There’s a laidback simplicity to the Turkish Coast which makes for the kind of seaside family holidays which are timeless. Long, hot summers mean days and nights are lived outside: daytimes are about exploring the ragged coastline’s uncountable islets and inlets, messing about in sailing boats, swimming in bays of bright blue water, walking coast paths scented by thyme and umbrella pines. In the warm evenings, the generations come together to eat under the stars on waterside terraces, families sharing stories and meze of superb local produce and Aegean seafood.
Turkey is also exceptional value for money for family beach holidays compared with other Mediterranean destinations. Where to head on a coast almost 1,000 miles long? The Bodrum Peninsula – long the retreat of Istanbul’s intelligentsia, and on our radar since Mick and Bianca Jagger holidayed there in the 1970s – appeals to older kids, with its glam restaurants and clubs. Further north on the Cesme Peninsula, the smart set’s worst-kept-secret, Alaçati , works for all ages, with enough beach bars and surfer hangouts to keep teens happy, and welcoming boutique hotels with the feel of a family home.
Then there are the barely-there spots in between, home to sleepy fishing villages, rustic homestays, ancient ruins and stretches of wild sand where turtles nest. It’s a coast that’s best revealed from the water, and its calm waters are heaven for learning to sail. Here are the best hotels in Turkey for familie.