Muğla province stretches across the southwest corner of Turkey where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean, encompassing some of the world’s most famous holiday destinations: Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye. But the province is far more than beach towns — it harbours ancient Lycian cities, wild pine forests and hidden coves reachable only by boat.
The Muğla coast also has genuine history: Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum) was the birthplace of Herodotus and home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Lycian rock tombs cut into the cliffs above Fethiye are among the most evocative ancient monuments in Turkey.
- Region
- Aegean / Mediterranean
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Coast length
- ~1,000 km
- Known for
- Ölüdeniz, Bodrum, Marmaris
Bodrum — castle, nightlife and Halicarnassus
Bodrum is dominated by the Castle of St Peter, a crusader fortress built in 1402 that now houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology — one of the finest in the Mediterranean. The town below is a whitewashed grid of bougainvillea, boutique hotels and some of Turkey’s most famous beach clubs.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus — the tomb of Mausolus and one of the Seven Wonders — is now a small but moving ruin in the city centre.
Fethiye and Ölüdeniz
The Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon is one of the most photographed landscapes in Turkey: a sheltered turquoise lagoon backed by forest-covered mountains, with a white sand beach spit running into deep blue water. Paragliding from Babadağ mountain (1,975 m) directly down to the beach is one of the most popular adventure activities in Turkey.
Above Fethiye town, the Lycian rock tombs cut directly into the limestone cliff face date to the 4th century BC. The Butterfly Valley— a box canyon accessible only by boat — is one of the region’s natural wonders.
Marmaris and the bays
Marmaris wraps around a sheltered bay where pine-forested mountains plunge directly to the water. The marina is one of the largest in the Mediterranean and the launch point for the legendary Blue Voyage— gulet cruises along the Aegean and Mediterranean coast. The old town’s castle and bazaar sit above the marina.
The Dalyan river delta to the east shelters the nesting beaches of loggerhead sea turtles (caretta caretta) and a series of Lycian rock tombs that overlook the river.
Muğla in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Muğla
3They suit different visitors: Bodrum for culture, nightlife and history; Fethiye for natural scenery and adventure; Marmaris for gulet cruising and a lively marina atmosphere.
May, June and September are ideal — warm but not overwhelmingly hot, and the sea is warm enough to swim. July and August are crowded and very hot.
Ölüdeniz is famous for its Blue Lagoon — a protected turquoise bay with a white sand beach — and for paragliding from Babadağ mountain directly down to the shore.