How to Get to the Mediterranean Region
Fly straight in with the major airports that host incoming international flights: Dalaman, Antalya, and Adana. If you are already in Turkey, take a daily train from Istanbul and Ankara, Isparta, Burdur or Izmir. Primary bus services in every large city and sizeable town in Turkey also offer cheap and frequent tickets. For car drivers, get onto the D400 highway running from the east to west of Turkey. If arriving by boat, check the official entry ports.
Main Mediterranean Towns and Places
Antalya City: A working city, Antalya is perfect for those looking for year-round life in Turkey. With several international schools, a thriving economy and excellent cultural and lifestyle facilities, Antalya combine the best of the city and and beach life to present a perfectly balanced region much loved by expats. Homebuyers in Turkey will find bargain-priced apartments in Antalya. However, you can also purchase large-sized villas on the outskirts in forest areas with quiet surroundings, just a short drive from the city centre. If you are undecided whether you want a nature retreat, a city lifestyle, a beach lifestyle, or something else, find it all in Antalya.
Beachy Kemer: Located at the foot of the Taurus Mountains of Turkey, Kemer enjoys over 300 days of sunshine and is one of Antalya’s most bustling tourism spots, with tourists flocking in summer, making this a perfect investment or holiday home destination. You can generally find homes in Kemer from as low as 70,000 Euros as the area is still yet to reach its full potential, so invest now and reap the rewards later.
Historical Side: Sunny Side is awash with a long and fascinating history that leaves plenty of landmarks and historical spots to enjoy. From Alexander the Great to Cleopatra, Side played home to a few famous historical figures throughout time. Something about Side draws everyone in and captures you from the moment you arrive. With a nice beach area, a healthy inflow of tourists annually, and nicely priced properties in Side, Side is affordable and ideal year-round.
Luxurious Kalkan: Oozing class and sophistication, Kalkan is the Mediterranean jewel. This town in Turkey, like no other, boasts superb sea views over its two bays and harbour. Visitors love to dine at several world-class rooftop restaurants, and plenty of laid-back bars highlight the authentic laid back Kalkan lifestyle. Prices in Kalkan – Turkey run into the low millions; such is the prestigious location coupled with superb real estate.
Quaint Kas: Small but huge in stature, Kas is where some of Turkey’s rich and famous call home due to the abundance of private, elegant homes and the peninsula’s bohemian lifestyle. The luxury and exclusivity of Kas means property prices in Kas steadily rise – high rental income and a top-quality marina make Kas an ideal location to invest in a lucrative nest egg in Turkey.
Golfing Belek: For golf and sunny holidays, head to Belek in southern Turkey. With close to 20 championship-quality golf courses, including those designed by world-renowned golfers such as Nick Faldo and played on by Tiger Woods, Belek is the spiritual home to golf crazy fans in Turkey. But do not think Belek is only a spot for golfers: excellent transport links to shopping centres and landmark attractions ensure the whole family enjoy themselves. In addition, affordable Belek properties start from as little as 80,000 Euros.
Modern Alanya: Found in front of the Mediterranean Taurus Mountains, Alanya is one of Turkey’s most loved holiday destinations, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists each summer. You will never be too far from an English-speaking person when in Alanya, with many choosing to purchase a holiday home here. For reasonable prices, properties can be found in Alanya; however, the region is perhaps not best suited to those looking for investment opportunities or high capital growth potential abroad.
The region’s two different climates, coastal and inland, are what you would expect from Mediterranean Turkey. The coast has hot, dry summers and mild, cool, and sometimes wet winters. During the rainless and virtually cloudless summers, the temperature sometimes exceeds 40 degrees Celsius. Snow is practically unheard of in coastal areas, and winter lows rarely go below 5 degrees Celsius.
This region’s winter is November through March and receives the most rainfall. The summer is late April through to late October and brings the Mediterranean Sea’s temperature to 28 degrees Celsius. This area of Turkey is a perfect place to own a summer holiday home or invest in summer rentals. In addition, the beautiful coastline and warm summer temperatures encourage water sports such as surfing.
The cooler and wetter mountain regions are rarely cold. The clear coastal winds help to ensure the mountains also see sunshine for much of the year. The critical difference is mountain areas typically see more rain in winter. In addition, the peaks of the Taurus Mountains, which form the backdrop of the Turkish Mediterranean, are snow-capped six months of the year, with several major ski resorts within easy reach of the region’s leading tourist and real estate attraction, Antalya province. Thus, it is possible to swim in the morning and ski in the afternoon in this diverse and beautiful region of Turkey.
The region’s agriculture revolves around the weather. The western coastal area, home to the Taurus mountains, traps the warm moist ocean air, making the coastal areas very lush. Because of these same mountains, the Mediterranean gives much of Turkey a continental climate with distinct seasons. Within the region, tropical plants and olive trees abound. The outlying areas are, however, are more subject to extremes. The 2,085,292 square kilometres Mediterranean Basin has 98,009 km2 untouched by human inhabitants. The Mediterranean Basin of Turkey is classified a biodiversity hotspot by Conservation International due to its rich bio-diversity and threatened status. This region holds 22,500 endemic vascular plant species.
Turkish Mediterranean History and Culture
The Mediterranean region’s culture is rich in art, culture, and history. This region is the site of many ancient civilisations such as Pamphylia and Cilicia west to east. The Romans captured this region about a century before Christ’s birth. The Crusaders occupied it on their way to Jerusalem, as evident by the Crusader-built citadels on the regions’ eastern side. This era is where most of the region’s locals came in as nomadic tribes from Central Asia. Some keep to their founding ancestor’s traditions, spending their winters on the warm coast and then relocating to the heights of the Taurus Mountains or the plateaus of Central Anatolia during the summer with their goats and camel caravans. Ottomans seized this region around the 1400s.
Turkish Mediterranean Today
The present-day culture speaks several different dialects Mugla Sivesi, Lycia, Cilician Mountain dialect, which is an extension of Cypriot Turkish. The Syrian dialect of Arabic is prevalent in and around Antalya. Through the explosion of English-speaking tourists, most of the region understands and communicates at least a basic level. The regional locals may also speak some German, Russian, and Scandinavian, and these may come in handy, especially if you travel to resort towns mainly visited by those nations.
The list of Turkish Mediterranean activities is endless and includes world-class water sports, yachting, kite-boarding, and more tranquil water pursuits such as snorkelling and scuba. On land, an abundance of ancient ruins and other national treasures make exploration fun, while local and global shopping places encourage all to spend the cash. Mighty Taurus mountains provide excellent settings for Mediterranean skiing with several well-established ski resorts such as Saklikent near Antalya city and Davraz near Isparta, not to mention the world-class golf courses of Belek.
The world understands the Mediterranean diet’s value, and the Turkish Med cuisine does not disappoint palettes with delicious fruit, vegetables, dairy products, meat, fish, and seafood. You certainly should not visit Turkey without enjoying some traditional food either. Freshly baked bread generally accompanies all dishes but save room for desserts you will not find anywhere else. In an unusual Turkish tradition, you will often find fresh cold water on street corners and in front of mosques in containers known as sebils, primarily in the summer months. More about Turkish Mediterranean food.
Buying Property in Mediterranean Turkey
This stretch of coastline is home to many foreign and domestic home owners, some of whom purely use their house as a holiday home, while others live here all year round. Indeed, Mediterranean Turkey has become a popular destination for anyone looking to live in the country permanently. Browse our portfolio of Turkish real estate for sale. Each listing contains everything to know, including contact details to find out more or arrange a viewing. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to an advisor, call us today to find out more about buying in Mediterranean Turkey.