As colossal hotel chains colonise the Turkish coastline a little further north, Göcek remains blissfully undeveloped. The town on the Mediterranean Sea has a short main street, a handful of squares and a smattering of houses lining a marina packed with small yachts.
It has long attracted Turks in the know, who come with family and friends for quiet weekend escapes. Göcek is the kind of place where shorts and flip flops are the attire of choice, golf buggies and bikes the main form of transport, and warm, unpretentious hospitality the character of hotels.
With its position on the Mediterranean, Göcek has a longer season than resorts further north, including in Bodrum. As Europe swelters in summer heatwaves, shoulder seasons are becoming increasingly popular for vacations, and in Göcek, you can bask in the sun as late as October.
Where to stay in Göcek
If you can’t arrive with your own yacht, five-star D-Resort Göcek is the perfect base. Located just at the end of the main street, it gives easy access to both town and beach. The hotel buildings are arranged around a central landscaped park with a canal, pools, water features and lush vegetation.
Rooms are light and airy, with beachy style white wood furniture, canopied beds and blue and white Turkish rugs. Some have balconies or roof terraces, while others give direct access to a shared private pool – perfect for families with children.
D-Resort’s top attractions are a 10-minute walk or a two-minute golf buggy journey away by the shore. There is a sweep of private beach and overwater decking lined with sun loungers. Here, you can while away a dreamy day dipping into the cobalt water, walking on the pale sand, and ordering cocktails and snacks directly from your sun lounger.
As the sun dips beneath the mountains that hug the bay, you can choose between a casual meal at D’Breeze or a more dressy night up the hillside at Q Lounge.
D’Breeze is aptly named for the refreshing cool air coming off the sea right beneath the overwater restaurant decking. Under soft lighting, you can sample revisited Turkish dishes, like artichoke hummus, fried feta cheese with Göcek pine honey, and shrimp mantıdumplings.
At Q Lounge, under a wooden canopy in the shade of the dark pine forest, you can indulge in contemporary Japanese cuisine enriched with local and Peruvian flavours. This is a great choice for a group, so you can order an array of dishes for the table. Standouts are the truffle edamame, popcorn prawns with yuzu mayo, lobster tail with ponzu butter, and tuna and spicy miso sauce sushi rolls.
What to do in Göcek
The pedestrianised main street is a delight of cubbyhole cafes, beachy souvenir shops, and boutiques overflowing with floaty white dresses. The town is also full of boat suppliers, wholesalers and repair shops for the yachting crowd. After a little shopping, walk down by the marina for yacht watching and stop at one of the many pastel-hued kiosks selling ice cream.
A day on the water is a must in Göcek. You can take trips with many agencies in town on a traditional gulet boat. These elegant sailing vessels are constructed from mahogany wood and feature two or three masts.
D-Resort has a yacht that guests can hire for half or full days. As an efficient crew serves champagne and fruit platters, you speed out to islands thick with dark green forests hiding ancient rock tombs and caves. The crew can take you to swimming spots or to island restaurants for lunch. Try the elegant Miori by the Sea in Bedri Rahmi bay for fresh Aegean dishes or Göbün restaurant in the homonymous bay for unfussy dishes of fresh vegetables and catch of the day.
Göcek, Sıtkı Koçman Cd No:8, 48310 Fethiye/Muğla, Türkiye
