A guide to Turkey's coastal regions

With over 5,000 miles of coastline it’s not hard to see why holidays to Turkey generally revolve around the beach. Although there is a largely untouched interior that remains truly Turkish in every sense of the word, it is the pristine beaches that offer the most attraction for sun-starved Brits.

There are three distinct areas of coastline to choose from. The Black Sea coast in the north is largely left on the backburner. Most Brits instead opt for the warmer Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines to the south and west respectively.

The Med coast is split into two. The western end is called the Lycian or Tuquoise coast. This part of coastline falls into the Dalaman region of Turkey. This length of coast is made up of small bays, sheltered lagoons and jutting headlands. It is a popular place to explore via gulet cruise and day boat trips from the upmarket marina at Marmaris are common. The main resorts here are Marmaris, Dalyan, Hisaronu, Icmeler, Olu Deniz, Kas and Kalkan. They each offer something different and unique. For example, Dalyan is actually on the banks of a river rather than the Mediterranean Sea and Olu Deniz is a quiet, low-key resort surrounding a breathtakingly beautiful Blue Lagoon.

Further along the Med coast is a string of resorts stretching from Antalya to Alanya. This part of the coastline is known as the Turkish Riviera. The waters are clear and clean and the coastline comprises of sweeping bays, sheer cliffs, pine groves and miles of golden sand. Antalya itself is a resort town. It has a pretty old town that still oozes traditional style, but the resorts of Alanya, Side and Lara Beach cater more specifically to families.

Bodrum and Gumbet are on the cusp of where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean. Bodrum is lively and cosmopolitan and appeals to an upmarket crowd thanks to the stereotypical white-washed houses cascading down from the hills to the water. The resort has a mixture of history and modernity with its 15th century castle but very flash and glitzy marina.

Gumbet, just 2km away from Bodrum, is pretty much a purpose built resort around a tiny fishing village. There isn’t much in the way of traditional culture and history, but it is one of the best water sport centres in the whole of Turkey.

If you are one of those sun-hungry Britons looking for a decent slice of summer sun check out the range of Turkey holidays on offer from Thomas Cook.