2023 Ultimate Göcek destination guide – last updated: 10 January 2023.
Our 2023 Ultimate Göcek destination guide contains why you should go, when to travel, how to get round, airports, area facts and other useful tips! Göcek is a picturesque coastal resort town, nestled roughly midway along the Turquoise coast, in the South West region of Turkey. It has been a very popular spot for boat owners for over 30 years so all facilities for boats are well established. You can find detailed info in our Marina around Göcek guide.
What did we cover in this page?
Facts about Turkey and Turkish Coastline
- Time Zone: GMT+3 all cities in Turkey have the same timezone and it is 3 hours ahead of GMT. In 2018 Turkey elected to opt out of changing their clocks.
- Language: Turkish. English is widely spoken and most signs have English translations.
- Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY, ₺). TRY 1000 is roughly USD 127, EUR 105, GBP 95 (as of 07 December 2020). As per COVID-19 these rates change so regularly so you can check latest rates on here.
- Modes of Payment: Many establishments accept credit cards, but most still prefer cash.
- Safety: Mugla province (population just under 1 million) has the 4th lowest crime rate in Turkey.
- Electricity: Turkish Electric Plugs & Sockets. Turkey operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets /points. Turkey operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets /points. We used to bring several UK to EU travel adapters with us but we found a better solution as you can get 4 way gang travel adapter lead cables which are EU and the sockets on lead cable are UK. You can find UK to EU travel adapters for £6,99 on Amazon or 4 Gang Way EU to UK Travel adapter lead cable for £13,99 on Amazon.
The entire 8,000 km stretch of coastline is world renowned for its beauty. The enormous, lush green mountains cascade into the crystal clear waters and the seemingly infinite coves hide sandy golden and black beaches. To top it off there are +260 days of sun a year so it is no wonder the region is popular with holiday makers from all over the world. But where nearby resorts of Marmaris and Fethiye are falling into the hands of tourists looking for a cheap pint, fortunately, Göcek was declared a Registered Area of Special Protection in 1988 so it maintains its class and small town charm.
Discovering Göcek
Göcek is a municipality in Mugla and located in the Gulf of Fethiye, small town in Fethiye district in Muğla Province, Turkey. There is another town called Göcek so not to be confused, please see the map below for exact location . Here are some more facts you need to know:
- How the heck do you pronounce it! Go jek
- Population; 4000 permanent residents rising to 6,500 in peak summer season
As Göcek is so easy to get to by air (Dalaman airport is a 20 minute ride) and offers easy access to the dramatic coastline, it has grown into a hotspot for the sailing glitterati since Dalaman airport was constructed in 1976. It boasts no less than 6 marinas with facilities to accommodate the smallest vessel to some of the worlds greatest and largest yachts. You can check details of individual Marinas
. There is also another town in Turkey called Göcek so not to be confused, please see the map below for exact location .Göcek is small and cosy, but for those who need the amenities of a large city there are a number close by. Dalaman is the closest (18km) but offers little to tourists. The closest, largest tourist destination is Fethiye (27 km). Other popular resorts within driving distance are Sarigerme (30km), Dalyan (32.4km) and Oludeniz (38.3km) to the East or Marmaris (100km) to the West.
When is the Best Time to Visit Göcek
Göcek is classed as a seasonal resort with holiday makers visiting predominantly from the end of March to October. Göcek is still a beautiful place to visit in the winter when the weather is cool and the sky is bright. If you like the heat and loads of sunshine, the best time to visit Göcek is between May and October when flights are regular from most countries. From November till April some airlines continue to fly once a week and the temperature is quite pleasant. The summer months are very hot, sometimes reaching over 40oC around mid July to the end of August.
A winter trip is possible, most facilities will be closed but you can still enjoy the decent weather as well as enjoying the snow on some of the mountains around. Winter flights to Dalaman are restricted mainly to internal flights which arrive to terminal 1. From here you can travel to Istanbul, Istanbul (Sabiha Gökçen) and Ankara or outside Turkey to Amman-Queen Alia. Accommodation outside of the 6 marinas is plentiful and varied from exclusive, high end hotels such as D-Resort and Rixos to small family run apart-hotels. For more accommodation details please visit “Plan Your Trip” page for further details. Above all, Göcek is popular as a base to explore the extensive and exquisite coastline of the region by boat. Whether you plan to cruise aboard your own (or chartered) yacht or require something on a smaller budget, Göcek offers options.
How to get around Göcek?
Göcek is a small sea side town and can be split by 2 sections; 1- Sea side (marked blue on map) 2- Mountain side (marked green on map). These 2 sections are divided by a dual carriage way (D100). If you are staying on the sea side, best way to visit places in town is to walk as it is very small and flat. Most luxury accommodations also offer free bicycles which is the second best option. On the other hand mountain side can be quiet steep depending on which part you stay. It is still walk able but considering the day time heat, we will recommend to call a taxi which can pick or drop you to/from your accommodation.
How to visit places around Göcek?
There are many beautiful places to visit, depending on your tastes, budget and time. In our 2023 Ultimate Göcek destination guide
Boat
There are so many bays around Göcek you can travel to by boat, some of these are only accessible with a boat and some can be accessed by sea or land. You can hire a boat according to your budget and there are several options based on the number of passengers or facilities required on boat.
Private or Rental car
The best and most convenient way to go around Göcek on land is by car. If you know how to drive and have an EU license, you can simply download an offline Google maps for the area and travel as you wish. You can check our “2023 Ultimate Göcek destination guide” guide to find further info and find daily excursion possibilities.
Take the Public Bus
The small mini bus called “dolmus” travels regularly to both Fethiye and Marmaris directions. Depending on Summer and Winter seasons these regularities might slightly change from 30 to 60 minutes. The single price for dolmus is 5.50TL so roughly 60-70 pence. These buses can only stop at any bus stop on the way to their destination so if you wish to visit bays or beaches around Göcek, you can take the early dolmus, spend the day there and get the afternoon one on the way back. We recommend to ask the up to date timelines from your driver.
Taxi
There are taxi ranks in Göcek, if you ring the taxi ranks and give your address, they will be happy to come and pick you up and take you to anywhere you wish. You can negotiate rates for specific journeys i.e. Göcek to Inlice Beach or simply request drivers to open taximeters. An example for a journey between Göcek to Fethiye is around £20 – £30. Outside all the beauties around, Göcek offers plenty to do. There are lovely unique boutique shops to explore and many a restaurant and café. You might guess; we also have a page with loads of info on “Things To Do Around Göcek”. Göcek does not have a public beach suitable for a days experience as many use boats to access the hundreds of beaches along the coast. There are beautiful beaches available at restricted times within hotel complexes and some small shingle beaches. For access by land, the best and closest beach for a full day out with amenities is Inlice Beach.
