walks, etc.
Notably, upscale hotels and apartment developments are quickly emerging in Göcek. Tahincioğlu Holding, a famous Turkish developer, made news recently when it announced an upcoming new project, Nidapark Göcek, which is going to be a luxury development.
Ölüdeniz
This village is famous for its Blue Lagoon, one of the most, (quite possibly the most) frequently photographed beaches on the planet. Paragliders take to the sky from the nearby Babadağ Mountain every minute, as it’s easy to parachute down into the lagoon and the landscapes seen from the air are simply stunning.
The Blue Lagoon beach is not free but is extremely comfortable. There is another municipal beach sprawling along the rest of the coast.
Just like Göcek, Ölüdeniz has many hotels, guest houses, and rental apartments. They are rarely vacant, even in winter. The demand is high and rental homes are more expensive here than in Fethiye or Marmaris because of the famous beach. If you buy a residential property in Ölüdeniz as a vacation home and rent it out for the remaining weeks or months, it will hardly ever stay vacant. Many also purchase investment properties here.
It’s extremely easy to travel from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz, as they are separated only by a 15-km mountain pass. Cheap shuttle vans and buses run every few minutes, and driving a personal vehicle or rental car is always an option.
Hisarönü
Hisarönü is a village situated midway across the mountain pass from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz. It is located in the mountains, above sea level, which is a part of its charm. Firstly, the air temperature is always lower here than on the coast, which is a blessing in the heat of a Turkish summer. Secondly, homes on mountainous folds are considered to be safer during earthquakes (which are quite frequent in Turkey), and the structure of the earth’s crust is more stable there. All buildings throughout the country must comply with seismic safety regulations, which are carefully controlled, except in illegal developments. Living in a residence in the mountains feels safer, especially if you are distressed by every earth tremor.
Hisarönü also has multiple shops, bars, cafés, and even a few nightclubs. Its distinctive feature is an abundance of Englishmen whom you can meet in Fethiye too, but they are far more numerous in Hisarönü. Many UK nationals are permanent residents here, so if you would like to practice your English, Fethiye or Hisarönü are your best choices.
Ovacık
Ovacık is another mountain village nestled close to Hisarönü, no more than a couple of kilometers away. It is not much different from its neighbor, except that it has fewer entertainment options, so fans of nightlife with bars and discos have to travel to Hisarönü or Fethiye.
However, Hisarönü, Ovacık, and Ölüdeniz (where the mountain starts rising from the ground) offer apartment blocks and villas with stunning panoramic views of the sea, the mountains, and the surroundings, which is not offered in Fethiye. This resort sits on a flat surface and features a low-rise development, so only the apartments closest to the beach boast sea views.
Marmaris and its outskirts
There are several towns and villages near the world-famous Marmaris resort that deserve close attention.
İçmeler
İçmeler is very close to Marmaris and is practically a suburb. This beautiful village surrounded by pine forests is only 6 km away and accessible by city shuttle vans. It is also jokingly called the local Venice for the network of water canals crisscrossing its streets.
The beautiful waterfront, many kilometers of beaches, and an abundance of houses and apartments for rent and sale are İçmeler’s offerings. Of course, it also has shops, cafés, and restaurants.
Curiously, İçmeler grew quickly. A couple of decades ago, it was a fishing village, just like Göcek, but the beauty of local nature lured tourists first and then developers to these places.
Selimiye
Selimiye is a resort village 40 km southwest of Marmaris and 10 km away from the village of Orhaniye. Selimiye is cozily nestled in a sea cove amidst picturesque mountains covered with pine trees. The whole village lives on the seafront from dawn to dusk. Local beaches are wooden decks thrust into the sea along almost the entire coastline. These structures serve as a beach in the daytime and accommodate tables from nearby cafés and restaurants in the evening and at night. The views are stunning and the environment is charming. This enclosed bay is very popular among sailors and frequently harbors motor boats and yachts. Fishing is also great here.
Most local homes offer picturesque views, and some options are cheaper than in Marmaris. If you wish to rent out your property, you can easily do so, as experienced tourists are well aware of Selimiye and love spending their vacations here. There is a good reason why so many hotels (which are often sold out) sprang up in this quiet place. The village is conveniently located, as the sea and the beach are a 5-minute walk away from any place, which is not the case in many other Turkish resorts. If you want to live in Turkey, literally a stone’s throw from the sea, ask developers about Selimiye.
Datça
Datça is another cozy town relatively close to Marmaris. This is not just a village but a small resort town in its own right, incredibly beautiful and also considered to be salubrious. You can access Datça from both Marmaris (about 70 km, an hour’s trip by regular bus) and Bodrum.
The peninsula separating the Mediterranean Sea in the south from the Gulf of Gökova and the Aegean Sea in the north is also called Datça. This is a full-blown Turkish health resort famous for its lowest air humidity, the prized cheap almonds (almond trees grow in abundance here), honey, and olive oil. All this local produce is available in Datça’s private shops for literally a few cents.
The Datça coast is considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of Turkey. Its underwater flora and fauna are also impressive and attract many divers. Yachting is common, and it is said that Datça sometimes competes with the French Côte d’Azur by the number of berthed yachts.
Datça is a popular vacation destination among Turks but Europeans come here too. It’s a good place to purchase a home, especially taking into account that the payback period is particularly short here, according to the recently updated statistics.
Datça is full of hotels, including exclusive ones, as this resort is considered high-end. Datça itself and its outskirts (a few minutes’ trip away) feature numerous exquisite beaches, many of them awarded with Blue Flags. You can also find undeveloped beaches that are even more spectacular.
Sarigerme
Sarigerme is a resort town formally known as Osmaniye and located where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean Sea. An obvious benefit is its proximity to the Dalaman Airport, which is a few minutes’ drive away (only 18 km).
Sarigerme is famous for its marvelous beach area, smoothly rolling into the sea, picturesque nature, and sense of peace. Most tourists are foreigners who are increasingly becoming aware of this town and purchasing homes here if they are able. This is particularly important as there are very few hotels in Sarigerme (especially all-inclusive ones), which only enhances the quiet, tranquility, and feeling of the true Turkey with all its merits. This is not just another tourist hub! Sarigerme is perfect if you wish to relax and value seclusion. If you love going out, you can easily reach Marmaris and Fethiye. Bodrum is somewhat farther but still accessible.
Dalaman
Many mistakenly believe that Dalaman is the name of the international airport receiving direct flights from many countries and cities. This is not entirely true. Although the Dalaman Airport does receive flights with tourists traveling to Marmaris, Fethiye, and nearby areas, Dalaman is also an independent town with resort villages accommodating numerous hotels, some of them representing famous international brands. So Dalaman is a tourist destination in its own right. Sarigerme is often considered part of Dalaman, not Marmaris.
Another resort village in this area famous for its therapeutic mud and stunning landscapes is Dalyan.
İzmir and its outskirts
Turk Estate has written extensively about İzmir. The “number one” potentially investment-worthy resort village near İzmir is called Çeşme.
Çeşme
Çeşme is a resort town 80 km off İzmir proper, with marvelous beaches and extensive amenities. It is popular among tourists and athletes, particularly surfers. Çeşme is famous for offering a convenient balance between beach holidays and therapeutic treatments. The town has been growing rapidly over the past years after it was “discovered” by buyers from all over the world. So Çeşme is quickly turning from a “dark horse” of the Turkish residential property market into one of the favorites by the value of real estate investments. International hotel operators are also aware of this, and they are not just viewing the place but launching projects of considerable significance through their companies.
Didim
Didim is a town with several satellite resort villages nearby. Its population exceeds 40,000 but far more people live there in the summer season, counting all the tourists. This resort is said to be near Izmir, although its location makes it accessible from three airports, the nearest being Bodrum (about 75 km). The distance to the Izmir Airport is over 140 km, and to the Dalaman Airport, 227 km, which is not particularly close, but still an option if a flight to that destination is more convenient for you.
Didim remains a Greek city in many ways, with numerous ancient heritage sites still in place. It is also famous for its marvelous beaches.
One of its districts is even called Altınkum, which means “golden sand”, and for good reason. This resort is a great choice for a vacation or family living with children.
Bodrum and its outskirts
The following small localities are very close to each other and are part of Bodrum proper.
A curious feature of villages near the Turkish Riviera is their hard-to-pronounce names, with Gümüslük, Yalıkavak, Türkbükü, Guvercinlik, and Turgutreis.
Gümüslük is particularly noteworthy, as this is perhaps the best resort about 30 km from Bodrum, famous for its spectacular beaches and archeological antiquities. Yalikavak is also quite lovely.
This area as a whole is not only an expensive tourist district but also a yachting destination. If you own a motorboat or a yacht or plan to purchase one, it is well worth researching Bodrum and its nearby villages and marinas with its rare combination of first-class beaches and convenient piers.
You can easily travel from Bodrum to Kos, a Greek island an hour away (you can sail there on a private yacht or motor boat, or take a regular ferry). If you have a valid Schengen visa, you can travel to this island daily, if you wish. Purchasing a home in one of the villages near Bodrum means you have a residence half in Turkey and half in Greece.
The Bodrum peninsula and the surrounding villages are also true windsurfing and surfing paradise. Fans of active leisure are sure to love it. Everyone is aware of how upscale Bodrum vacations are. It is no wonder that famous international hotel chains are building hotels and apartment blocks here (including in the abovementioned villages) and selling them to investors as individual lots. You can purchase a residence or even a villa and receive access to all five-star hotel services and amenities. It was near Bodrum that Bill Gates was planning to purchase land for residential development (which is certainly saying a lot).
One of the recent noteworthy local projects is Seba Gölköy with a total area of 67 ha that will contain 45 private villas in Bodrum. Another one is CASAFABAY Bodrum, which aims to combine urban and rural lifestyles.
We hope that our advice was useful and that you will consider some of the resort towns and their surroundings more carefully when selecting a location to purchase a home.
