Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides, by Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean Sea in the south and the Aegean Sea in the west.
In the northwest, there is an internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, which are important waterways that connect the Black Sea with the rest of the world. The coastline of Turkey (excluding islands) is 8333 km.
Anadolu coastline: 6480 km
Trakya coastline: 786 km
Adalar coastline: 1067 km
An experiment is going on along the Turkish coastline. New developments of all shapes and sizes are popping up. The building boom has not yet reached the proportions found along the Western Mediterranean, and there is less pollution and crowding. Complexes of summer homes nestle alongside beautiful beaches. Many of these are available for rent. Holiday villages line the coast in the popular Kemer-Antalya region.
Pensions and modest hotels operate in almost all the small towns and villages along the coast . Many of the wonderful coves and bays are accessible only by boat. A good selection of charter gullets, motor yachts and sailboats are available for week tours, while wooden boats can be rented for day trips.
These options offer enough variety to satisfy every taste. Sheiks and princes, European sophisticates, seniors, amateur archeologists, yachtsmen, mountain trekkers, young families with toddlers, yuppies looking for something different - Turkey has something for everyone. Environmentalists especially, will appreciate the sensitive approach taken to preserve (and yet be able to enjoy) the friendliest nature ever found.