You don’t have to travel far to find a romantic setting in Türkiye. First-class marinas, atmospheric harbour towns, fabulous restaurants plus a seemingly endless array of secluded bays ensure there’s plenty of opportunities to kick back and relax with a loved one.

Here’s 360 Yachting’s first post of two looking at Türkiye’s most romantic coastal locations.

TURKEY’S MOST ROMANTIC COASTAL LOCATIONS

ISTANBUL.

There’s no denying, Istanbul boasts a remarkable history, and like London, Paris or Rome, it’s a must-see city that’s enjoyed best with a loved one.

Istanbul is a city jam-packed with character and intrigue. Historic sites, mosques, traditional bazaars and palaces are located right down the street from designer stores, boutiques and a fabulous array of trendy hotels, cafes and bars. Istanbul is a place to explore and make memories, so it’s ideal for a romantic escape.

ISTANBUL HIGHLIGHTS:

Six Sence Kocatas Mansion is located in the prestigious Sariyer district of Istanbul and offers fabulous views over the Bosphorus. A resort homed in former Ottoman mansions, its 43 luxurious rooms and suites, excellent restaurant and spa facilities make for the ideal romantic city escape.

Mikla Restaurant is one of the worlds top 50 restaurants and was described by the New York Times as, “forward-thinking, deeply rooted and above all delicious.” Mikla’s acclaimed chef turns humble fare into fabulous dishes. The restaurant is one of Türkiye’s finest and located on Marmara Pera Hotel’s rooftop, overlooking the Bosphorus, with Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace in the distance.

BOZCAADA ISLAND

Bozcaada is an island in the North Aegean, 52 km south of Canakkale. It’s a hip and trendy destination popular with the yacht crowd and Turkish elite for many years. Anne Able from Forbes found it so alluring that she described it as, “a secret Aegean Island Paradise”.

A visit to Bozcaada serves-up an enticing mix of Greek and Turkish influences. The main town is a warren of white-washed Greek buildings converted into seafood restaurants and boutique hotels. The narrow cobblestone streets are full of arty cafes, fairy-light-draped courtyards and al-fresco eateries, making them ideal for a romantic meal or stroll around. Let us organise a date wine tasting in the hills, or spend the day relaxing in one of the islands many beautiful bays before a candlelit evening meal at one of the fine restaurants in town.

BOZCAADA HIGHLIGHTS:

Madame Nica is one of Bozcaada’s most popular restaurants. Found in a rustic style courtyard, it serves a wide range of island and Aegean specialities in a cosy, romantic setting.

Tasada Hotel is a special class hotel with a popular A La Carte restaurant overlooking Bozcaada and within easy reach of all the islands highlights.

Polente Sunset. Relax and take in the sunset near the lighthouse and windmills at Polente, now a symbol of Bozcaada Island.

CUNDA ISLAND

Cunda Island is also known as Alibey Island and is widely recognised as one of the most beautiful islands in the Aegean. It’s low-key and low-rise, and a place that mesmerises those that visit with its striking blue sea, neoclassical buildings, olive groves and pine trees.

A visit to Cunda should impress. The back streets home Greek and Ottoman houses that are interesting to amble around, then there’s a large church and an interesting array of little shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants along the seafront. Cunda is romantic, a place to sip traditional Turkish coffee at the stone coffee house, eat superb fresh seafood, indulge in local olive oil mezze and dishes, or simply spend time with a loved one.

HIGHLIGHTS OF CUNDA ISLAND

Mola Cunda Hotel and Restaurant is one of the best on the island. It lies in a secluded seafront location and has an a la carte restaurant that boasts excellent reviews.

Cunda Despotevi is an award-winning hotel and restaurant near the waters front. Homed in a beautifully renovated historic building, it’s rooms and suites are elegant, and its 1862 Restaurant is a credit to the chef who is known for his creative flair and use of fresh seasonal produce.

Cunda Kekik Cafe Restaurant is again in a beautiful spot on the seafront. It’s one of the islands well-loved haunts, serving great breakfast, lunch and dinner in lovely surroundings.

URLA & ALACATI

Urla and Alacati are two of the Aegeans most attractive resorts and famed for their beauty, windsurfing, windmills and wine. Both locations were popular with artists and surfers, so miraculously escaped the tourist mayhem we see along the coast.

Urla is low-key. It’s a charming local town famed for its wine, with several modern and family-run vineyards worth visiting if you fancy a romantic afternoon wine tasting.

Alacati, just 25 minutes from Urla, is the haunt of in-the-know tourists and Türkiye’s less-showy elite. The resort boasts an enticing mix of Greek and Turkish influences, as Greeks populated the area until a forced population exchange in the 1920s. Pretty bougainvillaea-clad buildings line the cobblestone streets, and there are some lovely bistros, fine-dining restaurants, cafes and boutique hotels to enjoy time with that special loved one.

For those seeking action, Alacati’s long bay attracts windsurfers and kitesurfers throughout the year, so there’s plenty of opportunities to show off your skills or learn a few more if you wish. And for shoppers, the artisan stores and clothing boutiques are open till late and sell many unique items and souvenirs.

URLA AND ALACATI HIGHLIGHTS:

Wine Tasting in Urla. Urla is known for its viniculture. There are several excellent vineyards in the region offering tours and tasting sessions, with Urla Winery and USCA perhaps the most popular.

International Artichoke Festival. Each April, Urla hosts a festival entirely dedicated to artichokes. The area is famed for its artichokes, and during this 3-day event, local farmers and chefs celebrate the season’s crop with music, talks and dance. It’s a beautiful time to visit if you happen to be in the vicinity, as the streets come alive with craft-stalls, tasting sessions and all things artichoke!

Alavya Hotel and Restaurant (Alacati) is a chic boutique hotel with a fine-dining restaurant and chef that’s well regarded on the food scene – book tables well in advance.

La Capria Hotel & Restaurant (Alacati) is a popular honeymoon hotel with an almost Moroccan feel. It homes 20 opulent rooms/suites in an attractive building around a beautiful feature pool, grounds and bar. La Capria’s romantic restaurant is popular with the food crowd and serves a range of excellent Turkish and Italian inspired dishes – reserve tables in advance.

Odurla (Urla) is a unique restaurant that invites you to gather by the fire and enjoy superb seasonal dishes created by their acclaimed chef. It’s a restaurant with a different feel, where their interesting concept and farm to table menu has proved popular with superyacht guests.

DATCA

Datca’s spindly, 50-mile-long peninsula is glorious and remarkably unspoiled compared to the glitz and glamour of nearby Bodrum and Yalikavak. Strabo, the famous geographer, said of Datca, “God sent his beloved creatures to Datça for them to live longer”, and that’s quite some praise!

Datca lies where the Aegean and Mediterranean waters meet and plays home to some of Türkiye’s most charming bays and anchorages. The town itself has a modern side and a pretty Old Town. Here you find many fabulous boutique hotels, shops and a growing number of great restaurants and bars. Datca is a romantic location certainly worth visiting now before it fills with the package-holiday crowd, and it’s an excellent choice for those looking for a romantic escape in Türkiye.

DATCA HIGHLIGHTS: 

D Hotel Maris (Datca) is an exclusive hotel, restaurant and spa tucked high on the hillside near Datca. Popular with superyacht guests and the elite, D Maris is a fabulous location for a romantic onshore escape.

Aquarium Bay is one of Türkiye’s most beautiful bays and within easy reach of Datca town (read our Best Bays blog). Crystal clear waters reveal shoals of fish, sea turtles, moray eels and all manner of other marine life. Although popular with yachts and daily boats, head over early morning for a romantic breakfast on board, or before sunset and it should be a little quieter.

Knidos is an ancient site located at Cape Krio, at the top of the Datça peninsular. It was one of the main ancient cities in southwest Türkiye, and although it lies in ruins, it makes for an interesting excursion. A private tour can easily be arranged with a local guide that can explain the history of its main attractions including the mountaintop citadel, the temple and altar of Apollo, the acropolis, and the statue of Aphrodite.

OLUDENIZ

Most that cruise along the Turkish coast pay a visit to Oludeniz bay at some point. Famed for its sandbank and blue lagoon, it’s a popular resort where you anchor out in the depths and watch paragliders pull their aerial stunts and land on the seafront.

Enjoy the romantic sunset on board, or we can reserve a table at one of a few good restaurants along the resort strip. If you fancy getting the heart racing, a tandem paragliding jump from Babadag Mountain is also possible, as is a romantic meal at the top of the mountain where the views are simply spectacular. The trip up usually takes around 35 minutes in a jeep or private transfer, or the new Skywalk cable car should be up and running by summer 2021 allowing for quick and easy access to the summit.

OLUDENIZ HIGHLIGHTS:

Butterfly Valley is a beautiful bay that lies just a couple of minutes cruise across the bay from Oludeniz. The valley can only be accessed safely by sea, so if you avoid the mid-morning daily boats, it’s usually beautifully quiet and romantic. Spend time swimming in the clear turquoise waters, laze on the beach or enjoy a beer and some mezze in the rustic, hippy-style cafe near the water’s edge.

Babadag 1700m Bar and Grill. This restaurants position is wonderful and offers mesmerising views over the islands and Med. Serving a good selection of seafood and Mediterranean dishes, a table at the top makes for a beautiful romantic evening out under the stars.

ADD SOME OF TURKEY’S MOST ROMANTIC LOCATIONS TO YOUR ITINERARY

We have listed just a handful of Türkiye’s most romantic coastal locations in this post, so sign up below for the next instalment of destinations! If you would like to include any of the places listed on your cruising itinerary, or want to organise something unique, or flowers for your loved one or guests onboard, please CONTACT 360 YACHTING.

Note & Photo credits: Some of the photographs used in this article have come from the website/social media pages of hotels and restaurants mentioned. We are not sponsored or paid to include any of the businesses recommended in this post – these are just a few of the haunts we believe worth visiting along the coast.