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Akyaka: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Akyaka sits at the very head of the Gulf of Gökova, where pine-covered mountains meet a flat delta and a cold spring river runs into the sea. It is a small place, and that is the point: its houses follow one wooden style, and there is no tall building in sight. This walk goes from the pier along the beach to the river, then out to the windy end of the bay. About two hours, all flat; end at the kite beach when the afternoon wind starts.

A short history of Akyaka

Akyaka was a small village at the end of the Gulf of Gökova, at the mouth of the clear Azmak River. Its character was shaped by the architect Nail Çakırhan, a journalist and poet who from the 1970s built houses of wood and stone here in the traditional style of the region, and in 1983 won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for his own house. The village's building regulations adopted this style, and in 2011 Akyaka joined the 'Cittaslow' network of slow towns. The steady wind in the gulf has made it a centre for kitesurfing.

The ten best sights in Akyaka

  1. Akyaka Beach
    1
    Akyaka Beach

    Fine sand in the shallow head of the bay; good for small children

  2. Azmak River
    2
    Azmak River

    Glass-clear spring water a few minutes from the beach; take a boat up it or sit at a riverside table

  3. Kite Beach
    3
    Kite Beach

    The afternoon wind turns it into a kite and windsurf school; mornings are calm

  4. Akyaka pier
    4
    Akyaka pier

    Boat trips around the bay leave from here in the morning

  5. 5
    Sakar Pass viewpoint

    The view of the whole Gulf of Gökova from the road down; stop on the way in

  6. Gökova village
    6
    Gökova village

    Farmland and the reed beds of the Azmak delta, 5 minutes east

  7. Sedir Island
    7
    Sedir Island

    Cleopatra's Beach and the ruins of Kedreai; boats from the south shore of the bay

  8. Akbük
    8
    Akbük

    A pine-ringed cove on the north shore, 30 minutes by a narrow road

  9. Marmaris
    9
    Marmaris

    The big resort 30 minutes south, for its castle, old town and ferries to Rhodes

  10. Muğla old town
    10
    Muğla old town

    White Ottoman houses with tall chimneys in Saburhane and Konakaltı; 30 minutes inland

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Tours in Akyaka →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Akyaka:

A village of wood and clear water

Free walking tours in Akyaka

A village of wood and clear water

Akyaka sits at the very head of the Gulf of Gökova, where pine-covered mountains meet a flat delta and a cold spring river runs into the sea. It is a small place, and that is the point: its houses follow one wooden style, and there is no tall building in sight. This walk goes from the pier along the beach to the river, then out to the windy end of the bay. About two hours, all flat; end at the kite beach when the afternoon wind starts.

  1. Akyaka pier · Akyaka's look comes from one house: the poet and journalist Nail Çakırhan built himself a home here in the 1970s in the old wooden Ottoman style, and in 1983 it won an Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The village later wrote his style into its building rules.
  2. Akyaka Beach · The beach is built by sediment from the Azmak and other streams, which is why the water stays shallow far out. It faces west, straight down the long gulf toward Bodrum.
  3. Azmak River · The Azmak is fed by springs that rise at the foot of the mountain, so its water stays cold and clear even in August. The river is short, only a few kilometres from spring to sea.
  4. Azmakboyu · Along the river, restaurants and tea gardens sit at water level, and you can watch fish and ducks in the current below your table. Boats take visitors upriver through the reeds.
  5. Gökova village · The village gave its name to the whole gulf. Its delta of reed beds and wet meadows is part of the Gökova Special Environmental Protection Area, declared in 1988.
  6. Kite Beach · Most summer afternoons a strong thermal wind blows up the gulf from the west, building through the day. That reliable wind turned Akyaka into one of Turkey's main kitesurfing spots.

Cleopatra's island

The southern and northern shores of the gulf are steep, forested and almost empty, with coves reachable only by small roads or by boat. Off the south shore lies Sedir Island, with a beach whose sand, according to legend, was shipped from Egypt for Cleopatra. This route takes a boat to the island and drives round to the coves of the north shore. Allow a full day and take water; the island has no shade on the beach.

  1. Sedir Island · The legend says Mark Antony had this sand brought from Egypt for Cleopatra. The truth is almost as odd: the grains are round ooids of a kind that forms in warm shallow water and is not found elsewhere on this coast, so the beach is fenced off and nobody may take any.
  2. Kedreai on Sedir Island · The island was the town of Kedreai, with a theatre, walls and a temple of Apollo. Its name is Greek for cedars, and Sedir in Turkish means the same.
  3. Sakar Pass · The road from Muğla drops over this pass to the sea in a series of bends, and the whole gulf appears at once. The forest lookout tower nearby watches for fires in the pines.
  4. Akbük · A narrow road along the north shore reaches this cove, where a stream meets the sea among pines. It is one of the few places on that shore with a sandy beach.
  5. Gökova Ören · Ören stands on the site of ancient Keramos, a Carian city on the north shore. Its marina is the last shelter for yachts before the open gulf to the west.
  6. Gökova Special Protection Area · Parts of the gulf are no-fishing zones, set up to let fish stocks recover, and divers report groupers and even monk seals returning. Rangers patrol the zones by boat.

Up to Muğla and the hill towns

Muğla, the provincial capital, sits on a plateau 30 minutes above Akyaka and feels nothing like the coast. Its old quarters keep whitewashed Ottoman houses with tall chimneys and courtyard gates, around a market that has worked for centuries. This half-day drive climbs through Ula to Muğla's old town and back over the Sakar pass. Muğla is a working town; shops close on Sunday.

  1. Ula · Ula keeps a cluster of old Ottoman stone and timber houses around its centre. It sits on the first rise of the plateau, cooler than the coast in summer.
  2. Saburhane Mosque · Old Muğla grew around this mosque and its square, and the market streets still start here. The Saburhane quarter around it is a protected old neighbourhood of whitewashed houses.
  3. Konakaltı · The Konakaltı quarter has restored Muğla houses, whose tall white chimneys and wooden eaves are the town's trademark. One group of them now houses a cultural centre.
  4. Muğla Arasta · The arasta is the old covered row of craftsmen's shops. In Muğla it still has coppersmiths and saddlers working in small units under one roof.
  5. Muğla Museum · The museum displays finds from the ancient cities of the province, including fossils of animals that lived on the plateau millions of years ago.
  6. Sakar Pass viewpoint · On the way back the pass is the best place for the sunset over the gulf. Below, the straight line of the Azmak delta shows how the river has pushed the shore out into the sea.
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Getting to Akyaka and getting around

  • Dalaman Airport · About an hour by car over the hills; the nearest airport with flights all year
  • Muğla Bus Station · Intercity buses; dolmuş minibuses run down to Akyaka in about 30 minutes
  • Akyaka dolmuş stop · Minibuses to Muğla and Marmaris stop on the road at the top of the village

Cheap eats in Akyaka

Akyaka's food comes from the gulf and the hills: grilled fish and calamari, gözleme rolled out on a griddle by the river, and the herbs and wild greens of Muğla served in olive oil. Breakfast here is a long affair with village cheese, olives and honey from the pine forests. The riverside places charge for the view; one street back is cheaper.

  • Sandal Balık Ekmek · Fish in bread by the river; about 200-300 lira
  • Kristal Pide ve Kebap · Pide and kebab; a pide about 200-300 lira
  • Sarıyer Börek · Börek by weight for breakfast; about 100-180 lira a portion
  • Tarihi Akhisar Köftecisi · Grilled köfte meatballs; a portion about 250-350 lira
  • Ayşe Ana Ev Yemekleri · Home cooking, dishes of the day; a plate about 200-300 lira
  • Tekin Usta Dondurma · Ice cream by the scoop near the river; about 40-70 lira
  • Febiha 1921 · Coffee and desserts; about 100-200 lira

Museums in Akyaka

  • Muğla Museum · Regional finds and fossils in the centre of Muğla
  • Kedreai, Sedir Island · Theatre and walls on the island of Cleopatra's Beach
  • Konakaltı houses · Restored Muğla houses with the town's tall chimneys
  • Saburhane quarter · The protected old heart of Muğla

Nature and day trips near Akyaka

  • Azmak River · Cold clear spring river; take a boat or paddle up it
  • Sedir Island · The fenced ooid beach; no towels on the sand
  • Sakar Pass · Gulf view from the road
  • Akbük · Pine cove on the north shore
  • Gökova delta · Reed beds and birds east of the village

Things to do in Akyaka with kids

  • Akyaka Beach · Shallow, sandy and calm in the morning
  • Azmak boat ride · Spot fish and ducks through the clear water
  • Kite Beach · Watch the kites; lessons for older kids
  • Akyaka pier · Boat trips around the bay

Where to eat in Akyaka

  • Azmak Restaurant · Tables at the mouth of the Azmak river
  • Kalamari Balık · Fish and calamari in the centre
  • Maydanoz Gökova · Grills and meze at the edge of the village
  • Mia Marina · Dinner near the small harbour
  • Gülşah Restaurant · Turkish dishes on the beach street
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Frequently asked questions about Akyaka

What is there to see in Akyaka?

The top sights in Akyaka are Akyaka Beach, Azmak River and Kite Beach. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Akyaka?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Akyaka without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Akyaka?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Akyaka, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: A village of wood and clear water.

How do you get to Akyaka and get around?

The main ways are Dalaman Airport, Muğla Bus Station and Akyaka dolmuş stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Akyaka, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Akyaka that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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