Best Swim Stops on a Fethiye Boat Trip

Aquarium Bay: The Most Popular Swim Stop on a Fethiye Boat Trip

Swim stops are the heart of any Fethiye boat trip, and the turquoise water of the Gulf of Fethiye has plenty of them. This guide runs through the bays and islands where boats stop for a swim, which Prime Turist trips visit them and what to expect from the sea at different times of year.

Aquarium Bay is the most popular of them all. Its crystal-clear, sheltered water makes it ideal for swimming, and it takes its name from how easily you can see what lives underwater: shoals of small fish over the rocks and seagrass. Put on a mask and you'll see why.

Aquarium Bay is also easy to fit into a holiday: it's a stop on Prime Turist's 12 Islands Boat Trip, the Fethiye Bays Boat Trip and the Ölüdeniz boat trips. The water is usually calm, which makes it a good stop for families too, but it isn't a shallow beach, so keep young children in a life jacket or armbands. The rocks around the bay make a great backdrop for photos.

Tip: Aquarium Bay gets busier in the afternoon, when many boats arrive. If you'd like it quieter, a private boat lets you plan it for the morning; on a day trip, have your mask ready and get in as soon as the boat drops anchor.

Tersane Island: A Swim Among Historic Ruins

Tersane Island is the history lovers' favourite among Fethiye's swim stops. The old stone ruins left on the island turn a simple swim into a small cultural discovery.

Swimming along the shore, you can see old walls right at the water's edge, and the island's sheltered coves make perfect conditions for a swim. Tersane isn't on Prime Turist's day-trip routes, but you can add it when you plan a private boat route around Göcek.

There are several small coves around the island, each with slightly different sea conditions. Swimming here, close to the old stones, you get a real feel for the people who once lived on the island.

In short: Tersane Island combines history and natural beauty better than almost any other swim stop, and it's an ideal place to get a taste of the area's past while you're in the sea.

Tavşan Island and the Göcek Islands: Quiet Bays on Fethiye Boat Routes

Tavşan Island and the Göcek islands are among the calmest stops on Fethiye's boat routes, and the bays around them are the pick for anyone looking for peace and quiet.

Tavşan Island ('Rabbit Island') is small and secluded, as its name suggests. The sea around it is typically calm and good for swimming. It isn't a stop on the scheduled day trips, so the easiest way to get there is on a private boat.

The Göcek islands are one of the main boat routes in the Gulf of Fethiye. On Prime Turist's 12 Islands Boat Trip, Göcek Island is the first swim stop of the day and the Yassıca Islands the second. The least crowded spots are usually in the more remote coves of these islands, and the clear, warm water keeps the swimming excellent.

Katrancı and the Yassıca Islands: Easy Short Swims

Katrancı and the Yassıca Islands are popular places for a quick swim. On the 12 Islands route the Yassıca Islands come straight after Göcek Island, and they're among the most visited swim spots around Fethiye.

The water at Katrancı is clear and deep enough for a proper swim, and the rocks along the shore are good places to sunbathe. The Yassıca Islands, as the name ('flat') suggests, are low and flat, ringed by shallow, sandy-bottomed water that glows turquoise, so you can wade about and explore between the rocks.

The Yassıca Islands are a regular stop on the 12 Islands route, while Katrancı is a pine-fringed bay near Göcek that you can reach by road or include on a private boat route. Both are good for snorkelling and playing in the water, which makes them favourites with families and groups.

Reaching Fethiye's Bays by Road: Alternatives to a Boat Trip

If you're not taking a boat trip, some of Fethiye's bays can be reached by road. Fethiye, in Muğla province, is well connected by road, and several bays and beaches are an easy drive from town.

Kabak Bay is one of the most popular bays you can reach by land. As well as swimming, it's known for walking trails, camping and nature photography, which makes it one of the best options for anyone who loves the outdoors.

You can get there by car or on a local dolmuş (minibus). Some bays are 30 minutes to an hour's drive from the centre of Fethiye. This suits independent travellers and anyone who would rather skip the boat, but bear in mind that some bays can only be reached by sea.

Sea Temperature and Swimming Conditions in Fethiye by Season

Swimming around Fethiye depends on sea conditions that change with the seasons: water temperature, clarity and waves all make a direct difference. In summer the sea is around 25–28°C, while in winter it drops to about 15–18°C.

In the summer months (June to September), the best swim stops are at their finest. The water is at its clearest, so you can see sea life easily, and boat trips run every day.

In winter, rough weather can make some bays unsuitable, and Prime Turist's day boat trips only run from April to October. Sheltered bays cope better with the change of seasons. In late spring and early autumn, keep an eye on the water temperature and the weather: these shoulder months can still give you lovely conditions for a swim.

Water clarity matters when choosing where to swim. The sheltered shape of the Gulf of Fethiye usually means calm, clear water, although wind and currents can change conditions on some days.

Note: always check the local weather and sea conditions before swimming in Fethiye. In bad weather some boat trips may be cancelled or change route, so it's worth checking before you go.

What to Look For When Choosing a Swim-Stop Route

When choosing a boat trip for its swim stops, a few things are worth weighing up: how long the trip is, how many stops it makes, which bays it visits and how many people are on board. Each Prime Turist tour page lists its stops, timings and what's included, so the trips are easy to compare.

Look closely at each stop on the programme. Some trips make more stops with shorter breaks, others fewer stops with longer ones. Families and groups have different needs, so go with what suits you.

The crew and the service matter as much as the bays. A good crew will tell you what you can do at each stop and make the day more enjoyable. Check what's included too: on Prime Turist's day boat trips, lunch is included and drinks are sold on board.

The best swim stops are usually judged on how easy they are to reach, the sea conditions and the scenery. Pick the stops that suit you and you'll get the most out of the sea around Fethiye.

Stop · Area · How to get there · Best for · Highlight

Aquarium Bay · Gulf of Fethiye and Ölüdeniz coast · 12 Islands, Fethiye Bays and Ölüdeniz trips · Snorkelling · Crystal-clear water, shoals of fish

Tersane Island · Göcek · Private boat · History lovers · Old stone ruins by the water

Tavşan Island · Gulf of Fethiye · Private boat · Peace and quiet · Small, secluded and calm

Göcek Island · Göcek · 12 Islands trip (1st stop) · A calm start to the day · Quiet coves

Katrancı · Near Göcek · By road or private boat · Sunbathing · Rocks and pine forest

Yassıca Islands · Göcek · 12 Islands trip (2nd stop) · Families · Shallow turquoise water

From spring to autumn, Fethiye's swim stops have something for everyone, whether you go by boat or drive to a bay yourself. Prime Turist puts these bays together in boat trips with prices shown clearly on the site, for adventure lovers, history fans and families who just want a calm day. Pick your route and enjoy a swim in Fethiye's turquoise water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do Fethiye boat trips stop for a swim? On Prime Turist's 12 Islands Boat Trip the swim stops are Göcek Island, the Yassıca Islands, Kızılada and Aquarium Bay. The Fethiye Bays Boat Trip stops at Boncuklu, Kızılada, Samanlık and Aquarium Bay, and the Ölüdeniz Boat Trip visits the Blue Cave, Butterfly Valley, St Nicholas (Gemiler) Island, Camel Beach, Aquarium Bay and Soğuksu Bay. Quieter spots such as Tersane and Tavşan Island can be added on a private boat. The order of stops can change with the weather, so check the tour details before you book.

What are sea conditions like in Fethiye's bays? It depends on the season. In summer (June to September) the sea is calmer and warmer, ideal for swimming. In spring and autumn there can be a little more wind and swell, and in winter the sea gets colder and rougher. Sheltered spots such as Aquarium Bay and Tersane Island usually offer calmer swimming than the open coast.

Can you reach Fethiye's bays by road? Yes, some of them, though many are easier and safer to reach by boat. Ölüdeniz and Çalış Beach are easy to reach by road. Butterfly Valley is best visited by boat: the path down from Faralya is very steep and only for experienced walkers. Other bays have steep slopes, narrow roads or no land access at all, so for those a boat trip saves you time.

What should I look for when choosing a swim-stop route? Think about how long the trip is, how many stops it makes, how long you spend at each, the sea conditions and what you enjoy. If you prefer calm water, choose sheltered bays. If you want to see more places, a route with several stops, such as the 12 Islands, may suit you best. With children, look for bays with safe, shallow areas, like the Yassıca Islands. And check what's included before you book.