Datca is a lovely seaside city on the south-western coast of Turkey. This area is a little corner of Mediterranean paradise, where the Aegean sea merges with the Mediterranean. There is also sunshine all year around in Datca and the winter never seems to come! The flavours and scents of this Turkish seaside town will intoxicate you, there are so many local delicacies to try, such as the famous thyme honey.
A brief history of Datca
Datca was previously known as Resadiye and it is home to one of the most important and historic ports in Turkey! The earliest archaeological findings in Datca date back to 2000 BC and the Carii people were the first to inhabit the area. They founded Knidos, which was at the centre of Doric civilization. It was dominated by the Dorians and the Romans and was later passed to the Persians. Under the sultanates, the city lost some of its importance, then when it became a republic, it was given the name Datca.
Places to visit
In many ways, Datca is a typical Meditteranean city, although there are some extraordinary archaeological sites in the vicinity, one site is called Knidos and has a famous statue of Aphrodite. The centre of Datca is a maze of winding narrow streets where you can stop and sip some good çay. Datca is also famous for dried fruits and nuts, such as dates and almonds, which seem to be everywhere, the peninsula is also famous for delicious honey!
Beaches around Datca
In Datca there are three truly special beaches that you can't miss, firstly Kumluk beach, which is located behind the main shopping street. Secondly, Atatürk Caddesi that has soft, golden sand. Thirdly, the biggest beach in Datca is called Hastanealtı and is on the east coast and quite close to the centre of Datca and has sand and pebbles. There is also a beautiful pebble beach right near the port called Taşlık Plajı. A little further from the city centre there are also some other beaches where you can do water sports and diving.
Discover with us how to reach and what to visit to Datca: curiosities, events, local festivals, traditional recipes and all the other details to discover Datca from our blog!